Many of us here seek truth where we take scriptural facts and find a conclusive position, but there are many who find a conclusion for which they must find facts to support. This seems to be the quandary many find themselves in. Too often people find themselves rooted in church families that believe a certain way and to be a part of that family they must conform doctrinally. To disagree doctrinally is to be rejected from that family. Hence the the quandary of "a conclusion in search of facts"
So to try to convince some to see the true conclusion of scripture is the same as asking them to be rejected by their church family. These are all steps along the way of course. Jesus Himself was:
Isa 53:3 KJV He is
despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
I would say that being rejected is part of taking up our cross and following Him. I pray that those who argue the facts that come against their conclusions for the sake of being "accepted" will find the moral fortitude to step into the smaller fellowship of believers, fragmented, rejected of men but strong in faith.
As Jesus clarified; these are His true brothers and sisters;
Mat 12:47-50 KJV Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. (48) But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? (49) And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! (50) For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
I appreciate you brother...
Good post my friend. Thank you for your kind words. The Lord is gracious to allow us to serve Him and one another through His Spirit. Praise GOD and thank you for your service.
I agree, we are blessed to be able to serve and "build one another up"! Nice to be reminded..Thank You!
I pray we all find the desire to read and commit to a brotherly civility, even love:
1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.
Romans 14:19 So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.
Hebrews 3:13 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
Jude 1:20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,
Ephesians 4:12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
Ephesians 4:29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.
2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.
Ephesians 4:16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
Hebrews 10:24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,
Ephesians 4:15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,
And below is one of my favorites because it, like the verses on "fruits of the spirit" and the one where Jesus says "these are my mother and brothers...." these have the intention of being a litmus test for identifying spiritual brothers;
Joh 13:34-35 KJV A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. (35) By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples,
if ye have love one to another.
As time passes and posts build like a bench of witnesses for or against us, we have the opportunity to scrutinize one anothers conversation towards one another to see if there is "love one to another" or "contempt". It takes effort, but let's leave a trail of witnesses for us. Sure, anger is inevitable, but let it be tempered with love.
Jesus was clear as to just how important this matter is when he made it clear that interaction we desire with God is secondary to finding rest with our brothers, so he commanded or admonished:
Mat 5:23-24 KJV Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; (24) Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way;
first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
And I hope more of us will realize that while these forums are at times uplifting, never let any tension or wrath between one another go overnight. Settle the issue if only to say; "brother, I look forward to the day when we will all see things clearly, so maybe we could find the rest and unity and then just go fishing together! Thank you for working at it with me."
The admonition below is important even in these forums:
Eph 4:26 KJV Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
I know this may all sound cheesy or over the top, but I know I need to keep these things in mind and that if we commit to civility the Holy Spirit will have more opportunity to work among us.
Sorry for another long post. I will work of more meaning in fewer words.
Bless YHWH! Know and Keep!