If Joe Schmoe comes to me and tells me that laughing at fart jokes is a sin, then I would say that it isn't, and if he insisted, then I would refrain from laughing at fart jokes in front of him in the future (though I wouldn't tell him that he is a 'weaker brother').
we are talking about in that paragraph, course jokes that contain fart humor, not just jokes about farting. As such, in that specific situation, you saying that laughing at course jokes that contain fart humor in them is not sinful would be outside the truth of scripture since we are instructed to not participate in course talk. As to the "weaker brother" if you are sighting why you are refraining from such laughter in front of him, as in disciplining in the truths of scripture, or a biblical discussion about how to handle ones self in such a situation, you better use the term "weaker brother" because it is important to the nature of the discussion. If you are not disciplining, nor discussing biblical matter, as in, just casually talking, then obviously, noting the passage you are taking your cue from would be unnecessary. IOW's all depends on the context of the situation.
If he then gathered witnesses against me about my unrepented sin of giggling at fart jokes, I would likely cut off most communication with that group. Why? Because I find such nitpicking silly and intolerable and useless and unChristlike (not to put too fine a point on it).
lol are you offended by lol's too? again, in the context of the discussion, we are now crossing a line into sin, either the sin of laughing at course jokes that involve farts, or the sin of judging another, depending on the situation at the time. The lol is because you are removing context to make a point, which is not very loving, Christian like, nor edifying, and isn't the point of the thread how to make sure we are edifying one another? I am truly amazed at how much failure there is on this thread about edifying one another, there really is. Maybe it would help to identify exactly what edifying means....from Websters...: to teach (someone) in a way that improves the mind or character....so, if I show you that you are wrong, I can be edifying you, as long as it is done in love, even if you do not like what was said, (note about done in love, in this context the key is motive, that is if the motive is reconciliation) It is not edifying to try to justify one's own sins of bashing another with opinion or taking things out of context to make a point, nor is it edifying to be unnecessarily harsh or rude. None the less, correction, is edifying even if it is not well accepted. So how then do we make sure we remain on the side of edifying? By speaking every word from our lips (fingertips) in the breath of the Love of the HS, for the purpose of building them up in the faith, that is maturity in Christ.
I haven't been following the whole thread, so I'm not sure what you said. All I caught was that you suggested Matthew 18 as a solution to 'sin issues' (excellent, of course), and MKgal asked about issues that are not 'sin issues'. The problem being that what is a 'sin issue' to one is not a 'sin issue' to another.
if scripture says it's a sin, it better be a sin for both parties that claim to be followers of Christ!!!!! As to the rest of what you say here, there were some specific situations talked about that you apparently missed, as an example, the first paragraph you mention in this post, specifies that the fart humor has crossed the line into course jokes...the second paragraph specifies that if the two have not agreed that it is a matter not specified in scripture as sin, then the line of judgment has been crossed and we are back to Matthew 18 only this time, it is to the one who is judging, not the one who is giggling at fart jokes. IOW's both of your objections require that the comments be taken out of context in order for you to make your point...which is a real problem for your objections.
My example about fart jokes (and I mean that literally...jokes about fart noises) was inspired by a thread started by a man who stopped attending any fellowship because one or two young people insisted on telling him fart jokes. This is clearly a case of personal preference morphing into moral law and I (though I certainly do humble myself to the preferences of others in love) am not obligated to the law of Joe Schmoe. Nor is any child of God, of course.
you are obligated to the law of God if the jokes cross the line into course language, which scripture speaks against and was the context of the above discussion that you are quoting.
Me? Twisting and drama? Maybe you have me mixed up with someone else?...
lol....maybe, just like some here have me mixed up with someone who can't communicate or someone who can't agree to disagree.