Validation From Other Christians

Introverted2017 said:

For example, the Westboro Church, who are also Christian, believe that they are truly showing love towards the world by their picket stands. Jesus did say not everybody who calls him Lord Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven. I guess the real question is, is it a little arrogant to not care what anybody else thinks?

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Jesus followers who develop and maintain an active, close relationship with Jesus as their Savior and Lord will be compelled by the Holy Spirit to actively show the incredible love of Christ Jesus to the people around them in very tangible ways.

In what way, shape or form is the W church showing true Christian behavior?

Hello and welcome to CF! We are glad that you've joined us.

It is Christ and Christ alone who has the right (and ability) to judge persons with regards to their salvation. This is the area where we may invite judgement upon ourselves for judging others. We cannot see the hearts of men or know how God deals with them.

We do sometimes need to judge fruit, but that is more along the lines of someone who wants you to be their business partner but they are engaged with shady deals, or someone who wants to marry a Christian yet shows no devotion whatsoever to God. In those cases, we don't need to speculate on how God will judge them, but we know it is wise not to become yoked together with them in business or other partnership. Or, if we see a brother in sin, we can and should pray for them (not judgementally but with care in knowing we are also human and can fail if left to depend on our own selves).

I haven't watched a lot of Westboro, and maybe what I have seen was oversensationalized - I don't know. My point being I can't really say if this applies to them or not, but we need to be aware of the possibility of "Christian trolls" in media spotlight - it is possible some may claim Christ and behave with hatred, just to make Christians seem to be full of hatred in some people's eyes. I don't know. But what little I've seen was so extreme, and so opposed to Christian ethos, that I am reminded it is a possibility. Or maybe they are really that misguided and really are doing their best to be what they think Christianity should be. Again, I don't know their hearts, I cannot judge them. But I can look at the evidence and know it's NOT a church I'd ever get involved with, and pray for them as well.

But you asked if we need other Christian's approval? That's a complex question. Too much approval could ignite pride in us, and spiritual pride is deadly to the soul. Better to think lowly of ourselves, do the best we can, get feedback maybe from a trusted spiritual advisor if need be, and try to avoid thinking about or looking for praise.

Introverted2017 said:

Am I supposed to care what other Christians think? Is it arrogance to say to yourself 'I don't care what other Christians think?'

Sometimes Christians think they have the right to determine who is a true believer and who is not. They will make comments like we are supposed to judge the fruit in another persons life to determine whether a person is a true believer or not. But the problem with that is that believers are divided on what fruit looks like. They are always accusing one another of not being true believers.

For example, the Westboro Church, who are also Christian, believe that they are truly showing love towards the world by their picket stands. Then you had the Orlando event occur and some Christians went over there to be supportive, not condoning the sin of any kind of sinful lifestyle but be supportive towards the family that lost a loved ones. But Those believers who went over to Orlando to support the families that lost loved ones were being criticized by those Who did not agree with them? In fact, some of them were called false believers. Yeah, we are supposed to judge the fruit in another person's life, but it seems like believers have different opinions of what the fruit of the Holy Spirit look like.

And sometimes I just feel like having the attitude of I don't care what other believers think; i'm going to live the spiritual life the way I see fit. But I have this feeling that that's a little arrogant. But it's hard to be very humble when the Christian church is so divided.

Then you have Christians who bring up the fact that not everybody who calls upon the name of the Lord can be saved. Jesus did say not everybody who calls him Lord Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven. And yet I am supposed to trust in him when he said not everybody who calls him Lord Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven. How does that work?

I guess the real question is, is it a little arrogant to not care what anybody else thinks?

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We need to put God first before anyone else. Believers are filled with the Holy Spirit and John said that because we have the anointing of the Spirit within us we have no need that any man teach us. Therefore we get our guidance and teaching directly from God through His Word as the foundation, circumstances, the literary works of proven men and women of God through the centuries, the sense of peace that comes with the reception of truth, and the confirmation that comes from trusted, mature mentors whom you have known and fellowshiped with over many years.

