I've been thinking.....

[refugepsa91]

I have been on the boards for a few years.....quite enough time I think, to post my feelings about how this ministry has made me feel. Granted I don't post constantly and my post count is low compared to most. I have always only posted socially or when I felt the Holy Spirit move me to make an observation. But I have spent hours upon hours reading.

In the beginning of my time here all posts were so informative and enjoyable...I could learn different perspectives and make my own decision through prayer without harboring any suspicions or hard feelings towards anyone. Have I disagreed with some? Yes....did I say so...sometimes. But always with love and respect for the other person....and if I didn't know about a certain subject then I kept my mouth closed. Period. If I felt it crucial then I went and did searches and studied for a time see what I could learn.

Truth is I haven't heard of one single pastor/teacher that everyone agrees is a good example to learn from. All names that are posted somehow someway are found to be lacking or a false teaching. Granted there are some that I have to agree with are dangerous. Others I find are being attacked without a solid foundation...one word in one sentence can be blown up into a huge debate over right or wrong.

As a fairly new christian what am I supposed to do? Who do I look up to...besides Jesus that is? I have never mentioned a name of anyone that I happened to listen to at one time or another...for the fear that I will be scolded for listening to a false teacher. It seems there is paranoia in us that we just will not trust anyone...and if you always look for fault you will find it...guarenteed.

The people I looked up to were senior members etc...here on worthy I respected what they said and appreciated help given when needed...I still do for that matter. But now even members are doing more explaining themselves than helping. No one can give advice without being scrutinized and found lacking.

Lately the environment here seems to be suspicion, everyone is under the microscope. It feels like traps are being set...leading questions are flung out purposely. I'm sorry but that is underhanded at the least and just mean at the most.

**For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, so that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. <John 3:16

That sounded so easy to me at one time...love everyone...be kind...be patient...shine so people can see Jesus in you...don't harbor vengeful feelings.

I didn't think it was....love those who agree with you...be kind only if you think the other is right...ignore who you think is wrong....speak alot so other people will think your right.

Yes we are called to reveal false teaching...fine. But as I said above the motto seems to tear all down. I cannot think of a person who everyone has agreed is a good teacher to listen too. It seems that one word in one sentence taken out of context and everyone is against each other...no one gets the same meaning out of the exact same sentence. So where is the commen ground? Maybe sometimes we dissect too much.

I would like to leave you all with this thought.....

It doesn't matter how perfect you look or seem to be in wisdom...under a powerful microscope no one looks good. Being looked at that closely makes everyone look bad...myself and my family included.

Love and Blessings,

Angel

By the way this is not directed towards any one personally....I do NOT make it my habit to attack anyone....

[George]

... then we have some things to change! The last I checked -- Jesus was still seated on the throne!

Let's do something unique -- make sure every post you can see JESUS high and lifted up! How fast the air would clear!

This is an illustration that I have used in devotions in the past.

In a museum, an old white haired man was standing fascinated before a picture of Christ. After gazing at it for a few moments, he murmured to himself, with face all aglow, "Bless Him, I love him!!" A stranger standing near overheard him and said, "Brother, I love Him too!" and clasped His hand. A third caught the sentence and said, "I love Him too!" soon there stood in front of that picture a little circle of people with hands clasped, utter strangers to one another, but made one by their common love of Christ. On further discussion they fo9und they belonged to different Christian denominations. But this did not disturb their fellowship. Perhaps others belonging to their particular denomination, but not to Christ, could not do what they were doing, standing in awe before Christ and have fellowship with those possessed by the same feeling!

It's all about Jesus!

Your brother in Christ with much agape love,

George

[Shelby]

Angel,

I do know where you are coming from and stated the likes a few times. But you know those that feel they must argue with everyone and rebell against any and all I think are the ones most searching and hurting. That is where it gets hard. Because it is not hard to respond immediately and give them a piece of your mind. I applaud you for doing that. This is why I am one who checks profiles constantly. I like to know who I am speaking to. I think the profilesgive great insight as to the how to respond to a 45 year old woman, as opposed to a 14 year old. There is a difference. You can draw different ways to relate to different people.

I had to for a long time stay out of the general discussion forums because it did seem that everything anyone said was picked apart. It is hard, but lately I have really noticed that these people don't really know me. They cannot judge someone they don't really know. They have only read my feeble attempts at a response. So I choose to not defend myself any longer.

