Parable of The Boiled Frog ...

[mourningdove~]

It was obvious I was talking about a bible story. It was written with specific references to Jesus. I don't see how that could have been misunderstood. I. Was defamed.

It wasn't obvious.
And no one has defamed you.

I suppose I could claim to have been 'defamed' by what you said to me just a few posts back in post #135 (before you went back and deleted some of your original words in it), but I don't take offense that easily.

So, I hope you will have a good day, and that the weather is good wherever your life is planted today.

And if you still think there is something for you to glean from this discussion on deception, I hope you will continue to read on.

 

[mourningdove~]

I would counsel us all to beware making this a place where generalizations evolve into personal attacks. The truth, if it is truth, must be spoken in love, truly caring for the welfare of the other in the discussions.

Was James speaking in love when he called believers adulterers and adulteresses? Indeed he was. Sometimes hard words are called for, for we are told that part of true ministry is correcting, rebuking, chastening, and it is beneficial if spoken in love. Words, even hard words, can come across in a positive way, especially if a way of escape is provided so that the hearers can benefit.

But there can be answers that possess a hidden agenda of pride, defensiveness, even hate. They can possess teeth, teeth that bite and devour, that wound for the purpose of wounding, not healing, words that no amount of skill can hide their true intent. Some use sarcasm, some use inferring something without having the nerve to speak out directly, some even use cute emoticons, or diversion, adding to another's comments subtle embellishments to sway the readers, or worst of all, making an attack personal if another's comments hits too close to home, thinking their intent hidden just enough to get by the rules of the forum.

May I say here that a man or woman may be well versed in the rules of the forum and be extremely skilled in dancing right along the line without breaking the rules, but what is broken is the rule of love, and God sees our heart motives. If we even say "You are a fool", Jesus says we are in danger of hell fire. Do we believe that or does grace now free us to do so?

If we, the ones who are Spirit filled, cannot get along in love, and we are supposed to be possessing the epitome of what Christ offers us believers, is it any wonder I put forth the truth that we are the lukewarm church? Do we grieve that we are like this? Have we forgotten thagt to whom much is given, much is required? Or, are we so angry at another who dares judge us or even suggest we are missing what God has for us....new love-filled, love-led lives, that we refuse to acknowledge our low spiritual state. Taking offence is not the path God has for us. Defending others....new believers.... from statements is generally revealing that person themselves is the one offended and responding by striking back.

Like Laodecia, we think we are fine, that we need nothing. We are wrong. God offers us brand new natures. We need them. It should be obvious and the fact that it is not only increases the truth of what I share. Now, will we ask for them as if our lives depend on the answer? Because they do. The man in the wedding feast who was found without his wedding garment on found out the hard way.

Blessings,

Gideon

Thank you, Gideon.

 

[ToBeBlessed]

It wasn't obvious.
And no one has defamed you.

I suppose I could claim to have been 'defamed' by what you said to me just a few posts back in post #135 (before you went back and deleted some of your original words in it), but I don't take offense that easily.

So, I hope you will have a good day, and that the weather is good wherever your life is planted today.

And if you still think there is something for you to glean from this discussion on deception, I hope you will continue to read on.

You think to much of yourself, It's not worth that much effort.

 

[Andrea411]

You think to much of yourself, It's not worth that much effort.

Your were given a gracious response which you chose to turn into an argument. It is a shame but it is nothing new. I'm sorry for you, really. You seem to know the Lord but I don't see His love expressed in your posts toward other Christians. Myself included. I had hoped for some common ground, it doesn't seem to be forth coming.

The parable of the frog is about that subtle deception that creeps into believers lives and they are cooked without knowing it…. their once hearts of flesh are changed and they become hard and unable to feel the consequences of their actions and words.
It is fitting here at CF… where so many Christians claiming to be Spirit-filled can not submit one to another or often even extend common courtesy. I left a few months ago bc of this kind of conversation…. I felt it not only did me no good but it encouraged others to sin bc I knew they were incapable of responding in love.
I used to ask the people on CARM to read their own posts… just go into any of their own posts and read what we read…. see if there is anything they'd like to apologize for or if their attitude was unloving…. never did any good. Something I am always surprised about. The Christians that I am close to are always ready to examine themselves. I have found it very healthy to thoroughly to re-evaluate my own behavior and repent where necessary. The Lord is so gracious to meet us at our need. I pray we are the same with others but I don't know how to respond to people who consistently respond in an unloving manner… it is why I left before.

