mhess13 said:
Are we not commanded to seperate ourselves from those who teach false doctrine?
Ephesians 5:11 ". . . have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them."
This verse is a rather interesting one, isn't it? On one hand Christ says we are love our neighbor as ourselves. Paul seems to be saying if others don't agree with you in doctrine, then seperate yourselves from them. Would this be a loving act to treat another as someone you don't want anything to do with? I don't think so, and I believe this verse is commonly misunderstood.
Let me elaborate for a moment.
The basic word in question in this verse is fellowship. First, in english fellowship means to share similar interests. It can also mean friendship. That still is not saying have nothing to do with another.
Now, lets look at this word in how Paul used it. This word in greek is sugkoinoneo which means to become a partaker together with others, or to have fellowship with a thing.
I believe Paul was meaning that we should not partake in their beliefs as our own and that we should not make friendship with their ungodliness. The part where Paul says 'the darkness' is skotos in greek which means the accompanying ungodliness and immorality.
Now if Paul wants us to not have anything to do with those who are ungodly then why did Paul follow up this sentence with tell us to correct them? For surely in order to correct them, we must speak with them.
I believe Paul was speaking that we should not make their beliefs our own, but we should correct those beliefs which are wrong. These beliefs that Paul is referring to are of ungodliness and immorality.
mhess13 said:
Evolution is positively anti-biblical, and I cannot fellowship with anyone who teaches evolution, just as I won't fellowship with anyone who doesn't believe in the virgin birth, I won't fellowship with those who believe abortion and homosexuality are ok, etc
I agree with you here that evolution and the Bible cannot be made to harmonize. I agree with all of your points that the virgin birth did happen, that abortion is wrong, and homosexuality is wrong.
I believe we to not take their beliefs as our own, but we are to stick around and correct them with the Word of God.
Because we are God's children, we are called to show mercy and grace and forgiveness, no matter what. No matter how much harm as been done to us, we are to respond in love.
Correct with God's Word and you show love. Correct with God's Word and be offensive as well is not showing love.
We do because God has done so for us.
mhess13 said:
We do Christ a diservice with all this "I'm ok, you're ok, it doesn't matter what we believe" garbage.
I agree here again. We shouldn't be saying it is ok, but rather pointing to what God's Word says. But we cannot force someone to believe as we do, and if that seems the only alternative, then we should just leave them be and still love them.
Even when upholding God's Word, we can still sin doing so. For it is how we do so that can be the sin. If it is not in love, then we have nothing, and God's Word will not be heard.
Too often in this forum, only a yec will correct a te, and a te correct a yec. But never have I seen a yec correct a yec, or a te correct a te. Why is this? Are we so bent on being right in our origin beliefs that we forget that which is greater, Love? If we cannot debate in a loving way, then what is the point? Shall we just wallow in our sinfulness and call it ok, because we think we are right?
I don't care what I think and neither should any of you. We all should be focused on what God thinks and what God wants of us and do it. It is God we all must answer to, and if God appeared to you today and asked you why were you so rude to one of His children, what shall you say to Him? That it was ok because you were in the right? I don't think God will buy that.
Always keep in mind, that as Jesus was being tortured, He gave up His life for the one who was torturing HIm. As He was being mocked, He gave His life for the mocker. As He was being nailed, He gave His life to the nailer. As He hung there, He gave His life to the Pharisees who mocked Him and wanted Him dead. And if Christ can show that mercy and grace to those who actually did the killing of His body, can we not do the same for those whom we interact with here? And if that cannot persuade you, then ask yourself, do you desire God's grace, mercy and forgiveness? Then show it to others.