I do knwo that I have had most if not all of those same thoughts. Keep your head up. I think it would be helpful to have more correct profiles, that don't divulge personal info, just sex and age range or just age. Not DOB or names. I just think it does put into perspective if you find your self getting caught up in a discussion about raising children and come to find out the person causing the largest part of your frustration is 15. It takes some real strength to stay sometimes. But I think of what I get from it, even just once in a while, the chance to show Jesus to someone. And challenge yourself to know God better so that you can better answer posed questions.

GBU

Keep your head up!

[Orr v'emet]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and let me say that I understand completely how you feel. I will be the first to say that I have been guilty of letting my "flesh" speak instead of the Holy Spirit. Lately God has been dealing with me about that and now my approach in discussion is "Lord, what do you want me to say, if anything?" These comments you made jump out at me:

No one can give advice without being scrutinized and found lacking. Lately the environment here seems to be suspicion, everyone is under the microscope. It feels like traps are being set...leading questions are flung out purposely. I'm sorry but that is underhanded at the least and just mean at the most.

When I first came to worthy I felt free to share my heart and didn't have the fear that someone would lash out or take a defensive stand on it yet that has happened alot lately. You can lay out your best intentions but some throw it back in your face. I know that God is not glorified when there is division among His children. I was at Wal-Mart last night and my husband and I were in line and I was commenting about the half-dressed women on the covers. I then made a comment about a "woman in power" so to speak and I said to my husband..."yeah, she's real righteous". Immediately the Holy Spirit convicted me and I looked at my husband and said..."you know, all of our righteousness is like filthy rags anyway so who am I to make such comments". That's what we need to remind ourselves here I think. When you gaze at the Savior in all of His glory, it shows us where we all are, self-righteousness must flee.

Where there is a diverse group of people there will be diverse opinion. Ultimately what will hold true is God's Word. All of us here at Worthy need to be in prayer about these boards. What can I do to bring unity? What can I do to reflect God's glory? (isn't that what it's all about? What spirit have I brought to the threads? Where God can you correct me so I can be a light for you in a dark world?

We need to be lifting up George and the moderators...who knows what behind the scenes things they deal with? They are our God-chosen leaders. I have no doubt about that. To attack them, make accusations is simply not the christian way to handle things. Let's pray for our brother's and sister's and see how we can be a blessing and then leave it to the Holy Spirit to admonish and correct. Dr.Luke made a marvelous post about Jesus' feeding bread to the multitudes. Folks, we have the Bread of Life. Let's live a life striving to be deserving of it and pass it out to those in need!

Love and Peace to all!

[Shelby]

I agree with George. Great illustration. I might ask to borrow that sometime. But I believe and have said, that I think that we all believe the same basic doctrines. The ones that are necessary to salvation.

Jesus died for our sins so that we might have eternal life.

We must repent and turn from sin and ask forgiveness for those sins.

We must daily read the word and pray so that we may stay in constant fellowship with our Lord.

All the other things are fringe. God will give us greater understanding eventually, and ultimately, but for now, the smaller subjects which are just basically deciding what things are sins (in a nutshell). These things do not determine your salvation unless God has shown you a sin and you ignore it and continue in it.

I have tried to keep this perspective lately because I do tend to take things personally and get wrapped up in a discussion which God will teach me about in due time.

GBU

[alecia]

Of course nobody should be attacked, and we should concentrate on what is most important first..

But, words ARE important, and one word -does matter-. We absolutely must know exactly what we are saying, and try to make it as clear as possible, I know semantics are boring for most people but it exists for a reason! Different words can mean different things to different people, it is important that you find out EXACTLTY what that person means before you go endorsing it or not, and it may come down to just a single word that is misused or misunderstood.

Its like what was mentioned in another thread,

"In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God."

or

"In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was a God."

Its just one little 'a', it isnt even a real word technicaly, its just a tiny article.. but it changes everything entirely!!

So it -is- important to mind every word you say whenever possible, and discover what another persons words mean. A person could be entirely right, or entirely wrong, and others may not understand it because of misunderstandings, and misleading can happen, intentionaly or unintentionaly, and conflicts can erupt from this..

Well.. anyways, sorry to go on about that, but it is important.

[Guest Called]

Angel, thank you for your post.

