my last bible study

[( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)]

I'm on a texting list where members of a bible study message each other about a weekly bible study that goes down in a person's home. Well, this Wednesday I decided to attend and as far as digging into the scripture, praying, and doing anything that would really delight the heart of God, none of that happened. Instead the majority of the time was spent course jesting and bashing homos. Seriously, I'm not exaggerating. And to be honest, it's not like I didn't stay completely silent and not contribute to things in my words, but I will tell you this: Yes, the spiritual man wants to enjoy God and other Christians' company. But if I'm going to partake in sin, (And lets be real. Gossip is sin. Bashing homos is sin.)
I'd rather mingle with people that don't claim to be saved. Or at the very least, the topic of faith rarely comes up)

At that point it's a matter of preference of picking your poison and choosing what you want to subject yourself to.
Sin is sin. The only one I know of that is different is fornication. Doesn't the Bible make a distinction of that one being separate from all others? Anyway, this Christmas has been pretty lame. Hopefully 2021 steers things in a better direction. But one thing I'm learning is that people are going to be people. And we need God very much.

 

[Rachel20]

I always keep in mind that Christians are all at different points in their walk with Christ, and some that profess are still just "cultural Christians" and haven't had a meaningful conversion yet. So I just put the responsibility for my own behavior on myself, and theirs on them, seeing we'll all give account only for ourselves some day.

 

[( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)]

I always keep in mind that Christians are all at different points in their walk with Christ, and some that profess are still just "cultural Christians" and haven't had a meaningful conversion yet. So I just put the responsibility for my own behavior on myself, and theirs on them, seeing we'll all give account only for ourselves some day.

Don't you think that believers should be held to a higher standard though?

 

[Rachel20]

Don't you think that believers should be held to a higher standard though?

Yes I do. But rather than let it discourage me, I try to remember that Satan changes his strategy with believers and the battles they fight change. I think if a group of Christians were vexatious to me, I would simply leave that group and find a more mature group.

 

[Pavel Mosko]

Well sorry to hear that.


My take on what you described is I think some people have problems with things like Bible study. It's like a virtue signaling chore thing to do because your suppose to, to show your spiritual etc. but lots of people they hearts are not into it, or maybe they don't like teaching, studying etc. they don't have any kind of intellectual curiosity etc.


After being through various bad or ho hum Bible studies etc. I'm actually kind of OK with an out come like what you had; because my outlook is that this sort of thing should be like an art form or a quest for truth etc. and I really hate it when people feel like they got to do it for some reasons of social propriety but are just going through the motions. Because that sort of things bores me to tears etc. and actually I consider fellowship as a valid end or activity in itself.


Also to some degree this is a little bit of therapist in me as far as valuing authenticity etc. In my earlier life I had various negative church experiences, and that kind of serves as inspiration of what not to do, or how not to act etc. And sometimes that is not always politically correct type stuff as far being the right attitude that your suppose to have as a Christian but its what you feel as a human. But I find it very useful; because I think there is a ton of different ministry activities out there, but most people do not see them because they have this narrow focus, or some other kind of limiting belief or paradigm where they cannot see them. So it is kind of OK to go with the flow, admit to where you are at etc. and often the needs etc. that are best met are ones that you maybe did not anticipate or expect but just sort of pop up organically, so it is good to go after those targets of opportunity instead of slavishly following what the original plan was.

 

[( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)]

Well sorry to hear that.


My take on what you described is I think some people have problems with things like Bible study. It's like a virtue signaling chore thing to do because your suppose to, to show your spiritual etc. but lots of people they hearts are not into it, or maybe they don't like teaching, studying etc. they don't have any kind of intellectual curiosity etc.


After being through various bad or ho hum Bible studies etc. I'm actually kind of OK with an out come like what you had; because I my outlook is that this sort of thing should be like an art form or a quest for truth etc. and I really hate it when people feel like they got to do it for some reasons of social propriety but are just going through the motions. Because that sort of things bores me to tears etc. and actually I consider fellowship as a valid end or activity in itself.


Also to some degree this is a little bit of therapist in me as far as valuing authenticity etc. In my earlier life I had various negative church experiences, and that kind of serves as inspiration of what not to do, or how not to act etc. And sometimes that is not always politically correct type stuff as far being the right attitude that your suppose to have as a Christian but its what you feel as a human. But I find it very useful; because I think there is a ton of different ministry activities out there, but most people do not see them because they have this narrow focus, or some other kind of limiting belief or paradigm where they cannot see them. So it is kind of OK to go with the flow, admit to where you are at etc. and often the needs etc. that are best met are ones that you maybe did not anticipate or expect but just sort of pop up, so it is good to go after those targets of opportunity instead of slavishly following what the original plan was.

