Where is the line between "speaking doubt and unbelief" and common sense?

[Questioning Christian]

I have encountered some situations where I saw an outcome that was not good if the current path was continued on. I have these Charismatic friends in particular, who, when I make my observation about what is prone to happen, they say I'm speaking doubt and unbelief. But it turns out that I am right when I analyze situations. I have one particular friend who says I'm right when I analyze the character of people, and she has come to trust my judgment.

I do understand what it means to doubt the word of God. However, when you see warning signs or certain tendencies [I'm not talking about "discerning" things about people; I'm talking about natural observation], should you hold your peace, so as not to speak unbelief?

If things are staring us right in the face, is it of God not to call it what it is?

I believe in speaking the Word, but I don't believe speaking the word is a substitute for opening your eyes to see what something really is.

 

[Kellentia]

That's the thing. We don't focos on our circumstances. We DON"T look at our situation coz it is subject to change. Forget abt the situation........what God's Word says is final. Its just total dependence, trust and faith in the infallible truth on the Word of God. What you see, the thing you see as it really is, is subject to change under the power of the Word of God. But anyway, its better not to say anything than speak words of doubt coz what you say is what you get. God has given us so much power and authority in our mouths, so we must use it wisely. Only declare and speak things of God.....which is His Word. This refers to the blessings God has already done and given to us.......our inheritance. (So firstly, we have to go find out what is our inheritance )

Now the above is settled........so let's say you see this person going down a path that you see has no good outcome. I do believe that God has given us practical wisdom and common sense. So in these kinda situations, you have to follow the Spirit.........follow where you feel life and peace. Coz right, God can ask me to do something totally ridiculous, like..........pack up everything and leave for Australia. Of course, to the normal mind, it has no good, coz for one, I have no contacts there, two, how am I going to survive and find and job etc.......but if God told me to go and confirmed it in His Word and in my Spirit, then just obey and God, trusting that God will provide your needs and see you through. However, if you plan to do sth, like migrate but you feel the check in the spirit to not go, then don't, coz most likely, no good would come out of it.

So, the thing is, follow the Spirit. God will lead and guide you PERSONALLY. And what God tells you to do may be different from what He tells 10 other people in the same situation.

Did I answer your question?

 

[Questioning Christian]

Coz right, God can ask me to do something totally ridiculous, like..........pack up everything and leave for Australia

Thus saith the Lord, pack up everything and leave for Australia.

 

[Questioning Christian]

Do you need my address to mail me a donation?

 

[Kellentia]

Thus saith the Lord, pack up everything and leave for Australia.

God didn't tell me that..........you did. If God wanted me to do that, He'll tell me HIMSELF.

 

[Kellentia]

Do you need my address to mail me a donation?

????

 

[Questioning Christian]

God didn't tell me that..........you did. If God wanted me to do that, He'll tell me HIMSELF.

1hu•mor

\"hyü-m€r, "yü-\ n 1 : temperament 2 : mood 3 : whim 4 : a quality that appeals to a sense of the ludicrous or incongruous; also : a keen perception of the ludicrous or incongruous 5 : comical or amusing entertainment — hu•mor•ist \"hyü-m€-rist, "yü-\ n — hu•mor•less \"hyü-m€r-l€s, "yü-\ adj — hu•mor•less•ly adv — hu•mor•less•ness n — hu•mor•ous \"hyü-m€-r€s, "yü-\ adj — hu•mor•ous•ly adv — hu•mor•ous•ness n



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Humor ... marvelous literary device, that one

See also "sarcasm"

 

[God_follower]

QC ur an idiot... and a jerk... thanks..

 

[God_follower]

maybe i was too hasty... your responce was not cool to say the least... so you come off as a jerk... and the idiot part... welll i dunno yet... we'll get into that later...

the difference between this common sence of yours and speaking doubt and unbelief... is that your statement is what you believe will happen.. so... you arent asking/trusting the Lord to change this situation... its all bout motives and actual words... if you explain a bit more... such as this could be headed this way unless we seek the Lord perhaps..

