Don't Judge things Outside the Church

[Marathoner]

On 10/18/2023 at 7:17 PM, Vine Abider said:

I'm starting to begin to commence to believe they might be . . .  Sure, there's always been evil, but the question is twofold: 1) Are things ripe prophesy-wise?  (sorry, forget what the 2nd thing was, because my wife told me I had to get to making the pizza)

Oh, OK - the other thing is - I believe there must be a full, out in the open, manifestation of evil (corresponding to men's actions) at the end of the age.

I appreciate the response, brother. I asked because I would like to understand why this is so. I've discovered what sets me apart from so many, and it's this:

I don't view this world through an eschatological lens. I don't look at events in an effort to learn if they meet this or that. I will continue working on what the Lord sets in front of me come what may, no matter what that might be. I won't be surprised at His return, if He does indeed return while I'm still in this world.

So, it appears to be something I lack. I'm not fixated upon eschatology. I've never seen the need. 

[Marilyn C]

On 10/19/2023 at 6:50 AM, Vine Abider said:

As things in our world get more and more bizarre and out there, this passage in 1 Corinthians 5:12-13 is coming to me often in a stronger way:

"What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside."

I have to say, when I remember and apply this passage, it takes a big load off me ---> not trying to worry/control/influence what is going on in the world!  How about you?

Yes VA, 

God cares for all those people and in time many, so many - a number that no one can count, (Rev. 7: 9) will turn to God and be saved.

[AnOrangeCat]

1 hour ago, Marathoner said:

So, it appears to be something I lack. I'm not fixated upon eschatology. I've never seen the need. 

I hear you on this one. My grandparents were fixated to the point that I got a little jaded about it sometime in my 20s. I find it interesting to talk about and doing so is something that can be a point of Christian fellowship, but when I see things on the news like what we've got going today it doesn't really change the day to day for me much anymore.

But if other people feel it builds their faith and walk with God? That's fine too. It's one of those body of Christ things where we all have different roles and points of focus.

[Marathoner]

1 hour ago, AnOrangeCat said:

I hear you on this one. My grandparents were fixated to the point that I got a little jaded about it sometime in my 20s. I find it interesting to talk about and doing so is something that can be a point of Christian fellowship, but when I see things on the news like what we've got going today it doesn't really change the day to day for me much anymore.

But if other people feel it builds their faith and walk with God? That's fine too. It's one of those body of Christ things where we all have different roles and points of focus.

It's good to read the contributions of others here so I can understand. This can be difficult to relate to others, but my relationship with this life in Christ is similar to my experience as a soldier: I wait for the order to come. When the order comes, I carry it out as specified by command.  

A soldier isn't afforded a "bird's eye view" and isn't concerned with this. A soldier lives, breathes, and dies by command. So, I'm only concerned with what the Lord sets in front of me to do right now. Hopefully this analogy makes sense to the reader.

It's not that the evil which surrounds me in this world doesn't grieve me --- it does --- but after the Lord reversed what brought me close to death years ago, He made things so very simple for me: 

He will speak, and I will hear His voice. I will hear, I will obey, and walk in whatever He sees fit to place before me to do. I don't have to worry about tomorrow nor do I need to dwell upon the past, and this is how my life in Jesus Christ is very similar to my time as a soldier.

The Army provided for my needs in return for my life in service. The Lord provides for me and in every regard, this surpasses what men and their armed forces could ever give. 

They couldn't give me eternal life. They couldn't call me a son, for they are only men like I am. They didn't create me... but the Lord, who created me, has given me eternal life and calls me His son. 

So, I only concern myself with today. I'm not worried about tomorrow. He has blessed me greatly that way. 

[Vine Abider]

9 hours ago, Marathoner said:

I appreciate the response, brother. I asked because I would like to understand why this is so. I've discovered what sets me apart from so many, and it's this:

I don't view this world through an eschatological lens. I don't look at events in an effort to learn if they meet this or that. I will continue working on what the Lord sets in front of me come what may, no matter what that might be. I won't be surprised at His return, if He does indeed return while I'm still in this world.

So, it appears to be something I lack. I'm not fixated upon eschatology. I've never seen the need. 

 

8 hours ago, AnOrangeCat said:

I hear you on this one. My grandparents were fixated to the point that I got a little jaded about it sometime in my 20s. I find it interesting to talk about and doing so is something that can be a point of Christian fellowship, but when I see things on the news like what we've got going today it doesn't really change the day to day for me much anymore.

But if other people feel it builds their faith and walk with God? That's fine too. It's one of those body of Christ things where we all have different roles and points of focus.