The scripture says that if we a concerned about pleasing men, we cannot please God. God has to come first, even if everyone around you is opposing you. Paul had that experience. The scripture says that he was everywhere spoken against. If he had relied on validation from others, he would never have had the ministry he had. He even told Peter off at one point, and Peter was seen as the rock of the Church, having the keys of the kingdom! Peter was looking for validation from other Jewish Christians and that is why he was reluctant to go to Cornelius' household because they were gentiles. But God intervened with a vision that overruled the opinions and advice of everyone else.

The Westboro church is a hypocritcal church that is not representing Christ at all. They are just a group of religious zealots who are doing things in compete opposition to scripture. The scripture says that even while we were yet sinners, God loved us and gave Jesus to die for us. When Westboro hypocrites say that God hates people, they are not voicing from the Holy Spirit. These people don't know what spirit they are of, but real believers know without a doubt! Being validated by a crowd like that is like being validated by demons.

Introverted2017 said:

I guess the real question is, is it a little arrogant to not care what anybody else thinks?

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Probably.

The right approach is to care within reason. If a few people take some stand that you know to be wrong, you don't have much reason to care particularly; but OTOH if it's many, and from a range of denominations, it would be a mistake to dismiss their contentions without investigating.

Introverted2017 said:

Honestly, I don't know what the true Christian love is. I'm not at all claiming that the Westboro Church is showing true Christian love. I am saying I don't know because Christians have differences of opinion about what love looks like.

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I can tell you. Look in Galatians 5 to the fruit of the Spirit: Love, joy, peace, gentleness, goodness, patience, faithfulness, kindness, self-control. When a person is exhibiting these, they are showing true Christian love. Also 1 Corinthians 13 gives a good description of how a truly loving Christian conducts him or herself.

Introverted2017 said:

Honestly, I don't know what the true Christian love is. I'm not at all claiming that the Westboro Church is showing true Christian love. I am saying I don't know because Christians have differences of opinion about what love looks like.

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True Christian love is to care for those who need help who cannot do anything back for you.

Feed the hungry, visit the sick, clothe the naked, comfort the broken-hearted. Anytime you see anyone with a need, especially a Christian, an orphan, a widow, an "underdog" of society in any way, and offer them any kindness you have to share, even a smile, a word f encouragement, or carrying their groceries or opening a door for them, that is one way of showing Christian love. Especially if it is a natural way of life and works in all things you do.

Introverted2017 said:

I guess the real question is, is it a little arrogant to not care what anybody else thinks?

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In one sense, yes. In another sense, no.

You must always be open to criticism, as only a fool isn't; however, your ultimate judge is God.

Introverted2017 said:

Honestly, I don't know what the true Christian love is. I am saying I don't know because Christians have differences of opinion about what love looks like.

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Jesus followers who develop and maintain an active, close relationship with Jesus as their Savior and Lord will be compelled by the Holy Spirit to actively show the incredible love of Christ Jesus to the people around them in very tangible ways.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Introverted2017 said:

Am I supposed to care what other Christians think? Is it arrogance to say to yourself 'I don't care what other Christians think?'

Sometimes Christians think they have the right to determine who is a true believer and who is not. They will make comments like we are supposed to judge the fruit in another persons life to determine whether a person is a true believer or not. But the problem with that is that believers are divided on what fruit looks like. They are always accusing one another of not being true believers.

For example, the Westboro Church, who are also Christian, believe that they are truly showing love towards the world by their picket stands. Then you had the Orlando event occur and some Christians went over there to be supportive, not condoning the sin of any kind of sinful lifestyle but be supportive towards the family that lost a loved ones. But Those believers who went over to Orlando to support the families that lost loved ones were being criticized by those Who did not agree with them? In fact, some of them were called false believers. Yeah, we are supposed to judge the fruit in another person's life, but it seems like believers have different opinions of what the fruit of the Holy Spirit look like.