 

[Andrea411]

Of course you can.

In my discussion with you (above), I was only hoping to clarify for you that neither jiminpa, or SpiritPsalmist, or Gideon, or Andrea, or myself are 'Pharisees' and to point out that sometimes we can be deceived into seeing others as 'our enemy', based on other factors that may be influencing our perception of things.

Thank you Mourning Dove, I've appreciated your responses and the thread. It is a good reminder for us all that people who know the Lord and love Him can become deceived. It reminds me to keep 'short accounts' and always be ready to take it to the Lord and ask for His grace over my heart and to change me continually. It has become easier, I don't know if its age or lots of practice… LOL. I have a good group of friends who keep me on track. We have found being brutally honest about our own hearts has helped us grow in the Lord. It has been good for our relationships and especially for our spiritual well being. It helps to have others who know the Lord to respond with truth and not just nice words…. I'd rather have the truth and be able to change my ways than to get stuck in bad habits that do nothing but produce bad fruit.
God bless, andrea

 

[Andrea411]

Thank you, Gideon.

Yes, Gideon, thank you.

 

[mourningdove~]

The Parable of The Boiled Frog​

“If you place a frog in a pot of boiling water, it will immediately try to scramble out. But if you place the frog in room temperature water, and don’t scare him, he’ll stay put.

Now, if the pot sits on a heat source, and if you gradually turn up the temperature, something very interesting happens. As the temperature rises, the frog will do nothing. In fact, he may show every sign of enjoying himself.

As the temperature gradually increases, the frog will become groggier and groggier, until he is unable to climb out of the pot. Though there is nothing restraining him, the frog will sit there and boil.

Why? Because the frog’s internal apparatus for sensing threats to survival is geared to sudden changes in the environment, not to slow, gradual changes.”



I think we can look at this parable and apply it to how we as Christians can become deceived.

I don't think many, if any, of us wake up one morning and make the decision to become deceived.

I don't think many of us as Christians decide one day to start fellowshipping in Hindu temples, or Muslim Mosques, or the like ... as they are not Christian in belief.

Nor do I think many of us Christians, after salvation, decide to join a street gang so as to live the wild life.

Lots of us choose after salvation to not even go into sinful places ... like brothels, porn shops, x-rated movies, drug houses, bars ... well, you get my drift!

Generally, as followers of Jesus we will want to go places, do things, fellowship, in ways that are conducive to growing in our faith. It's just a natural kind of supernatural thing that happens after conversion!

So no, I doubt many of us seek to be deceived.

But deception does happen.
Much like how this frog became deceived ... and someone's dinner!

Deception happens gradually, slowly.

We may begin watching and listening to tv preachers that don't quite preach the whole gospel truth.

Or we may begin reading Christian books that are full of more of the world's philosophies than the principles of God.

Or we may begin hanging with persons that aren't so stable in the faith.

Or we may begin reading too much worldly stuff and not enough Bible.

Or we may begin listening to too many loud voices in the world rather than choosing to listen to the gentle nudgings of the Holy Spirit.

Or we may begin hanging out too much online in forums with Christians that are not 'like-minded'.

Or ...

In this day of tremendous technology and opportunity, there are so many ways that we can become confused in our thinking ... and deceived.

And generally, the process happens very slowly.

So what do we 'do' ...
when we realize we've been spiritually deceived?​

​

 

[jiminpa]

So what do we 'do' ...
when we realize we've been spiritually deceived?​

​

Repent and ask God for grace, real grace that lifts us out of our sin completely and puts us on the right path. In this case grace would open our eyes to the deception and keep them open for us.

