Is this a biblical teaching?

[Luther073082]

Without discussing where it came from, I will get to that later I first just want to ask this question.

Does the following statement sound to you as something that could be biblically supported?

"We should fear and love God that we may not deceitfully belie, betray, slander, or defame our neighbor, but defend him, think and speak well of him, and put the best construction on everything."

 

[If Not For Grace]

Treating our neighbor is not a REASON to love God, it the RESULT of loving God.

 

[k450ofu3k-gh-5ipe]

Treating our neighbor is not a REASON to love God, it the RESULT of loving God.

exactly.

 

[Luther073082]

Treating our neighbor is not a REASON to love God, it the RESULT of loving God.

If you read that, that is what it says.

"We should fear and love God that we may not deceitfully belie, betray, slander, or defame our neighbor, but defend him, think and speak well of him, and put the best construction on everything."

If it says "We should fear and love Got that we . . . " That to me means "We should do the following things BECAUSE we fear and love God. The whole sentence starts with fearing and loving God. We should fear and love God so we do the following things.

But that isn't really what I'm getting at. . . I'm getting more at the other things. Do you belive it is a biblical teaching that we should not "belie, betray, slander, or defame our neighbor. But instead we should defend him, think and speak well of him, and put the best construction on everything."

 

[stormdancer0]

I would have to read more of the writer, in order to determine context.

 

[Luther073082]

I would have to read more of the writer, in order to determine context.

The context is an interpretation of the commandement not to bear false witness.

Basically it takes the commandment and says this means this. There is no real context outside of that. Its not a part of a paragraph at all.

 

[FaithPrevails]

Love thy neighbor as thyself. Would we do any of those things intentionally to ourselves? No. So why do them to our neighbor?

 

[Luther073082]

Love thy neighbor as thyself. Would we do any of those things intentionally to ourselves? No. So why do them to our neighbor?

Thank you, this is more what I was looking for.

The reason I ask is because in 2 threads yesterday people immediatly began making bad assumpitions about others without any real evidence that these assumptions are correct. And I'm just annoyed because this isn't IMO Christian behavior.

Basically in two different threads in two different sections of CF some woman said that their boyfriend was delaying or wasn't sure about getting engaged or getting married. . . And almost the immediate response is "Are you having sex?" And its like anytime anyone talks about their SO everyone has to jump in and ask if they are sexually sinning. Is that thinking well of someone, assume that their problem must be because they are in sexual sin?

It just seems to violate that commandment if you ask me. If we think well of others then we presume the best of them unless they tell us differently or give us good evidence to believe differently.

BTW the writer was Martin Luther and it is from Luther's small catechism which most Lutherans learn from. And that statement is used to help us understand the commandment against false witness.

 

[al_man]

Thank you, this is more what I was looking for.

The reason I ask is because in 2 threads yesterday people immediatly began making bad assumpitions about others without any real evidence that these assumptions are correct. And I'm just annoyed because this isn't IMO Christian behavior.

Basically in two different threads in two different sections of CF some woman said that their boyfriend was delaying or wasn't sure about getting engaged or getting married. . . And almost the immediate response is "Are you having sex?" And its like anytime anyone talks about their SO everyone has to jump in and ask if they are sexually sinning. Is that thinking well of someone, assume that their problem must be because they are in sexual sin?

It just seems to violate that commandment if you ask me. If we think well of others then we presume the best of them unless they tell us differently or give us good evidence to believe differently.

BTW the writer was Martin Luther and it is from Luther's small catechism which most Lutherans learn from. And that statement is used to help us understand the commandment against false witness.

I think it's more people being Naive than anything else, maybe they have been lucky and had a perfect relationship with no issues so the only thing that would cause these issues are sex.

 

[FaithPrevails]

People are way too quick to judge often times...or assume.

 

[FaithPrevails]

p.s. Do I get a cookie for getting the answer right?

 

[Luther073082]

I think it's more people being Naive than anything else, maybe they have been lucky and had a perfect relationship with no issues so the only thing that would cause these issues are sex.

Perhaps its that I don't know. . .

What bugs me the most I think is that its guys and the way they talk about it, its almost like there is an assumption that the only reason a guy might want to delay getting married is because he's "getting his milk and doesn't want to buy the cow."

Its almost sexist against ourselves, acting like we make major decisions in our lives based solely on the qualifier as to whats going to get us laid the most. Maybe thats how these guys make their decisions but I don't think most guys decide like that. Or else no couples that have sex before marriage would ever get married.

 

[Luther073082]

p.s. Do I get a cookie for getting the answer right?

I was going to give you a big cookie, but a theif with blue fur stole it and left me a picture of him with the cookie.

 

[FaithPrevails]

Nom Nom Nom

 

[stormdancer0]

Perhaps its that I don't know. . .

What bugs me the most I think is that its guys and the way they talk about it, its almost like there is an assumption that the only reason a guy might want to delay getting married is because he's "getting his milk and doesn't want to buy the cow."

Its almost sexist against ourselves, acting like we make major decisions in our lives based solely on the qualifier as to whats going to get us laid the most. Maybe thats how these guys make their decisions but I don't think most guys decide like that. Or else no couples that have sex before marriage would ever get married.

Unfortunately, in today's time, it is a normal assumption. I know few people today who DON'T have sex quickly after meeting someone. It's almost like it's part of the "getting to know you" part, now. It's sad but true. It's one sin that most people know is sin, but do it anyway.

But maybe they were needing more information? Would we be so quick to jump if they asked, "Are you buying a house together?" It's part of a puzzle that someone asked the forum members to solve. And it's one that has great significance in most cases.

 

[Luther073082]

Unfortunately, in today's time, it is a normal assumption. I know few people today who DON'T have sex quickly after meeting someone. It's almost like it's part of the "getting to know you" part, now. It's sad but true. It's one sin that most people know is sin, but do it anyway.

But maybe they were needing more information? Would we be so quick to jump if they asked, "Are you buying a house together?" It's part of a puzzle that someone asked the forum members to solve. And it's one that has great significance in most cases.

But if they are Christians should we not assume that they are following the sexual morals until they tell us or give us firm evidence that they arn't?

Besides, I really don't think its a piece of the puzzle at all. As much as we might make myths and lies to the otherwise. . . guys arn't going to avoid marriage because they are already getting sex. That just doesn't happen on a large scale. Nor are most guys going to get married to someone just so they can get sex.

Talking about it this way presumes that men are in general selfish creatures only out to get laid. It also deamonizes (sp?) men who arn't belivers as well. My parents had sex before their marriage. . . they still got married.

Most people I know had sex before their marriage, they still got married.

 

[mkgal1]

To me.....it seems that what you are saying is....we ARE to assume the best, but NOT assume the worst. IMO....we shouldn't assume in either direction...positive OR negative.

 

[mkgal1]

But if they are Christians should we not assume that they are following the sexual morals until they tell us or give us firm evidence that they aren't?

Most people I know had sex before their marriage, they still got married.

But see? Evidence has shown you that isn't a commonly accurate assumption.

 

[Luther073082]

But see? Evidence has shown you that isn't a commonly accurate assumption.

Most people I know arn't practicing Christians either.

 

[FaithPrevails]

To me.....it seems that what you are saying is....we ARE to assume the best, but NOT assume the worst. IMO....we shouldn't assume in either direction...positive OR negative.

In a court of law, one is presumed innocent until/unless proven guilty. Would you presume someone was innocent until/unless proven guilty if you were sitting on a jury? If yes, why not extend that courtesy to people in every day life? If not, why not?