And sometimes I just feel like having the attitude of I don't care what other believers think; i'm going to live the spiritual life the way I see fit. But I have this feeling that that's a little arrogant. But it's hard to be very humble when the Christian church is so divided.

Then you have Christians who bring up the fact that not everybody who calls upon the name of the Lord can be saved. Jesus did say not everybody who calls him Lord Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven. And yet I am supposed to trust in him when he said not everybody who calls him Lord Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven. How does that work?

I guess the real question is, is it a little arrogant to not care what anybody else thinks?

Click to expand...

Look at this theme through Daniel 12:3, Philippians 2:12, 1 John 4:1-3, Matthew 7:13, Luke 6:44, John 13:35, Isaiah 6:7-13, Isaiah 58, Jeremiah 15:19-21 for instance. There is many who don't know this reality of the faith! They might rather clap and sing on Sunday and give 10% of their salary and tell all their friends that they will burn for eternity unless they join in, but they never really reached out to God and took upon themselves to Philippians 2:12 and Luke 14:27, so because they yielded their spirit to follow their fellow man instead, they become Isaiah 29:13.

There are many false Christians in the churches (2 Peter 2:1-2): those who live according to the flesh so The Holy Spirit does not reside within them (1 Corinthians 3). You will know them by their fruits: are you going to pick figs from a thorn bush? .. Some people evidently do!

Therefore, only care about what others think if a) they are right! (Proverbs 12:1) or b) it will benefit them to be corrected (Matthew 7:6), else do Romans 12:14 and Romans 14:4.

Introverted2017 said:

But I have this feeling that that's a little arrogant. But it's hard to be very humble when the Christian church is so divided.

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You are right! .. it is tragic (Galatians 5:9, Matthew 16:12).

Introverted2017 said:

I guess the real question is, is it a little arrogant to not care what anybody else thinks?

Click to expand...

Your user name has the word "introverted" on it and you could quite possibly be on the autism spectrum. Both apply to me, and I couldn't care less what anyone thinks on any topic with the exception of my wife. It's not arrogance, it's physiology.

Jesus seemed in a sense to care what people thought of him, and in another sense, didn't. He wanted people to believe in him. He didn't let unbelief or false friendliness slow him down.

Introverted2017 said:

Am I supposed to care what other Christians think? Is it arrogance to say to yourself 'I don't care what other Christians think?'

Sometimes Christians think they have the right to determine who is a true believer and who is not. They will make comments like we are supposed to judge the fruit in another persons life to determine whether a person is a true believer or not. But the problem with that is that believers are divided on what fruit looks like. They are always accusing one another of not being true believers.

For example, the Westboro Church, who are also Christian, believe that they are truly showing love towards the world by their picket stands. Then you had the Orlando event occur and some Christians went over there to be supportive, not condoning the sin of any kind of sinful lifestyle but be supportive towards the family that lost a loved ones. But Those believers who went over to Orlando to support the families that lost loved ones were being criticized by those Who did not agree with them? In fact, some of them were called false believers. Yeah, we are supposed to judge the fruit in another person's life, but it seems like believers have different opinions of what the fruit of the Holy Spirit look like.

And sometimes I just feel like having the attitude of I don't care what other believers think; i'm going to live the spiritual life the way I see fit. But I have this feeling that that's a little arrogant. But it's hard to be very humble when the Christian church is so divided.

Then you have Christians who bring up the fact that not everybody who calls upon the name of the Lord can be saved. Jesus did say not everybody who calls him Lord Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven. And yet I am supposed to trust in him when he said not everybody who calls him Lord Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven. How does that work?

I guess the real question is, is it a little arrogant to not care what anybody else thinks?

Click to expand...

You need to love your christian brother , love does not mean just good things , God himself , because he love you he will sometimes punish you for doing bad , you sometimes need to exort people in thier bad understanding of bible not because you hate them , but because you love them , and you love future generations , what if they teach thier kids in future wrong things ?