 

[jiminpa]

So what do we 'do' ...
when we realize we've been spiritually deceived?​

​

Repent and ask God for grace, real grace that lifts us out of our sin completely and puts us on the right path. In this case grace would open our eyes to the deception and keep them open for us. Study the scriptures in the area of our deception to become full of the truth, and walk out our salvation with God.

 

[Messy]

Deception happens gradually, slowly.

Or we may begin hanging out too much online in forums with Christians that are not 'like-minded'.

Yes, that's how it happened with me. I was lonely, hanging on a christian forum. I lately looked at it, there's people promoting gay marriage, sex outside of marriage. Christian? I remember I went there 2 years ago to help them, the Lord gave me a warning dream about young people jumping in a slide, like with a pool, they were jumping into it, noone warned them and I wanted to go too and then I saw what was at the end of the slide: 2 huge demons of lust and I saw two weapons of mass destruction after that, which means God's judgement. So I started to warn some people there, fell in love with someone there etcetera, came in false teaching that it is no sin before marriage. Thank God for Giver and Gideons. I jumped out of the pot. We must really watch out.

 

[Messy]

So what do we 'do' ...
when we realize we've been spiritually deceived?​

​

Repent, which is stop doing what you did. Jump out of the pot.

 

[jiminpa]

So what do we 'do' ...
when we realize we've been spiritually deceived?​

​

Repent and ask God for grace, real grace that lifts us out of our sin completely and puts us on the right path. In this case grace would open our eyes to the deception and keep them open for us. Study the scriptures in the area of our deception to become full of the truth, and walk out our salvation with God.

 

[mourningdove~]

So what do we 'do' ...
when we realize we've been spiritually deceived?​

​

Repent, which is stop doing what you did. Jump out of the pot.

Repent and ask God for grace, real grace that lifts us out of our sin completely and puts us on the right path. In this case grace would open our eyes to the deception and keep them open for us.

Yes. I, too, believe that repentance is what is needed.

Repentance is begun as you have shared, Messy.
We begin repenting by turning away from those things that helped lead us into deception.

And repentance is all about grace. Couldn't agree more, jiminpa.

The deliverance out of deception can be fairly simple or more complex, depending upon the extent of the deception.

So I hope to look more deeply together at the phases one goes thru in their deliverance from deception, as one's repentance and healing is walked out in one's life.

Some lies/falsehoods are easy to just drop. And from them, one can easily move on, as God continues to lead in the direction of truth.

But sometimes much has been invested in the deception that one has been absorbed into. The repentance process can then work abit slower for those leaving a deep deception.

I will start by saying that I believe 'the deceived one' has much for which to be grateful to God, when God has opened their eyes to truth. God is The Revealer of truth. When He gives it, it is 'blessing'.

(Can I get an amen, anyone? )

I really enjoy hearing all your thoughts on the subject and do welcome them as I am no expert on this and learning, too. Granted, deception is not an easy subject to address, but one I do think is needful at times.

 

[Messy]

Yes. I, too, believe that repentance is what is needed.

Repentance is begun as you have shared, Messy.
We begin repenting by turning away from those things that helped lead us into deception.

And repentance is all about grace. Couldn't agree more, jiminpa.

The deliverance out of deception can be fairly simple or more complex, depending upon the extent of the deception.

So I hope to look more deeply together at the phases one goes thru in their deliverance from deception, as one's repentance and healing is walked out in one's life.

Some lies/falsehoods are easy to just drop. And from them, one can easily move on, as God continues to lead in the direction of truth.

But sometimes much has been invested in the deception that one has been absorbed into. The repentance process can then work abit slower for those leaving a deep deception.

I will start by saying that I believe 'the deceived one' has much for which to be grateful to God, when God has opened their eyes to truth. God is The Revealer of truth. When He gives it, it is 'blessing'.

(Can I get an amen, anyone? )

 

[mourningdove~]

Note:
I've requested this thread be closed, in accordance with forum rules now being enforced.

Thank you all, for your participation. Was fun, was challenging. And I learned some things, too!

God bless to all!

Agape,
mourningdove~

 

[Kristen.NewCreation]

ADMIN HAT ON

This thread has been closed at the request of the OP.

ADMIN HAT OFF
​