A Book.

[Willie T]

It's a risk. You can believe that you, too are going to get the same self-righteous cold shoulder that the outcasts get if it begins to be seen that you have the audacity to associate with "them".

But, at our church, we spell FAITH, R-I-S-K. If you look to others for your validation, doing things like loving the unlovely will hurt... but remember that you are in good company..... they killed Jesus for that kind of "heresy" and "unrighteousness".

 

[brinny]

It's a risk. You can believe that you, too are going to get the same self-righteous cold shoulder that the outcasts get if it begins to be seen that you have the audacity to associate with "them".

But, at our church, we spell FAITH, R-I-S-K. If you look to others for your validation, doing things like loving the unlovely will hurt... but remember that you are in good company..... they killed Jesus for that kind of "heresy" and "unrighteousness".

That is quite a powerful word ---> "risk" and another key point is "loving the unlovely" .......do you think both can be seen/defined as possibly "sacrificial"?

 

[Willie T]

Aah, a change? What change brother. Care to be more specific? Thank you kindly.

When someone shuns one of God's little ones who is not as "pretty" or "proper" as a "Christian" is supposed to be... get up out of your pew, and go sit beside them. Invite them out to lunch... or even over to your home.

You'll soon lose some friends, but, not Jesus.

 

[Willie T]

That is quite a powerful word ---> "risk" and another key point is "loving the unlovely" .......do you think both can be seen/defined as possibly "sacrificial"?

In that it DOES sometimes hurt... maybe. But I see it more as a chance to do some of what Jesus did. What a great gift to be given to us.

 

[brinny]

Originally Posted by brinny View Post
Aah, a change? What change brother. Care to be more specific? Thank you kindly.

When someone shuns one of God's little ones who is not as "pretty" or "proper" as a "Christian" is supposed to be... get up out of your pew, and go sit beside them. Invite them out to lunch... or even over to your home.

You'll soon lose some friends, but, not Jesus.

this could very well be a sermon in itself....thank you.

Does God speak of this very thing in the Bible? Any verses come to mind?

 

[brinny]

Originally Posted by brinny View Post
That is quite a powerful word ---> "risk" and another key point is "loving the unlovely" .......do you think both can be seen/defined as possibly "sacrificial"?

In that it DOES sometimes hurt... maybe. But I see it more as a chance to do some of what Jesus did. What a great gift to be given to us.

even if it "hurts"?

 

[Willie T]

this could very well be a sermon in itself....thank you.

Does God speak of this very thing in the Bible? Any verses come to mind?

Remember when Jesus reached out, and actually "touched" the leper? This could have dealt a death-blow to His ministry.... If that was what He was interested in.

 

[Willie T]

even if it "hurts"?

It only really hurts our pride, right? Is that not something to actually desire sometimes?

 

[brinny]

Originally Posted by brinny View Post
this could very well be a sermon in itself....thank you.

Does God speak of this very thing in the Bible? Any verses come to mind?

Remember when Jesus reached out, and actually "touched" the leaper? This could have dealt a death-blow to His ministry.... If that was what He was interested in.

Aah, yes, to actually "touch" a leper......this also reminds me of someone else shunned to the utmost who had the audacity to "touch" the hem of Jesus' garment and His consequent reaction to this audacious person....

 

[Willie T]

Do you know what the Bible means when it speaks of "the fear of man?"

It's mostly just being afraid of what others will think of us.

 

[bmjackson]

Many are wounded in the church because they are the wrong class, colour, or have the wrong sort of job and the chronically sick who cannot attend services often because of the noise levels. Many are wounded because of their childhoods and need to feel acceptance and love but they end up even more wounded by cold judgemental believers. In societies of the world, often men do receive acceptance but in the church it is hard to find. Why? I think it is due to the self righteousness that comes with the doctrine of devils, that of OSAS and that holiness is not required.

 

[brinny]

Do you know what the Bible means when it speaks of "the fear of man?"

It's mostly just being afraid of what others will think of us.

Thank you, that's a good point...what is the antithesis to "the fear of man"?

 

[Willie T]

Many are wounded in the church because they are the wrong class, colour, or have the wrong sort of job and the chronically sick who cannot attend services often because of the noise levels. Many are wounded because of their childhoods and need to feel acceptance and love but they end up even more wounded by cold judgemental believers. In societies of the world, often men do receive acceptance but in the church it is hard to find. Why? I think it is due to the self righteousness that comes with the doctrine of devils, that of OSAS and that holiness is not required.

True.

And I also think a lot of it comes from us not realizing that there is no letter "I" in the word, Jesus.

 

[brinny]

Many are wounded in the church because they are the wrong class, colour, or have the wrong sort of job and the chronically sick who cannot attend services often because of the noise levels. Many are wounded because of their childhoods and need to feel acceptance and love but they end up even more wounded by cold judgemental believers. In societies of the world, often men do receive acceptance but in the church it is hard to find. Why? I think it is due to the self righteousness that comes with the doctrine of devils, that of OSAS and that holiness is not required.

Thank you, as i read and think of what you posted, what unfolds before me is the question....

are there any in the Church that are not wounded?

 

[Willie T]

Thank you, that's a good point...what is the antithesis to "the fear of man"?

Yep! Love of God. (and I believe we are to show that love by loving the same people Jesus came to rescue.)

 

[brinny]

Originally Posted by brinny View Post
Thank you, that's a good point...what is the antithesis to "the fear of man"?

Yep! Love of God. (and I believe we are to show that love by loving the same people Jesus came to rescue.)

Thank you. For certain, brother. Anything else come to mind?

 

[Willie T]

Thank you, as i read and think of what you posted, what unfolds before me is the question....

are there any in the Church that are not wounded?

Therein lies yet another point Jesus made...... "Confess one to another...."

We not only have to open our eyes to the pain of others.... we are to let them see ours. Many of us fail in this for fear of.... again.... how we will look, and what others will think of us.

I can often be guilty of easily and freely doing for others (even to the point of being somewhat prideful about it), but I have to MAKE myself vulnerable by exposing my own shortcomings and failures. This one is VERY hard for me.

 

[bmjackson]

Thank you, as i read and think of what you posted, what unfolds before me is the question....

are there any in the Church that are not wounded?

Good question. I think that all men are and need to be made whole but it is the seriously wounded that l was talking about.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

Originally Posted by bmjackson

Many are wounded in the church because they are the wrong class, colour, or have the wrong sort of job and the chronically sick who cannot attend services often because of the noise levels. Many are wounded because of their childhoods and need to feel acceptance and love but they end up even more wounded by cold judgemental believers. In societies of the world, often men do receive acceptance but in the church it is hard to find. Why? I think it is due to the self righteousness that comes with the doctrine of devils, that of OSAS and that holiness is not required.
​

True.

And I also think a lot of it comes from us not realizing that there is no letter "I" in the word, Jesus.

Not sure what the relevance of that is. Can you elaborate more? Thanks


.

 

[Willie T]

Not sure what the relevance of that is. Can you elaborate more? Thanks


.

We humans have a tendency to think of "I" (me) more than we do, Jesus. And it shouldn't even be a "balance" since Jesus is everything.... with none of us, or himself, (the natural pride of "I") in His love for others.