Jessica Simpson

[Constant]

I appreciate where you are coming from but I refuse to sit back at my computer and let someone be rude to me or others on here when it is uncalled for.

[Khristeeanos]

I think it's one thing to say you disagree with someone's behavior and state that you disapprove of it, especially if they claim to be believers. However, I strongly disagree with judging someone's heart because that is not our place. God alone knows the motives of someone's heart, and He alone is worthy to be their judge.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Matthew 3:10

The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

Matthew 7:15

"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.

Matthew 7:16

By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

John 15:4

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

John 15:5

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Matthew 5:8

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Matthew 6:21

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 9:4

Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, "Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?

Matthew 12:34

You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.

Matthew 15:8

" 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.

Matthew 15:18-20

But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.' For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. 20These are what make a man 'unclean'; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him 'unclean.' "

We could go on and on here quoting Scripture, Tess. But surely you can understand the importance of a Christian judging another's behavior. If I see my best friend who is married go into a hotel with some girl who is not his wife, am I not commanded by Scripture to judge his behavior and go to him and confront him?

Here is what the Bible says:

1 Corinthians 5:9-13

I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people

[Kabowd]

Once again, let me make this perfectly clear: I agree that we can judge behavior, and I agree that we should hold one another accountable..especially those who claim the name of Christ. I agree with that. But you can quote Scripture til you're blue in the face and you won't find one that tells us we should judge another person's heart. Of course their actions will be evidence of what is in their heart, so we'll have a good indication. HOWEVER, only GOD knows another person's heart. Period. Anyone in here who claims to know whether or not another person is truly saved is crossing the line...as none of them are the Holy Spirit. You cannot know for sure whether or not someone else is saved. They may be struggling with a stronghold and trying to break free from it, God may be working with them on correcting their behavior...you just don't know what's going on inside of a person's spirit.

By the way, Constant, I wasn't referring to you (that I know of). I was commenting specifically on those who keep questioning other's salvation and saying "how do you know she's truly saved" and stuff like that. I don't think it's appropriate. Afterall, I'm sure there were plenty of "fruit inspectors" who might never have seen David as a "man after God's own heart" during certain period's of his life. Peter had a temper, Paul had his own struggles. Not one of us is without sin. We weren't given the encouragement to examine fruit in order to judge another person's spirit, we were given this as a way of protecting ourselves from false doctrines and false leaders. We shouldn't use it as an excuse to throw stones at one another either.

[Gerioke]

I think it's one thing to say you disagree with someone's behavior and state that you disapprove of it, especially if they claim to be believers. However, I strongly disagree with judging someone's heart because that is not our place. God alone knows the motives of someone's heart, and He alone is worthy to be their judge.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Matthew 3:10

The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

Matthew 7:15

"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.

Matthew 7:16

By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

John 15:4

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

John 15:5

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Matthew 5:8

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Matthew 6:21

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 9:4

Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, "Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?

Matthew 12:34

You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.

Matthew 15:8

" 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.

Matthew 15:18-20

But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.' For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. 20These are what make a man 'unclean'; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him 'unclean.' "

We could go on and on here quoting Scripture, Tess. But surely you can understand the importance of a Christian judging another's behavior. If I see my best friend who is married go into a hotel with some girl who is not his wife, am I not commanded by Scripture to judge his behavior and go to him and confront him?

Here is what the Bible says:

1 Corinthians 5:9-13

I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people

[Guest Brotherman]

Hi,

Not one of us knows her heart only God does... In fact our hearts are still deceitful... Jer 17:9... How many times does God speak of our hearts in the new T... There is much ignorance there and from what we know by the grace of God... it is apparent that there is much lacking in her life such as the REALITY of the Lord, His love, His judgment, His good and perfect will and desire for us to know Him... We need to focus on our relationship with the Lord and be the lights of the world and live our lives freely and truthfully in Him in all things... He gives us that choice...

For those who read this: read and soak in the word on these scriptures: 1Cor5:12-13 and 1 Cor2:6-16

The Brotherman

I am always open to messages done prayerfully

[CarolineS]

This is turning into an interesting thread.

Anyone else have a comment?

CarolineS

[eric]

gerioke, you said,

If you have a problem with your brother or sister then you should take it up with them personally before you drag it out into public. Anything beyond this is gossip. 

And that is exactly what I have been trying to say all along. It tells us in the bible what to do about someone who we believe is acting in an unchristian manner, and it doesn't mention anything about criticising them publicly,but to call them aside and have a word in their ear in privately. The person in question is not here to defend the allegations made against herself. I am not intending to be rude to anyone, but just stating the facts as I read them. End of story.

e

[Khristeeanos]

Once again, let me make this perfectly clear: I agree that we can judge behavior, and I agree that we should hold one another accountable..especially those who claim the name of Christ. I agree with that. But you can quote Scripture til you're blue in the face and you won't find one that tells us we should judge another person's heart. Of course their actions will be evidence of what is in their heart, so we'll have a good indication. HOWEVER, only GOD knows another person's heart. Period. Anyone in here who claims to know whether or not another person is truly saved is crossing the line...as none of them are the Holy Spirit. You cannot know for sure whether or not someone else is saved. They may be struggling with a stronghold and trying to break free from it, God may be working with them on correcting their behavior...you just don't know what's going on inside of a person's spirit.

By the way, Constant, I wasn't referring to you (that I know of). I was commenting specifically on those who keep questioning other's salvation and saying "how do you know she's truly saved" and stuff like that. I don't think it's appropriate. Afterall, I'm sure there were plenty of "fruit inspectors" who might never have seen David as a "man after God's own heart" during certain period's of his life. Peter had a temper, Paul had his own struggles. Not one of us is without sin. We weren't given the encouragement to examine fruit in order to judge another person's spirit, we were given this as a way of protecting ourselves from false doctrines and false leaders. We shouldn't use it as an excuse to throw stones at one another either.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You said that we can't tell for sure that someone else is saved or not. Well the Scriptures are clear once again.

Acts 13:10

"You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?

Paul certainly knew this person was unsaved.

This same principal is elsewhere in the NT as well.

1 John 3:10

This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.

It seems very, very clear to me that we are plainly told how to determine if someone is saved or if they are not saved.

It really is amazing how we can find the truth when we open the Bible and examine it closely.

I have changed many of my beliefs and doctrines upon closer examination of the Scriptures...................

[nebula]

And that is exactly what I have been trying to say all along. It tells us in the bible what to do about someone who we believe is acting in an unchristian manner, and it doesn't mention anything about criticising them publicly,but to call them aside and have a word in their ear in privately. The person in question is not here to  defend the allegations made against herself. I am not intending to be rude to anyone, but just stating the facts as I read them. End of story.

I've been thinking about this, and in many regards I believe your assessment to be correct, yet I had a little nagging going on....

I finally figured how to express this nagging feeling.

Now, if this was Jane Doe down the street - definantly yes.

But what is Jessica Simpson? She is an idol of our society, a person many people (unfortunatley) look up to as a role model.

Now, I'm not for tearing her to peices and worrying about whether she was never saved, is backslidden, is a compromising Christian, or whatever - that is all pointless. Just look at the lifestyles of the Christians Jesus was rebuking in Rev. 2 & 3!

But if this woman's sin is causing young ones to stumble, should we not address this somehow?

[Constant]

I agree with you Nebula. Jessica Simpson has alot of fe,ale fans that are young and what message is she sending to them by saying" I am very religious and a Christian." but in the same sentence prance around on t.v. and magazines looking like a stripper or street walker. I am not gossipping just stating what I see. She isn't so and so down the road, she is an idol.