Many Christians are habitually refusing to admit error
- Thread starter Nehemiah6
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One earns the right to correct another.
For instance, my aunt corrected me as a young man about drinking too much on a few occasions. She said, don't you know that I love you and I don't want anything to happen to you?
At that point, I stopped drinking excessively. At that point, I was looking for meaning in life, and someone told me I was too serious and didn't party enough. I realized that this person didn't know what they were talking about. Eventually I turned my life over to Christ.
Anyways, my aunt showed through her love that she had the right to correct me. I listened to her.
Regarding doctrinal issues, a person would need to prove by their sound thinking and reasoning from the Scriptures that they are worthy of serious consideration. Also, they would need to prove by their lifestyle that they are worthy of serious consideration because the truth has worked itself through their lives. For instance, an older believer who has been faithful to his wife for 50 years would be credible with regards to marriage.
One must also consider that forum personalities could be anything. They could be some three-time divorced person, or someone who beats their children, or someone who holds kooky beliefs. I personally would not put much stock in that person in real life, so why would I attribute it to a forum personality?
I remember someone on a forum telling me that I needed to listen to the forum elders. They didn't like my opinion on something. Apparently they were suffering from the delusion that the forum was a church fellowship of some type. It is not, and there are no elders on a forum. They haven't went through a membership voting process that recognized their godly character like elders or deacons in real churches do. They don't have a face-to-face relationship.
Therefore, they are not qualified to administer correction. They haven't demonstrated love that shows they are concerned with the person. In fact, often they are venting hatred or animosity on some peripheral issue. So, what credibility do they have?
For instance, my aunt corrected me as a young man about drinking too much on a few occasions. She said, don't you know that I love you and I don't want anything to happen to you?
At that point, I stopped drinking excessively. At that point, I was looking for meaning in life, and someone told me I was too serious and didn't party enough. I realized that this person didn't know what they were talking about. Eventually I turned my life over to Christ.
Anyways, my aunt showed through her love that she had the right to correct me. I listened to her.
Regarding doctrinal issues, a person would need to prove by their sound thinking and reasoning from the Scriptures that they are worthy of serious consideration. Also, they would need to prove by their lifestyle that they are worthy of serious consideration because the truth has worked itself through their lives. For instance, an older believer who has been faithful to his wife for 50 years would be credible with regards to marriage.
One must also consider that forum personalities could be anything. They could be some three-time divorced person, or someone who beats their children, or someone who holds kooky beliefs. I personally would not put much stock in that person in real life, so why would I attribute it to a forum personality?
I remember someone on a forum telling me that I needed to listen to the forum elders. They didn't like my opinion on something. Apparently they were suffering from the delusion that the forum was a church fellowship of some type. It is not, and there are no elders on a forum. They haven't went through a membership voting process that recognized their godly character like elders or deacons in real churches do. They don't have a face-to-face relationship.
Therefore, they are not qualified to administer correction. They haven't demonstrated love that shows they are concerned with the person. In fact, often they are venting hatred or animosity on some peripheral issue. So, what credibility do they have?
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i have admitted here publicly that im wrong and have repented of it. @dcontroversal knows first hand.
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I agree the three-time divorced person could be used in some ways, but notice that the context of my remarks is marriage. I would not ask that person for marital advice. I would not expect people to ask my advice on losing weight and being physically fit, since I am overweight.
At the very least, such a person would show poor discernment in marital partners.
And, notice that I mentioned a three-time divorced person. Not someone who was divorced once, or even twice. I mentioned three times. This reveals a pattern.
At the very least, such a person would show poor discernment in marital partners.
And, notice that I mentioned a three-time divorced person. Not someone who was divorced once, or even twice. I mentioned three times. This reveals a pattern.
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Providing Scripture does not necessarily support a position. Scripture can be quoted out of context. I belonged to a cult that used Scripture profusely, but their hermeneutics were messed up. As a result, they were applying Scripture out of context, and filtered through their presuppositions.
Unfortunately their teachings involved central issues, not peripheral issues like many of the discussions here.
Unfortunately their teachings involved central issues, not peripheral issues like many of the discussions here.
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The pattern suggests a problem. Did Christ take divorce seriously? I think he did...in fact, Scripture only has a few exceptions in regards to divorce. One is abandonment by an unbeliever, and the other is sexual immorality.
If I am having marital problems, am I going to seek advice from an elder who has been married to his wife over 50 years, or am I going to seek advice from a man who has been divorced multiple times? Who is the faithful one who has endured his marriage, and hasn't bailed out during hardships?
This isn't brain surgery. I'm going to go to the guy who has been faithful, not the one who bailed multiple times. In fact, I don't think that person is qualified to be an elder, unless the previous marriage occurred as an unbeliever or some extraordinary circumstance, so what does that tell you?
The elder reflects God's character in some ways, and God doesn't bail out on those he is in covenant with. That is why adultery and divorce is serious. A primary attribute of God is his chesed, or covenant faithfulness. This word is tattooed on my left arm, to remind myself that God has steadfast love for me, and I should strive to exhibit the same steadfast love toward Him and others. I fail at that constantly, but I would likely fail more if I didn't understand God's chesed.
I also agree that a person can be an example by being a bad example. For instance, Samson is a negative example, regarding his sexual immorality.
If I am having marital problems, am I going to seek advice from an elder who has been married to his wife over 50 years, or am I going to seek advice from a man who has been divorced multiple times? Who is the faithful one who has endured his marriage, and hasn't bailed out during hardships?
This isn't brain surgery. I'm going to go to the guy who has been faithful, not the one who bailed multiple times. In fact, I don't think that person is qualified to be an elder, unless the previous marriage occurred as an unbeliever or some extraordinary circumstance, so what does that tell you?
The elder reflects God's character in some ways, and God doesn't bail out on those he is in covenant with. That is why adultery and divorce is serious. A primary attribute of God is his chesed, or covenant faithfulness. This word is tattooed on my left arm, to remind myself that God has steadfast love for me, and I should strive to exhibit the same steadfast love toward Him and others. I fail at that constantly, but I would likely fail more if I didn't understand God's chesed.
I also agree that a person can be an example by being a bad example. For instance, Samson is a negative example, regarding his sexual immorality.
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I don't think I'd get much business 
People who are trainers are modeling their own commitments, and their body should reflect the value of their approach.
People who are trainers are modeling their own commitments, and their body should reflect the value of their approach.
I should say the elder should model God's character. This is true of all believers, but elders are to be examples to the rest of the congregation. In a way they also serve as the "face of God". If they are not faithful in their marital relationships, then how can they model God's faithfulness to the believer?
Personally I don't think a divorced person can be an elder, except in extraordinary conditions, other than being the innocent party to sexual immorality or abandonment by an unbeliever. I am not saying there isn't some exception to this, but in general I wouldn't hold that a divorced individual can be an elder due to the "one wife" stipulation.
Personally I don't think a divorced person can be an elder, except in extraordinary conditions, other than being the innocent party to sexual immorality or abandonment by an unbeliever. I am not saying there isn't some exception to this, but in general I wouldn't hold that a divorced individual can be an elder due to the "one wife" stipulation.