A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. Ecclesiastes 4:12

The enemy knows that if he can breakdown the unity of believers then he can more easily come in and begin to build strongholds. We are in a spiritual battle and the enemy is trying to get us to take our eyes off of Jesus (Hebrews 12:2) and put them on ourselves. Our whole focus should be to see God glorified and to reach the lost. How can we do either if we are nitpicking everything and everyone? I want to quote something you said,

Yes we are called to reveal false teaching...fine. But as I said above the motto seems to tear all down. I cannot think of a person who everyone has agreed is a good teacher to listen too. It seems that one word in one sentence taken out of context and everyone is against each other...no one gets the same meaning out of the exact same sentence. So where is the commen ground? Maybe sometimes we dissect too much.

You hit the nail on the head here.

How can we be the salt and the light to a world that is lost when we are too busy looking for planks in our brother's and sister's eyes? We can't!

You know, I often liken our perspective to glasses that people wear to see. Are we looking through temporal glasses or are we looking through eternal glasses? Are we so focused on the present circumstances and disagreements that our vision has become blurred to the reality of being a child of the Living God? Are we looking for false prophets around every corner so much that we never look to the Truth, who is Jesus Christ? Don't get me wrong, I believe in exposing false prophets, but I refer back to what I quoted of Angel's.

We must all remember Who it is about! It is not about us! It is about Jesus.

Let's all strive to maintain unity and to glorify God in everything that we do here at Worthy! Remember, a triple braided cord is strong and is not easily broken!

God Bless,

Debbie

[refugepsa91]

Of course nobody should be attacked, and we should concentrate on what is most important first..

But, words ARE important, and one word -does matter-. We absolutely must know exactly what we are saying, and try to make it as clear as possible, I know semantics are boring for most people but it exists for a reason! Different words can mean different things to different people, it is important that you find out EXACTLTY what that person means before you go endorsing it or not, and it may come down to just a single word that is misused or misunderstood.

Its like what was mentioned in another thread,

"In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God."

or

"In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was a God."

Its just one little 'a', it isnt even a real word technicaly, its just a tiny article.. but it changes everything entirely!!

So it -is- important to mind every word you say whenever possible, and discover what another persons words mean. A person could be entirely right, or entirely wrong, and others may not understand it because of misunderstandings, and misleading can happen, intentionaly or unintentionaly, and conflicts can erupt from this..

Well.. anyways, sorry to go on about that, but it is important.

Yes words are important....the example you gave "hit" me in the face too. That was very obvious.

But when you are constantly looking for wrong....constantly expecting it...constantly trying to dissect every thing everyone says your going to find it. Period. I think when a person is coming into a converstaion wanting to find fault they will. Typos happen. I do it all the time. But when I do it I would rather someone point it out to me so I can correct a misplaced word or whatever, instead of getting attacked for it.

We are all only human...and human's sometimes say stupid things or words don't come out right....I sure hope that doesn't mean we have to live and pay for that for the rest of our lives and have it brought up again and again...with the belief well she wouldn't have said it if she didn't believe it....gee if thats so I am in big trouble...because sometimes some really ridiculous things leave my mouth followed by a big...oooooopppppsssss. Yes teachers should be held to a higher standard.

I stated things when I was a brand new baby christian....that I look back now and think geeeez how could I have thought that...but I know God doesn't hold it against me...at least I hope not...so I would hope that humans don't either.

Love and Blessings,

Angel

[alecia]

:hug:

I know

I know we shouldnt go looking for wrong, but what I intended to say is, dont be too ready to accept everything you see, you dont need to attack the person if you suspect something isnt right, but you -can- ask them to clarify what they are saying in order to make sure that it -is- right. Then if it turns out to be a typo or another mistake, then that is great, but we shouldnt sit back and ratify things we are not sure about, dont just accept without knowing if its a mistake or not, find out the real meaning behind it first, then go from there. Find out what the person is -really- thinking about.

But anyway, I think Ive said enough.. I dont want to derail the thread, since it isnt so much about words but about looking to find flaws and attack people.. just wanted to point out that we shouldnt let too many things slide either.

[refugepsa91]

:hug:

I know

I know we shouldnt go looking for wrong, but what I intended to say is, dont be too ready to accept everything you see, you dont need to attack the person if you suspect something isnt right, but you -can- ask them to clarify what they are saying in order to make sure that it -is- right. Then if it turns out to be a typo or another mistake, then that is great, but we shouldnt sit back and ratify things we are not sure about, dont just accept without knowing if its a mistake or not, find out the real meaning behind it first, then go from there. Find out what the person is -really- thinking about.

But anyway, I think Ive said enough.. I dont want to derail the thread, since it isnt so much about words but about looking to find flaws and attack people.. just wanted to point out that we shouldnt let too many things slide either.

:hug: :il: I agree....ok back on track...lol :il: