Is it better to save feelings, or save souls?

[Riverwalker]

We are so programmed by society today to thinking that we MUST NOT OFFEND that I think many Christian's are modifying the message and the truth, so as not to offend. 

I would suggest this approach is doing more harm than good. To make someone comfy on the road to hell is not our calling. This world has veered so far off of Gods path that we have justified killing babies in the womb, verifying numerous lifestyle choices, and vilified those who will tell the truth.

I am hear to tell you that it is okay to be such a "Villain"

The New Testament is full of men who "offended" Of men and women who defied the evil edicts of the established leadership  (both church and state) who demanded they shut up or face punishment.  From John the Baptist, to the Apostles, to many saints named and unnamed.  They faced death.  All of the Apostles save John were martyred, Peter, Paul, James Matthew, et all died as a direct result of not being quiet. They did not engage in rebellion to the established authority, but when the established authority required them to disobey God, they refused.

And of course the ultimate example is Jesus Himself....put to death by those who could not hear his voice and would not change.

Today each of us face a much softer opposition, but If we proclaim the truth we are called haters, homophobes, racists, and whatever else they can think of, to try and get us to shut up.  But we must not shut up. Because it is better to save souls, than to save feelings.

And I would rather be called a hater by man, and faithful servant by God, than to stand before God at the end of all things and try and explain why I let so many people pass by me on the way to hell without warning

------------------

John 15:18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.

----------------

Matthew 5:11-13

Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

---------------

Jesus is our example.  He told the hard truth in love, never condemning, but never compromising the truth and ALWAYS calling us to repentance,

So never compromise the message of Christ because it is an offense to this world. It has ALWAYS been an offense to the world .

Besides, if we step on a few toes we can always pray for healing:)

 

 

[Alive]

Its not complicated. Preach the Gospel and both word and deed and give reason for the Hope that is in us.

It isn't necessarily required to attack what is evil, but rather proclaim what is true. What I am saying seems a subtle difference and it is.

It is the Holy Spirit's job to convict and God's job to regenerate the elect.

 

[missmuffet]

2 hours ago, Riverwalker said:

We are so programmed by society today to thinking that we MUST NOT OFFEND that I think many Christian's are modifying the message and the truth, so as not to offend. 

I would suggest this approach is doing more harm than good. To make someone comfy on the road to hell is not our calling. This world has veered so far off of Gods path that we have justified killing babies in the womb, verifying numerous lifestyle choices, and vilified those who will tell the truth.

I am hear to tell you that it is okay to be such a "Villain"

The New Testament is full of men who "offended" Of men and women who defied the evil edicts of the established leadership  (both church and state) who demanded they shut up or face punishment.  From John the Baptist, to the Apostles, to many saints named and unnamed.  They faced death.  All of the Apostles save John were martyred, Peter, Paul, James Matthew, et all died as a direct result of not being quiet. They did not engage in rebellion to the established authority, but when the established authority required them to disobey God, they refused.

And of course the ultimate example is Jesus Himself....put to death by those who could not hear his voice and would not change.

Today each of us face a much softer opposition, but If we proclaim the truth we are called haters, homophobes, racists, and whatever else they can think of, to try and get us to shut up.  But we must not shut up. Because it is better to save souls, than to save feelings.

And I would rather be called a hater by man, and faithful servant by God, than to stand before God at the end of all things and try and explain why I let so many people pass by me on the way to hell without warning

------------------

John 15:18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.

----------------

Matthew 5:11-13

Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

---------------

Jesus is our example.  He told the hard truth in love, never condemning, but never compromising the truth and ALWAYS calling us to repentance,

So never compromise the message of Christ because it is an offense to this world. It has ALWAYS been an offense to the world .

Besides, if we step on a few toes we can always pray for healing:)

 

 

The message that God wants Christians to send out to this world should never be watered down. We should always proclaim the truth that is in the Holy Bible. The literal truth. How do we do this? Are we to shout this is people's face? or always have an answer for someone of why we believe if asked?

[Marathoner]

We don't save anyone, including ourselves. The Lord does. 

How do we show forth the mercy, grace, forgiveness, and power of Jesus Christ upon this earth? By walking in His Spirit... bearing fruit according to the measure of that work which He started in us... by emptying ourselves so we might be filled, and pouring out what we receive from God upon our neighbor in good measure, withholding nothing good from any who ask. We love as we are loved. 

Words alone accomplish nothing. If we have nothing to offer our neighbor but words - "do as I say, not as I do!" - how is this any different from what the pagans have to offer? Writing (or speaking) about loving our neighbor as ourselves is one thing, but walking in this love is another.  

Edited July 18, 2021 by Marathoner

[Riverwalker]

20 minutes ago, Marathoner said:

We don't save anyone, including ourselves. The Lord does. 

How do we show forth the mercy, grace, forgiveness, and power of Jesus Christ upon this earth? By walking in His Spirit... bearing fruit according to the measure of that work which He started in us... by emptying ourselves so we might be filled, and pouring out what we receive from God upon our neighbor in good measure, withholding nothing good from any who ask. We love as we are loved. 