 

[Strong in Him]

I have encountered some situations where I saw an outcome that was not good if the current path was continued on. I have these Charismatic friends in particular, who, when I make my observation about what is prone to happen, they say I'm speaking doubt and unbelief. But it turns out that I am right when I analyze situations. I have one particular friend who says I'm right when I analyze the character of people, and she has come to trust my judgment.

I do understand what it means to doubt the word of God. However, when you see warning signs or certain tendencies [I'm not talking about "discerning" things about people; I'm talking about natural observation], should you hold your peace, so as not to speak unbelief?

If things are staring us right in the face, is it of God not to call it what it is?

I believe in speaking the Word, but I don't believe speaking the word is a substitute for opening your eyes to see what something really is.

Hi QC,

Well the OT prophets often warned people about what would happen if they did not repent of their sins, or if they trusted other gods before the Lord. When Israel wanted a king, to be like other nations, Samuel told them everything that would happen as a result; he would take their sons and daughters into service, and their servants and possessions for his own use. I don't know whether this was revealed directly or whether Samuel just realised saw it as being inevitable when people stopped putting God first.

If someone wants to marry a non Christian, there is a fear that this might result in the Christan's non attendance at church or study group; either because the partner forbids it, or because they stop attending to spend more time with them.

I also think it depends on what you mean by "speaking unbelief". I have nerve damage in my leg caused by a slipped disc, and also have another illness. Some people have said, and others implied, that I should not speak like this, that I have prayed for healing therefore I am healed, and saying otherwise is just giving in to the symptoms. Also that by stating "I have ......" I am owning it, making it the centre of my life, giving it an importance it should not have. This is nonsense, as far as I can see. These medical conditions have been diagnosed and show up on scans and in tests. The Lord IS healing me and making me whole, in several areas. At present, the physical symptoms still remain, and to say otherwise would be dishonest and silly - not positive or glorifying to God.
I do agree that if I constantly thought about my problems, or drew attention to them, or used them as an excuse, or went for the sympathy vote; or if I went to healing services and constantly said "I'm useless, unloveable and so unworthy", then this would not be good, productive or anything else. There may be people who act like that - I don't.

I would say to trust your instincts, or what the Lord is telling you about something. If no one ever spoke out to correct things that were wrong, we would have some very dubious practices in the church - even Paul opposed Peter when he felt that he was straying from the truth.

I think the idea of "speaking negatively" can be taken too far, so that people become afraid to say anything. It sounds like a useful device for those who don't like being criticised.

 

[New_Wineskin]

I have encountered some situations where I saw an outcome that was not good if the current path was continued on. I have these Charismatic friends in particular, who, when I make my observation about what is prone to happen, they say I'm speaking doubt and unbelief. But it turns out that I am right when I analyze situations. I have one particular friend who says I'm right when I analyze the character of people, and she has come to trust my judgment.

I do understand what it means to doubt the word of God. However, when you see warning signs or certain tendencies [I'm not talking about "discerning" things about people; I'm talking about natural observation], should you hold your peace, so as not to speak unbelief?

If things are staring us right in the face, is it of God not to call it what it is?

I believe in speaking the Word, but I don't believe speaking the word is a substitute for opening your eyes to see what something really is.

I consdier that this idea that you are discussing is superstition . "Don't say anything or you will jinx it " sort of thing . I was in a group that was very much into "positive confession" and would get on anyopne's back if they said anything realistic that appeared to be negative .

 

[Evee]

QC I see you being wise and discerning.
We are supposed to use discernment.
If I had not used judgement when I discovered a couple of irregular places.
The cancer would have spread.
I myself think you are correct.
I have been in that group like you mentioned and in some cases it is speaking lies.

 

[Rmered]

You can judge a prophet by whether his prophecies come true.

If someone truly feels God promised them something, perhaps they are waiting for their time, like Moses waited 40 years, and Joseph not quite as many years for their destinies to come to pass

However, if the same people think God is promising them different stuff, and over and over it doesn't come to pass, I think you can suggest they do a study on false prophesy. Hopefully the word will convict them of their error.

It seems very New Age to me, and not very Biblical.

