Is this a red flag to you?

Ark100 · #81 30th May 2012, 01:12 AM

And if you are unable to make a distinction between my use of prostitute and the elders as an example of God's love and forgiveness for everyone regardless of how poor, wise, filthy, respectable,elderly, pastoral, prophetic, knowing, corrupt, righteous we think we are, then you will be incapable of understanding or accepting God's love for humanity including yourself.
No one is above mistake.
Its got nothing to do with my use of prostitutes as an example. It has everything to do with 'no one is above mistakes, and if anybody claims they are with no sin, they make God out to be a liar'

Yes, if the elder does it again, someone should definitely correct them or see what's going on with that, but its a one off, and I can say that The Lord knows, He forgives and its not something people should get their tights in knots about.

Trogool · #82 30th May 2012, 01:21 AM

nevermind

brinny · #83 30th May 2012, 09:06 AM

Originally Posted by Life2Christ

At church yesterday one of the " elders" who is respected got up to speak. He teaches classes at the church and is well respected in general. Yesterday he was telling us something from his life about failing a test he studied for and casually said, "jesus christ....". You know when people say"jesus Christ I can't believe it.". Now sometimes I have a foul mouth but saying JC in that manner is something I just dont do. At all. Am I being sensitive?

The issue that he casually said "Jesus Christ" IS a red flag. A HUGE one. it indicates he has an "ease" in saying it, a 'familiarity' with it, as if it's part of his vocabulary. It also indicates a condition of the heart. What is in our heart, comes out when we're not thinking. that's why we are to examine our hearts (examine ourselves). for what is in the heart, comes out through the mouth.

A man of God (or woman) "fears" God. Fearing God means that one has a Godly respect for Who God is. Someone who "fears" God is conscious of God, and "walks" with God, and is sensitive to what pleases God. And it's because this person loves God with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength, and delights in Him, that he doesn't use our Savior's name in vain.

I am a recovering cuss-er. I cussed worse than 10 sailors, and then some. Apparently Peter was also. When Peter denied Jesus amidst cursing, he was convicted. his heart was broken and he was grieved. He repented. He never denied Jesus again, and from then on he would never casually use Jesus' name in vain. As a matter of fact he died for Jesus, which we are to do daily. putting from us those sins that so easily beset us.

For myself, when i cussed, i used jesus name in vain. i was willful and disobedient and i had a fiery temper. my heart condition was abominable (and yes, i was a Christian) God, in His grace, however, changed my heart and He removed surgically that heart condition. it's because i repented and asked Him too, when i recognized it. Having that heart condition while thinking i was offering anything on God's behalf, was like offering Him filthy rags. How insulting. I was insulting God. I was like Cain who insisted God take his offering HIS way, and became angry when God didn't and went out and killed his brother Abel. His heart condition was that he did not love God. He wanted recognition for being "righteous" and for God to give it to him. After all, look at all he's done for God. How dare God reject what he offered.

The elder you speak of should've immediately turned that into a "learning" experience, a "teachable moment" 9he's a teacher, right?) right up there, using his own weakness as a chance to demonstrate what one does when they stumble in their walk. Repent right then and there, and ask everyone to pray and support him as he seeks God for this condition of heart that would casually enable him to say our Savior's name in vain.

This is what is meant by walking with God and to pray without ceasing. Living our lives from the inside out, transparently. if we have a problem with saying our Savior's name in vain, we need to say so, and get Godly counsel to get to the root of why that is. God doesn't take it lightly and neither should we.

brinny · #84 30th May 2012, 09:15 AM

Originally Posted by Life2Christ

Thank you for the input. BFine, I didn't mention it to him after the service. I'm always accused of being too sensitive and I immediately would have been the enemy.

Just wondering....you say you're always accused of being too sensitive? And you would've immediately been the enemy? Would you be so kind as to elaborate?

Thank you.

Life2Christ · #85 30th May 2012, 11:23 AM

Originally Posted by brinny

Just wondering....you say you're always accused of being too sensitive? And you would've immediately been the enemy? Would you be so kind as to elaborate?

Thank you.

From the time I was little I have been considered too sensitive. If you read about "empaths" and HSPs "highly sensitive people" this is me.

My sister makes fun of me saying that I can't "take a joke". Because I read between lines too much. So if I call someone on something, I am accused of being too skeptical, cynical. In Matthew 15:18 it says what defiles the man is what comes out of his heart. So I tend to look at the heart and the motivation (not the words.)

In this particular case, the elder mis-spoke. To me that means, it was in his heart. My fellow church goer would say "what? no way...he just misspoke." I would be looked at as a "judger". But if I slam everyone who mis-spoke I would have no love in me. Plus I'm an imperfect person too. The trick is to not throw the baby out with the bathwater. That is what I"m learning...discernment.

That being said, if you are an elder of a church...it adds another layer of complication to what should be a no-brainer of a mistake for the average person.

brinny · #86 30th May 2012, 11:42 AM

Originally Posted by Life2Christ

From the time I was little I have been considered too sensitive. If you read about "empaths" and HSPs "highly sensitive people" this is me.

My sister makes fun of me saying that I can't "take a joke". Because I read between lines too much. So if I call someone on something, I am accused of being too skeptical, cynical. In Matthew 15:18 it says what defiles the man is what comes out of his heart. So I tend to look at the heart and the motivation (not the words.)

In this particular case, the elder mis-spoke. To me that means, it was in his heart. My fellow church goer would say "what? no way...he just misspoke." I would be looked at as a "judger". But if I slam everyone who mis-spoke I would have no love in me. Plus I'm an imperfect person too. The trick is to not throw the baby out with the bathwater. That is what I"m learning...discernment.

That being said, if you are an elder of a church...it adds another layer of complication to what should be a no-brainer of a mistake for the average person.

an elder of a church should be an example of someone who on a regular basis examines himself, his heart, and shares how he is growing in Christ. his heart should be transparent through his words. his love of God should be evident.

Once, a rough man, who had lived a hard life and was a biker, gave his life to Christ. It is said that he was asked to speak before the congregation. And he agreed, because he wanted to be obedient. So he goes up front. He gives his name, and gives a bit of his testimony. Then, with a loss for words, and kind'a stuck, he says "What the hell else do i say?"

No one was offended. The reason? He was speaking from his heart, and those words were still a part of him. He was new. He was as transparent as glass, not trying to hide a thing.

The example of your elder is that he is an elder, and thus should be an example of a man of God, who knows God, and thus has the characteristics of a man after God's own heart, and who honors God through his thought, word, and deed.

An elder, casually saying our Savior's name in vain, indicates a heart condition that is not right with God.