 

6 hours ago, Marathoner said:

It's good to read the contributions of others here so I can understand. This can be difficult to relate to others, but my relationship with this life in Christ is similar to my experience as a soldier: I wait for the order to come. When the order comes, I carry it out as specified by command.  

A soldier isn't afforded a "bird's eye view" and isn't concerned with this. A soldier lives, breathes, and dies by command. So, I'm only concerned with what the Lord sets in front of me to do right now. Hopefully this analogy makes sense to the reader.

It's not that the evil which surrounds me in this world doesn't grieve me --- it does --- but after the Lord reversed what brought me close to death years ago, He made things so very simple for me: 

He will speak, and I will hear His voice. I will hear, I will obey, and walk in whatever He sees fit to place before me to do. I don't have to worry about tomorrow nor do I need to dwell upon the past, and this is how my life in Jesus Christ is very similar to my time as a soldier.

The Army provided for my needs in return for my life in service. The Lord provides for me and in every regard, this surpasses what men and their armed forces could ever give. 

They couldn't give me eternal life. They couldn't call me a son, for they are only men like I am. They didn't create me... but the Lord, who created me, has given me eternal life and calls me His son. 

So, I only concern myself with today. I'm not worried about tomorrow. He has blessed me greatly that way. 

I appreciate all three of these posts!  And I agree that an excessive focus on end of the age events can be a big distraction.  I know of some who, in my opinion, get way too deep in trying to figure things out, and are at least somewhat distracted in their walk with the Lord because of their extreme focus on prophesy.  It seems like it also leads some into a bunch of conspiracy theories and fear.  This is not watching - it is obsessing. 

However, there is also a specific blessing that's stated for reading the book of Revelation.  I appreciate how the bothers here have approached Revelation - the last two times we went through it as a group, it was done in a way that didn't try to figure out all the dates and specifics.  Yet, both times we went through this book in the last six years, I was greatly edified and encourage by what the Lord showed us!

So I think there's a balance.  Anything can become a distraction.  We can watch and know seasons, yet our real focus is always to be on our relationship with Christ.

[Marathoner]

4 hours ago, Vine Abider said:

 

 

I appreciate all three of these posts!  And I agree that an excessive focus on end of the age events can be a big distraction.  I know of some who, in my opinion, get way too deep in trying to figure things out, and are at least somewhat distracted in their walk with the Lord because of their extreme focus on prophesy.  It seems like it also leads some into a bunch of conspiracy theories and fear.  This is not watching - it is obsessing. 

However, there is also a specific blessing that's stated for reading the book of Revelation.  I appreciate how the bothers here have approached Revelation - the last two times we went through it as a group, it was done in a way that didn't try to figure out all the dates and specifics.  Yet, both times we went through this book in the last six years, I was greatly edified and encourage by what the Lord showed us!

So I think there's a balance.  Anything can become a distraction.  We can watch and know seasons, yet our real focus is always to be on our relationship with Christ.

Well said. @AnOrangeCat wrote about something vitally important, being our calling in Christ. It might seem complex to consider but that's only from our limited perspective.

The Lord prepares each one of us to walk in His calling. What we experience in this life to include the circumstances of our birth... our lives before we came to the Son of God... and how He called us from this world constitue this preparation. 

Then, after we are in His hand, we are equipped to walk in those works He created us to do. I came to understand how my childhood experiences prepared me for what was to come and this is where @AnOrangeCat and myself share common ground. 

It was never easy so I'm accustomed to finding myself in the midst of evil, suffering, and despair. It's not dissimilar to the world of the battlefield. I wasn't affected by the efforts of our drill sergeants to shock us and subject us to grim conditions. The live fire training which included explosions didn't shake me. I kept my head down and low-crawled under the concertina wire. My buddy "froze", so I grabbed his web gear and pulled him until he snapped out of it. 

When my father shot at me from a few feet away, it didn't register. I turned around and looked at the bullet hole in the wall behind me. He missed. Interesting. 

This is why I don't consider such things as new, brother. It's always been that way from my perspective. I've sat and listened to the life story of more than one drag queen, and I wept with them. What they went through was horrible, and I learned how to be a friend of the friendless that way. Be there, and don't withhold anything good from those who ask.

It all depends upon our calling in Jesus Christ. 

[Bella2023]

 

On 10/18/2023 at 4:16 PM, Logostician said:

I judge the actions of people with the discernment of the Spirit of God.  But Jesus is the judge of all mankind.  Nobody knows the deep things of the hearts of man like him.  He created all things, and died to save us.  He has more than earned the right to judge all things.  He became a man to know our state intimately.  He is ultimately qualified to judge us.  He was and is without sin.  He is the only man righteous to judge.  The only one.

Amen, you have good understanding of this topic I think. I'm agree with you.