 

[fieldlily]

In reference to the original post...I think that there needs to be a balance involved. It is good to speak out in "faith"...but we must be sure that it is not being presumptuous or "getting ahead of the spirit."

God's ways are not not our ways...and God is the one who makes it happen. What we have to do is try to pray for wisdom and discern before we share. This takes time and practice and certainly is enhanced by a solid grounding in scripture. That makes good sense to me.

'Common sense' is a term usually meaning...'good judgment based on the commonality of what others think'. It is something usually, "everyone knows." and makes sense to us. It is practical and good...but I admit there are times when our faith goes beyond what is commonally held...and that is why we need to be brave and speak out, but only after we have prayerfully discerned that is the thing to do.

I would suggest waiting and asking the Lord what is His Will in a certain situation...usually it becomes clear to me to speak or not to speak or to save it or shelf it for another time.

But, having been used in the prophetic gifts, I know that sometimes one who has been recognized in this gift receives a real unction or anointing to speak out the Word of prophecy right away in a particualr setting and then one acts in faith...trusting in this.

So, again, a balance is involved.

birdfriend...prayerfully sharing this.

 

[psalms 91]

Faith leaves no room for common sense. Logic will tell you it is impossible. We are what we speak. If we speak life and health and are unwavering that is what we will have.

 

[ShaunJ]

You can speak whats going on in the natural but I think you should always trust and speak what the Word says about your current situation.

For example:

"I may be sick but body you have no choice but to line up with the Word and be healed"

I'll admit I have not read an of the replies in this thread so what I'm saying may have already been said...

There is also a line of stupidity!

Example:

"I just went out and bought this $100,000 car and my yearly income is only $25,000. I'm believing God for the money!! God loves me and wants me to prosper. I'm confessing the Word over my new car."

 

[psalms 91]

You can speak whats going on in the natural but I think you should always trust and speak what the Word says about your current situation.

For example:

"I may be sick but body you have no choice but to line up with the Word and be healed"

I'll admit I have not read an of the replies in this thread so what I'm saying may have already been said...

There is also a line of stupidity!

Example:

"I just went out and bought this $100,000 car and my yearly income is only $25,000. I'm believing God for the money!!"

amen. knowing the will of God is important to recieving

 

[Doug45]

Romans 4:17-21
(as it is written, "A father of many nations have I made you") in the sight of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist. [18] In hope against hope he believed, in order that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, "So shall your DESCENDANTS BE." [19] And without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah's womb; [20] yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief, but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, [21] and being fully assured that what He had promised, He was able also to perform.

Abraham's faith was counted unto him as righteousness. He looked at the facts of his body and knew the outcome in the natural. He didn't deny that outcome, but rather believed in the truth of God's promise. Truth is always higher than mere scientific facts. A posative confession does not deny the facts, it puts the focus on the truth.

But on the other side of things, I was a realist for almost 28 years of my 37 years as a believer. I looked constantly upon the natural perspective and failed to take God at His word. In reality I was a cynic hiding under the guise of a realist. Over the past 9 years, I have learned to take God at His word, accepting the reality of the facts, but choosing to believe in His truth above temporal facts. It has been a remarkable adventure as my faith has grown. And the mountains are starting to move.

Just some thoughts,

Doug

 

[DunamisHaptomai]

This seems like such a simple question to me. If you guys speak something then that's speaking doubt and unbelief, but if I speak something, that's common sense.


See? Simple.

 

[bertie]

God gave us the gift and power of reason.He gave us the gift of time upon the earth to gain expeience.He gave us not only a brain to reason with,but a heart to sense the things of the heart,He also gave us a Spirrit by which we live and comune with or creator.He expects that we will use these precious gifts to do righteousness,for the glory of God and his kingdom.For the edification of our brothers and sisters,and out of pure unselfish love.None of us has it all down pat.but if we truly love our brothers and sisters we will cannot leave them in darkness.Knowing the prbable outcome of situations that you have experienced before or observed in the past is a good thing, and warnings are not curses nor are reasonable doubts or misgivngs in known situations ,unbelief.In my opinion at any rate.