The right way to handle those who don't agree on spiritual doctrines

well repentence isnt something you do for others or your parents or someone with spiritual views or a priest (as in a catholicism, you go into a cupboard, tell a priest your sins and he gives you some hail marys to say) its something you do before God Himself.

Often peoples time with God isnt in a church building in view of everyone or even on a christian forum, confessing on how sinful you are. Its usually in those quiet moments alone with Him when nobody else is around.

Yes, we should always be ready to give an answer to anyone that asks us of the hope within us.

Yes, it's important to watch for pride in ourselves in our answers to others in forums like this. Pride can make a person blind against learning new truths. It can also make a wrong impression on others, and that doesn't glorify Christ. I am not allowing myself to be under the affect of pride by answers I give to others. It is very hard to know how to avoid offending others in what one says, as one must state what one believes, though not all may like it or may misunderstand oneself. I think I learn with time how to better avoid being unnecessarily confusing to others. I sometimes say I pray for other who disagree with me. If I forgot to say that I know that they might pray for me too - well, I regret it if that makes them feel I am more of a Christian necessarily - than they are. However, I'll admit that some who don't agree with me on the need for repentance towards God - may not be true Christians. Because I know that some who believe the way they do - are not true Christians.

I "don't judge the servant of another" because their journey may be different from mine and just need time and spiritual growth to come to agreement...

I understand where you are coming from, I too feel that those who are wrong just may not be born again to receive the truth. However, I "don't judge the servant of another" because their journey may be different from mine and just need time and spiritual growth to come to agreement, 1 Cor 1 tells us to have no divisions among us.......Jesus said that a liittle leaven spoils the whole......it seems to me that with the leading of the Holy Spirit ALL the children of God will come to be of that ONE MIND, the mind of Christ, the author and perfecter of our faith.

Thanks! You reply explained it very well! I copied down for myself what you said, too! I had forgotten that verse in Luke 9:5 - yes, that's a very good verse on the subject, too!

I think that although some Christians don't read and study their Bibles as much as they should - that many do. Yet they are heavily influenced by their own pre-existing views on things, and by what kind of spiritual teaching they have been most under. So that the Bible verses on some subjects means something quite different to one person as compared to another person.

God bless you!

I agree, but sometimes we have to
be open to the fact we might be the ones who need to grow. I certainly have discovered how wrong I was about many things I believed were scriptural and I am sure God has plenty more to correct me on and may oftentimes use others To challenge me as much as I may at times challenge them.

How could a sweet lady like you have that attitude in a FORUM where ideas are exchanged, debated and disputed.....to ignore them that do not agree with you? I'm certain the apostles faced that daily, but they were never deterred. To offer to "pray" for them is an back-door insult and indicates some spiritual pride....it says to them 'you are wrong to disagree with me and are not saved like I am'.

Its a forum....not a tea party. But being civil is part of good manners.
My first venture into the forums a couple of years ago.....off and on since for awhile.....when I looked back at my exchanges with others I was appalled at my behavior. It was a good lesson to me to see my own spiritual pride.

Do two red Xs equal a checkmark?

Do two red Xs equal a checkmark?

That depends on who's giving the red Xs.

A male sheep is called a rams. Rams have horns and they butt heads.
Wolves have teeth and they bite, with intent to kill.

This is the attitude Christians need to have when dealing with those who differ with them in spiritual doctrines:
"I'll pray for you, and I love you, but I don't agree quite the same."
And if you find they don't agree quite the same as you - and can see that they aren't likely to change their views any time soon - then often, it is best to keep communication on those things at a minimum with them. Since God wants us to be peacemakers and also to help keep the unity of Christians in the whole church of God, here on the earth. It does no good to keep telling their views if they are solidly set in their own views on a thing. It is the same way when working at converting unbelievers to Christ. If they aren't interested or open to hearing the gospel message you have to offer - then just pray for them, and let the Holy Spirit work on them.
Jesus preached to crowds a lot. Paul did too, and preached regardless of what opinions might be of some in his congregations. That's a lot like posting spiritual things on the internet. But Jesus didn't explain spiritual things to others personally, unless He knew they had a genuine interest in hearing what He had to say. He always explained such things personally - aside from the crowds - to his disciples.
I looked for testimonies of people who got converted to Christ. I noticed some were more like Luther - in his approach to salvation. Coming out of the Catholic church - he had to learn that works alone can't save anyone. That gave him much relief, and led to his salvation, since he came to see that being saved came largely as a result of God's grace. He rejected the book of James, I've read, as he thought it was not a genuine book of the Bible.
Other testimonies of conversions I read about - were about people who prayed to get converted to Christ, but didn't at first respond to the need to repent of their sins. They didn't have full assurance of their salvation, until they learned the importance of repentance, from the Bible.
As for myself, I thought I got converted, when I was 12 years old. But I denied the need for full repentance towards God. I didn't come to full repentance unti many years later, after I surrendered my life wholly to God - and came to be in the habit of always praying for God to help me be as obedient as was possible. And always doing my best to be as obedient to God as I possibly could, And always repenting daily of my sins. After that big change of my way of following God in my life - I for the first time, had full assurance of being saved. And have continued to have that assurance ever since.
I used to strongly feel the presence of evil forces in my life, and it felt scary. Now, I feel safe - and feel God's presence with me every moment of every day in my life. So much better this way - so glad for this very important improvement in my life!

Eph 4:1-3
4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
KJV

Paul gave the advice here

Romans 14:5, KJV: "One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind."

I understand where you are coming from, I too feel that those who are wrong just may not be born again to receive the truth. However, I "don't judge the servant of another" because their journey may be different from mine and just need time and spiritual growth to come to agreement, 1 Cor 1 tells us to have no divisions among us.......Jesus said that a liittle leaven spoils the whole......it seems to me that with the leading of the Holy Spirit ALL the children of God will come to be of that ONE MIND, the mind of Christ, the author and perfecter of our faith.

True - we aren't to judge one another unnecessesarily. As God knows people's hearts better than we are capable of knowing them. Though we can't help question in our minds about whether a person we're addressing - is saved or not. That's understandable, as not all who say they're saved, really are. But we shouldn't mention our doubts until unless it becomes clear to us that they don't know God. This all takes learning. Not all understand the range of doctrines there are, among true Christians, but may understand better with time. One saying that makes sense, is something like this: "When we get to heaven - some people will be surprised to know that some people are there that they'd thought wouldn't be there!"