It's sort of sad. The same Bible study used to hold 20-30 people every given week (with the same guy leading it) And now it's dipped off to just a handful of people. (mostly 2 or 3 families)

IDK. I'm either all in and want to be on fire for the things of the Lord or not. Lukewarmness isn't a conscious option for me. I don't mean to judge these people at the study at all. All I'm saying is that if I'm going to sin it isn't going to be sitting around whats supposed to be a bible study and throwing people under the bus with my words. Whatever

 

[( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)]

I'm not even sure that the folks there realize what's going on is actually wrong either. I'm sure the saved of them know though. After all, that's what God does for His people.

 

[Pavel Mosko]

It's sort of sad. The same Bible study used to hold 20-30 people every given week (with the same guy leading it) And now it's dipped off to just a handful of people. (mostly 2 or 3 families)

IDK. I'm either all in and want to be on fire for the things of the Lord or not. Lukewarmness isn't a conscious option for me. I don't mean to judge these people at the study at all. All I'm saying is that if I'm going to sin it isn't going to be sitting around whats supposed to be a bible study and throwing people under the bus with my words. Whatever

Why not channel those feeling into inspiration for a good Bible study on the topic? But you be the discussion leader / teacher?


I got say some of the best topics comes from experiences like this. And that was even true in the days of the NT.....

 

[( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)]

Why not channel those feeling into inspiration for a good Bible study on the topic? But you be the discussion leader / teacher?

My own Bible study or are you suggesting I inquire with the guy that leads it now to give it a go? It's a good idea. I don't really want to be the outsider dude that steps on peoples toes at the moment though. It's a good idea to file away for the future though, definitely.

 

[Pavel Mosko]

I'm not even sure that the folks there realize what's going on is actually wrong either. I'm sure the saved of them know though. After all, that's what God does for His people.

Well we are all on a journey... and where we are today isn't necessarily where we will be tomorrow. But this all fodder to talk about in some kind of a Bible study, or sermon thingy.

 

[Anthony2019]

I'm on a texting list where members of a bible study message each other about a weekly bible study that goes down in a person's home. Well, this Wednesday I decided to attend and as far as digging into the scripture, praying, and doing anything that would really delight the heart of God, none of that happened. Instead the majority of the time was spent course jesting and bashing homos. Seriously, I'm not exaggerating. And to be honest, it's not like I didn't stay completely silent and not contribute to things in my words, but I will tell you this: Yes, the spiritual man wants to enjoy God and other Christians' company. But if I'm going to partake in sin, (And lets be real. Gossip is sin. Bashing homos is sin.)
I'd rather mingle with people that don't claim to be saved. Or at the very least, the topic of faith rarely comes up)

At that point it's a matter of preference of picking your poison and choosing what you want to subject yourself to.
Sin is sin. The only one I know of that is different is fornication. Doesn't the Bible make a distinction of that one being separate from all others? Anyway, this Christmas has been pretty lame. Hopefully 2021 steers things in a better direction. But one thing I'm learning is that people are going to be people. And we need God very much.

I'm on a texting list where members of a bible study message each other about a weekly bible study that goes down in a person's home. Well, this Wednesday I decided to attend and as far as digging into the scripture, praying, and doing anything that would really delight the heart of God, none of that happened. Instead the majority of the time was spent course jesting and bashing homos. Seriously, I'm not exaggerating. And to be honest, it's not like I didn't stay completely silent and not contribute to things in my words, but I will tell you this: Yes, the spiritual man wants to enjoy God and other Christians' company. But if I'm going to partake in sin, (And lets be real. Gossip is sin. Bashing homos is sin.)
I'd rather mingle with people that don't claim to be saved. Or at the very least, the topic of faith rarely comes up)

At that point it's a matter of preference of picking your poison and choosing what you want to subject yourself to.
Sin is sin. The only one I know of that is different is fornication. Doesn't the Bible make a distinction of that one being separate from all others? Anyway, this Christmas has been pretty lame. Hopefully 2021 steers things in a better direction. But one thing I'm learning is that people are going to be people. And we need God very much.

I am very sorry to hear about your experience.
A house group/bible study group should be a place where Christians can meet together in fellowship with mutual tolerance, care and respect towards one another. Confidentiality should be respected and those running the groups should be both trustworthy and accountable. Such groups should offer a safe haven for people to share, with honesty, their beliefs, their thoughts and opinions, without the fear of being mocked, criticised or treated unfairly. No subject should be "off limits" as long as the members of the group are willing to accept that others may have a different point of view.