Do Not Receive him into your house

[tsth]

Dear OA,

I'm afraid you misunderstand. It is not about shunning anyone who seeks out the Word, we KNOW that Jesus was always giving to anyone who asked/sought after Him. We are always to WELCOME one who seeks Truth. It is about protecting from enemies and falsehood, especially when it comes to remembering that we are training up and forming the children in our homes, who are to also be defenders of the faith.

If you look at Jesus, He NEVER accomodated false teachings, nor did He condone or provide an avenue for one to speak of it. Jesus was always there for one who was seeking, but He did not chase down the Pharisee to try and persuade them into the Truth. If they asked He provided them with an answer, but did not accomodate their doctrine. He went where He was invited and spoke Truth. He was protective of the flock, from deception, just as we are to be with our children.

There is a distinct difference between an outright enemy and a lost soul who is seeking and humbled enough to consider the Word of God. One is a prowler/predator, one is a prey. Remember we are also to be shrewd and defending of the faith.

In His Love,

Suzanne

[tsth]

And using a Taser is an option.

Do you have a Christian taser?

I just think that many times we willingly allow fellowships and connections in our lives, that expose our families to something that we should not. The lady on the other thread that has the Wiccan friend, if her children see her fellowship with this woman, outside of witnessing, and even then............what have her actions just told her children, or searching teens, about friendships? We have to really be strong and assertive in terms of our alignments with others and their false beliefs, lest we bring our children into great confusion, and possibly engage ourselves in situations that could affect our own walks. That is how the Israelites got off track every time, they began to "intermingle" with people of other faiths, and become intertwined just through consistant association. I think the key word might be "consistant" though?

In His Love,

Suzanne

Good post Suzanne, worth another read.

LT

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks Larry! I felt I needed to go back and reread what was posted after reading OA's response.........so I came across your reply. Just wanted to say thanks!

In His Love,

Suzanne

[OneAccord]

It seems to me that Christians spend a lot more time worrying and shielding themselves from false teachers and teachings than they do feeding the hungry and loving their enemies and blessing them as Christ told us to do. He promises us that none shall pluck us out of His hand. It's like there is a false teacher around every corner and Christians live in this dreadful suspicion towards their brothers and shunning folks who they've already judged and condemned in their minds. I experience this a lot and it interferes bigtime with the unity Jesus prayed for us, and the loving one another.

The Mormons, for example, may have false teachings, but so do all these other hundereds of denominations. I admire the Mormons for getting out and beating the streets, every single door, to preach Christ. I also admire the way their church takes care of its own, and the fact that their pastors, ministers and leaders don't collect huge salaries from their sheep in the name of "vocational ministry" like most of the conventional churches do. Those within the Mormon church who truly love Jesus and who were called out by Him and are His own, He will take care of. Ditto for the rest of the cults and demoninations. There's a lot of good, genuine, loving people in every one of them. And if they are our enemies, all the more reason to love them and bless them. What credit is it to you if you love those who are already friends of yours?

Frankly I have found Christianity, at least the dominant churchianity that I have seen, to be pretty cold. Jesus has been faithful but the 'church' has been a huge stumbling block for me, I am often offended. I take comfort in knowing that the Lord has willed the wheat and the tares to grow up side by side and He can do the judging because He is the only one righteous enough to do so in my opinion.

Meanwhile the door of my house is open, and I will entertain the strangers that come with NO partiality. If Jesus wants to lash me for serving blueberry pie to the young Mormon brothers than so be it, I deserve it.

[tsth]

Again I stress I am speaking of protecting the flock/our children. Doesn't a shepherd do the same? A pastor, his congregation? A parent, a home?

In His Love,

Suzanne

[Catsmeow]

Throw dirt in my face if you like but IF I had little children, I wouldn't be inviting strangers into my house...particularly homeless ones. I've seen too many situations in Florida with Ted Bundy's who decided they want to indulge themselves with young, virginal daughters.

Call me a sinner or whatever...I'll handle that fine. I'll go to the bridges and inner cities where they are. I have. I've gone at the dark of night with food, blankets and hot coffee with hugs and lots of Jesus' love.

But OA, aint no way I'm bringing strangers into my own home if I have young virginal daughters who might be vulnerable. Sorry....

For me, it's all on principal, too.

I'll go to the homeless *(and used to do that for a long time in Kansas City).

But I'm not bringing strangers into my home now. I've seen too many situations like "Megan's Law" where little girls were kidnapped right out of their own beds.

Sorry, guys....my first concern is the safety of children.

That's where I stand.

[Catsmeow]

  What credit is it to you if you love those who are already friends of yours?

Frankly I have found Christianity, at least the dominant churchianity that I have seen, to be pretty cold. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

OA: Sis, they're not all cold....but why don't we just keep things a bit in balance?

When I was 17 and a "lost soul" a street preacher did the "nice thing" and let me live in his home and fed me. He even got me some hand-me-down clothing.

One problem: Once he got me into his church office, he wanted a little more than "counciling"....okay? *(I won't take it any farther than that).

There's more to the story that meets the eye....

Been there, done that.