Words alone accomplish nothing. If we have nothing to offer our neighbor but words - "do as I say, not as I do!" - how is this any different from what the pagans have to offer? Writing (or speaking) about loving our neighbor as ourselves is one thing, but walking in this love is another.  

Walking in mercy grace and forgiveness alone also accomplishes nothing. We can't just sit back an model Christianity(though that is important) we must proclaim the truth

Unless they hear the word of God from us....how will they ever know to call on the name of the Lord

Romans 10:

 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Israel Rejects the Gospel

14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:

“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,
Who bring glad tidings of good things!”

16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

 

[TheBlade]

Its the cross that offends. The gospel is GOOD NEWS not bad news  Christ hurts cries because the world does not know how much He loves them. Fear is never used by God.. that spirit of not of God. Its the sweet holy Spirit that pulls at the heart not us and our words. He HAS to lead us for He knows the heart knows what it needs to hear. 

Something we need to get very clear here.. GOD does not need us to save anyone. He uses us  Pride does infact come before the fall. To walk in the spirit.. the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. But if I do not have love, I gain nothing.  Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails

See if we truly want the lost to hear us then we need to die to self and make this not about us but Him. This love and fruit must be there or its all in vain. "if I do not have love, I gain nothing."

What Christ did He is still doing just not by many "Jesus went about doing good, curing the sick, restoring the sight of the blind, making the lame walk, raising the dead back to life, feeding the hungry, and driving away demons from possessed people as he also preached and enacted the coming of the Kingdom of God." 

HAHA ah praise GOD GLORY GLORY GLORY to Jesus.. I can't tell you how many times this happens. Try to guess what song is playing.. By the Allies "Send me". Yeah look what we are talking about.. praise GOD! 

"

When your feelings are hurt again
The laborers are few
Send me when you need someone
Till the work has all been done
I'll be serving you, send me

 

Send me To the hearts that have been broken
So that when Your word is spoken
The wounds will start to mend
Send me In the power of Your Spirit
To the ones that need to hear it
So the healing can begin

 

The battlefield is far away
Warriors are few
Send me to defend the faith
Till the wars have all been won
I'll be serving you, send me

 

Send me.. To the hearts that have been broken
So that when Your word is spoken
The wounds will start to mend

Send me In the power of Your Spirit
To the ones that need to hear it
So the healing can begin

 

This world is dying day by day
And You're the only cure
I think I can show the way
How can I be sure?
Unless you...

 

To the hearts that have been broken
So that when Your word is spoken
The wounds will start to mend
By the power of Your Spirit, Lord
To those who need to hear it
So the healing can begin!

Edited July 18, 2021 by TheBlade

[johnthebaptist]

6 hours ago, Riverwalker said:

We are so programmed by society today to thinking that we MUST NOT OFFEND that I think many Christian's are modifying the message and the truth, so as not to offend. 

I would suggest this approach is doing more harm than good. To make someone comfy on the road to hell is not our calling. This world has veered so far off of Gods path that we have justified killing babies in the womb, verifying numerous lifestyle choices, and vilified those who will tell the truth.

I am hear to tell you that it is okay to be such a "Villain"

The New Testament is full of men who "offended" Of men and women who defied the evil edicts of the established leadership  (both church and state) who demanded they shut up or face punishment.  From John the Baptist, to the Apostles, to many saints named and unnamed.  They faced death.  All of the Apostles save John were martyred, Peter, Paul, James Matthew, et all died as a direct result of not being quiet. They did not engage in rebellion to the established authority, but when the established authority required them to disobey God, they refused.

And of course the ultimate example is Jesus Himself....put to death by those who could not hear his voice and would not change.

Today each of us face a much softer opposition, but If we proclaim the truth we are called haters, homophobes, racists, and whatever else they can think of, to try and get us to shut up.  But we must not shut up. Because it is better to save souls, than to save feelings.

And I would rather be called a hater by man, and faithful servant by God, than to stand before God at the end of all things and try and explain why I let so many people pass by me on the way to hell without warning

------------------

John 15:18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.

----------------

Matthew 5:11-13

Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

---------------

Jesus is our example.  He told the hard truth in love, never condemning, but never compromising the truth and ALWAYS calling us to repentance,

So never compromise the message of Christ because it is an offense to this world. It has ALWAYS been an offense to the world .

Besides, if we step on a few toes we can always pray for healing:)

 

 

To save souls, you have to get people to listen to you.

Edited July 18, 2021 by johnthebaptist

[Kenny'sID]

Both, if possible. If not possible, I'd tend towards the souls.

[Riverwalker]

4 hours ago, johnthebaptist said:

To save souls, you have to get people to listen to you.

No...that part is up to God....you just have to say it

[johnthebaptist]

26 minutes ago, Riverwalker said:

No...that part is up to God....you just have to say it

If you are rude to a person, they probably won't listen to you. If I am rude to you, you probably won't listen to me.