Split - How Words Can Affect Change

[Ovedya]

Let me share a little anecdote on why I feel it's important to take a very careful appraoch to subjects like this.

Some years ago, when I was fairly young as a believer, I attended a Bible study of college students in our ministry. We were sharing about what we thought of a particular ministry message that we had just read through, about living the overcoming life. I began to share about how we can live the overcoming life by seeking the Lord at all time, and that if we just seek Him in all things then a lot of problems would be solved. I continued in a kind of rant against how people were always going to see psychologists for this and that, insinuating by my words that any believer who went to see a psychologist was not genuinly believing the promises of the Bible.

Unbeknownst to me, however, was a young woman with us who had some serious emotional/psychological issues that she was working through with a Christian psychologist. Immediately after I had sppoken she jumped up from where she was sitting and ran to the bathroom in tears. I was so engrossed in this little "message" that I was giving that I didn't even notice that my words had affected her like that. It wasn't until later that a brother made me aware of what happened. I had to seriously repent and ask her forgiveness. I am sure, however, that my words still affected her, despite the apology.

There was no way that I could have known that that sister would be there when I said what I did. But I could have chosen my words much more carefully, with the knowledge that someone like that could be in the room.

I think about Paul's exhortation to the church to give preference to the weaker members, and in situations like this I wonder which is more important: The weaker members or my opinions on a certain matter. I could very well be right about a certain thing, but if that weker member stumbles because of my opinion or because of my speaking, what is the profit there? The stumbling of the weaker member is certainly charged against me by the Lord! Especially if that weaker member falls from the faith!

So I guess the essential point here is that wisdom is not the collection of knowledge or understanding. Wisdom is the ability to use knowledge and understanding prudently for the benefit of the Body of Christ; and not for the sake of yourself, but for His sake, for His glory, and for the building up of the church.

"Now him who is aweak in faith receive, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his considerations." (Rom. 14:1)

"But we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those who are weak and not to please ourselves." (Rom. 15:1)

"And we exhort you, brothers, Admonish the disorderly, console the fainthearted, sustain the weak, be long-suffering toward all." (1 Thess. 5:14)

[Ovedya]

The above post was split from a new thread on the issue of suicide. In that thread the issue of the consequences of suicide were being discussed, rather than the symptoms of this issue, which appear to be much more concerning to the Body of Christ (At least it seems more concerning to me).

We've already voiced our opinions on the consequences in previous threads. But what about the symptoms? What about the causes of teen and adult suicide? What about the almost pandemic issue of depression and serious emotional problems in our young people today; and how can we utilize our resources to help young people and adults dealing with these issues? How can we, as friends, as family, as fathers and mothers of people with serious emotional problems help them to cope with them, and how can we help to lead them out "into the light" so to speak?

Let's all share our thoughts, feelings, anecdotes, prayers, and words of life with one another in this thread, and let's discard the issues of contention and struggle between us. We all share the same Christ within us. Let's share Christ between us as well.

[Ovedya]

I was thinking the same thing earlier today, ruck (ITA with your last post too, btw )

Posts that contain "debatable" topics tend to be more frequently viewed/responded to.

[RGR]

Good points!

[RGR]

Now, how 'bout you pin this bad boy?

[nebula]

I was thinking the same thing earlier today, ruck (ITA with your last post too, btw )

Posts that contain "debatable" topics tend to be more frequently viewed/responded to.

Oh - I have a lot to say on this matter . . .

It's just that right now I don't have the time to write what it is I need to say . . .

Too many lab reports to grade.

sorry you got me baffeled what does ITA mean.

"I totally agree"

[Openly Curious]

I

[buckthesystem]

I think people tend to take offence far too easily today. We all seem to be "walking on eggshells" trying to "choose our words carefully" so as not to offend, and as a result we don't get to say what we really mean.

Though, of course, we do have to put thought into what we do and say and not blunder ahead with a speech that is obviously not appropriate.

"How words can affect change" indeed. There is a whole industry today built around the twisting of words and creating "neutral" and "inclusive" statements to say absolutely nothing.

We have to be careful that we continue to reject politically correct words and euphemisms and say what we actually mean. This is all within reason of course.

