A Sad day

[Shyguy]

I'm a rock and roll, democrat who is an outward unapologetic homosexual ...

Now .. Tell me .. Does that say Christian?

No it doesn't. The fundamental basis of these lifestyles are in direct conflict of the Word of God. We have to live in the world, but were not supposed to live as part of it.

The word Christian is thrown around so much today its become almost meaningless and in the end its not a label that defines you as a Christian its your walk. Do you walk in the light certianly one has to wonder when people define themselves using terms such as these. You ask were is the love ...

I ask .. Where is the accountability?

Edited February 23, 2005 by Shyguy

[Keith]

DELETED

I erased my post because I realized that it didn't follow the original thoughts of this thread. Moderator, feel free to delete this.

Edited February 23, 2005 by Keith

[RustyAngeL]

Anytime the flesh steps in there is going to be problems. I have seen people hurl insults to others about their looks, and other things. We need to get back to what Jesus told us. "Love one another as I have loved you"

[Sarah_Servant_of_God]

im glad there are a few at least who agree that the Church and Christians in general are on a downhill slide.

Many times i have gone to Christian friends, in my church and else where, seeking comfort encouragement and uplifitng... instead 9 times out of 10 i get canned responses like "God is in control" "Just have faith" "things will get better" and so on. I dont dout that God is in control but we all have times of struggle, when we dont need a lecture we need comfort. I dont need to hear that i need to have more faith and not be so selfish and pitty party that i need to be happy and giddy when i feel like my world is falling in around me. I need the comfort and love of brothers and sisters in Christ. I need to know that i am not standing alone.

I have seen far too many times someone asking for prayer for a request that is close to their hearts, only to have someone tell them just to trust God, that its not a big deal, theres nothing really they can do about it so just trust God.... In times of struggle and fear and uncertainity we need to know there are those who will rally with us and pray and suport us. and sometimes we DO need to hear or online SEE the prayers. Yes prayers at any time help but there are those low times in our lives when it helps to actually see that someone is praying for us and with us, and not juts giving canned answers and a quick hug and then moving on.

i underestand what Abigailwc means when she talks about getting nods and the ocassional "yeah thats right" but never any action. I have talked for 20 minutes in Sunday School before about reaching out into the community to the "outcasts" of the church - the homeless, the former drugs addics and alcholholics, the homosexuals, the former cult members and the goths and so on. I get lots of blank looks the occasional nod and the "yeah Sarah thats a good point.. ..... ok now moving on before she starts up again..." Where is the Love of Jesus, the well do not need the doctor it is the lost and the sick.

I agree there is good done, souls won and lives turned around, but many are also turned off by the hypocritical lives many so called Christians live. If we are to be "min exacmples of Christ" to this world then its time we start refecting HIS LOVE to ALL who hunger for a drink of the living water !

[Trinity]

The thing is the Moderators tried to explain nicely why the thread got locked. Maybe the thread got locked because the Moderators knew something we didn't. I have a feeling that we didn't get the full story by these guys who were complaining. I trust the Moderators, they know what they're doing and i've never met a Power hungry Moderator on this site.

Yes there feelings could had been very well hurt but,,, does it mean that they weren't in wrong? I agree with the Mods, i think this thing was blown way out of paportion. I think the mods did this so it wouldn't cause trouble, he didn't like it and so here we are.

We are to submit to the authority that is placed above us. This thing could had been delt with in private but they didn't want to so it became a war. They shouldn't had done that.

I think people haven't heard the full story...

[nebula]

Thanks, Trinity!

[Trinity]

Thanks, Trinity!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Your welcome

[Sarah_Servant_of_God]

ummm what thread being locked????? im just posting something thats been on my heart for a while... thats all.

[Christ's Free Servant]

Maybe im just ranting... but this has really been bugging me.  Christians-online and in real life... need to stop being so nit picky and always looking for what is wrong with someone.  we all have our problems and our stains and our weaknesses.  But we also all have strengths and gifts.  We are to encourage the strengths and help build up the weaknesses... and I am tired of Christians claiming to love their brothers and sisters yet they cant see past the weaknesses and past mistakes and the little things.  maybe its time to get the planks out of our eyes before we try and remove the speck from our brother and sister's eyes.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hello Sarah!

I understand what you are saying. I have been the object of much judgment over my lifetime, not because I was living in sin. In fact, the times I was judged the most were the times when I was walking with God the most. And, the people who were judging me were the ones in the church. They were judging me by their standards of who they thought I should be, how I should act, what I should say, etc. And, they judged my walk with the Lord by outward appearance only. They did not even bother to find out who I was or why I thought or felt or acted the way I did. They didn't care. I just did not fit their mold of who they thought I should be, so they made their judgments. They became the jury and the judge and they pronounced a sentence without even so much as giving me a hearing. And, because I did not fully understand the Sovereignty of God, I gave way to the fear of their opinions and I gave up on obeying God in being who he created me to be on many ocassions and for a period of time.

The irony of the whole situation is that when I finally got tired of being slam-dunked by other Christians due to their false judgments of me, I did forsake my beliefs and I did fall into serious sin. It took a lot of years to get me to that point, but Satan wore me down until he finally got me to give up the fight. And, you know what? During the years when I was miserably failing God, when I was living in deep depression and was giving in to gross sin, do you think even one believer came to me to find out how I was doing? NO! Did one even care? NO! Did one even criticize me or judge me during that time? NO! Not even one!! You know why? Because I was not doing anything. So, they left me alone. I was silent and in the background where they wanted me. It didn't matter to them that I was living in sin and depression and that I now hated my life and wanted to die. I was no longer a voice for God. They had silenced me. And, so all was well.

Praise God, the Lord did not leave me in that condition. He kept at me until he brought me back. And, I came back even more determined than before to be the person God created me to be, even though I still faced much rejection because I stood for what was right. I stood up for those who were judged falsely and who were rejected and who were mistreated and who were pushed aside because they did not fit in the "mold" of what our Christian society accepts as valuable. I stood on the truths of God's word. I stood for loving restoration instead of harsh criticism. I stood for the idea that anyone can change. I stood for the value of each individual to be the person God created him or her to be, and I mean within Biblical teaching on what is acceptable behavior, too.

We all need to treat one another like Jesus treats us. He accepts us. He loves us. He made us who we are. He did not make any mistakes. He died for us so that we could be free from our sin. He lovingly confronts us with our sin and he gently instructs us in the way we should go. He longs to be gracious to us. He longs to show us mercy. That is why he is so patient with us. God treats us like a loving father treats a child he loves and that is how we should treat our brothers and sisters. We should care when they have fallen into sin and we should lovingly work with them to restore them to a right relationship with God. But, we should never look down on anyone or feel we are somehow superior or judge their hearts. We can judge the sin in the church and we can work with believers to restore them and to show them lovingly and gently how to live the right way. But, it is not our job to judge personality or the gray areas or to put someone down or write them off or talk about them behind their backs. We should all put on Jesus Christ and his love and we should love others and he loved us and gave himself for us.

Sue

[Trinity]

ummm what thread being locked????? im just posting something thats been on my heart for a while... thats all.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I wasn't implying that you where saying that to the mods, and those comments weren't directed to you, there was a couple of people that accused the Mods for being mean spirited people and i wan't to let people know that they're not.

And yes i agree with you, words are flying around alot, i never said you were wrong. I happen to agree lol