[>> Hannah <<]

We've already voiced our opinions on the consequences in previous threads. But what about the symptoms? What about the causes of teen and adult suicide? What about the almost pandemic issue of depression and serious emotional problems in our young people today; and how can we utilize our resources to help young people and adults dealing with these issues? How can we, as friends, as family, as fathers and mothers of people with serious emotional problems help them to cope with them, and how can we help to lead them out "into the light" so to speak?

Let's all share our thoughts, feelings, anecdotes, prayers, and words of life with one another in this thread, and let's discard the issues of contention and struggle between us. We all share the same Christ within us. Let's share Christ between us as well.

Firstly although i have been told by members not to read the suicide threads, debating whether or not a christian who commits suicide goes to heaven or hell. i have follwed them, and being totally honest, the past few weeks i have seriously been contemplating cmmiting suicide. in a way i was reading the posts hoping to find out that i still went to heaven so that i as a christian could go ahead and do it and still go to heaven. You have to remember this is not someone in a good state of mind thinking. i just want to address the fact of how dangerous that thread could of been. But the people posting in it didnt think of that did they!?!

i have been depressed for the past 7 years, and simply telling someone that they have no reason to hate themselves doesnt work, that persons mind is set and although god can change it that person has to want to change the situation, im not saying that they want to be in the situation but it becomes a habit a lifestyle and you just convince yourself its never going to change.

I believe that no one persons experience of depression, suicide. is the same. everyones has started for a different reason, everyone has different ways of "coping" with it, everyone has a different outcome.

But one similarity or one truth that can be applied to all the situations is that only god can bring them out and away from it.

Depression needs to be caught as soon as possible. But its not like an infection, tablets dont fix it. Nothing fixes depression once youve been through it, its a personal upward struggle to try and put ur life back together to a point where you are satisfied.

Alot of depression is about the self, often depressed people come across as self absorbed and sometimes selfish.

Although i believe god is the only thing that can set them free.

Battering them round the head with it wont help.

I have so much more to say, but feel maybe im not going down the wrong root this thread is suppose to be going down.

Please let me know if what i have said is right.

[Openly Curious]

We've already voiced our opinions on the consequences in previous threads. But what about the symptoms? What about the causes of teen and adult suicide? What about the almost pandemic issue of depression and serious emotional problems in our young people today; and how can we utilize our resources to help young people and adults dealing with these issues? How can we, as friends, as family, as fathers and mothers of people with serious emotional problems help them to cope with them, and how can we help to lead them out "into the light" so to speak?

Let's all share our thoughts, feelings, anecdotes, prayers, and words of life with one another in this thread, and let's discard the issues of contention and struggle between us. We all share the same Christ within us. Let's share Christ between us as well.

Firstly although i have been told by members not to read the suicide threads, debating whether or not a christian who commits suicide goes to heaven or hell. i have follwed them, and being totally honest, the past few weeks i have seriously been contemplating cmmiting suicide. in a way i was reading the posts hoping to find out that i still went to heaven so that i as a christian could go ahead and do it and still go to heaven. You have to remember this is not someone in a good state of mind thinking. i just want to address the fact of how dangerous that thread could of been. But the people posting in it didnt think of that did they!?!

i have been depressed for the past 7 years, and simply telling someone that they have no reason to hate themselves doesnt work, that persons mind is set and although god can change it that person has to want to change the situation, im not saying that they want to be in the situation but it becomes a habit a lifestyle and you just convince yourself its never going to change.

I believe that no one persons experience of depression, suicide. is the same. everyones has started for a different reason, everyone has different ways of "coping" with it, everyone has a different outcome.

But one similarity or one truth that can be applied to all the situations is that only god can bring them out and away from it.

Depression needs to be caught as soon as possible. But its not like an infection, tablets dont fix it. Nothing fixes depression once youve been through it, its a personal upward struggle to try and put ur life back together to a point where you are satisfied.

Alot of depression is about the self, often depressed people come across as self absorbed and sometimes selfish.

Although i believe god is the only thing that can set them free.

Battering them round the head with it wont help.

I have so much more to say, but feel maybe im not going down the wrong root this thread is suppose to be going down.

Please let me know if what i have said is right.

Hannah and ole how she prayed before the Lord but will God grant a selfish petition to someone.