Why?

[SisterBecky216]

Why when you show concern or correction in love to your brothers and sisters in Christ they get so offended? I'm coming across highly sensitive Christians a lot lately online. I just don't know how to approach them when they get like that. As long as I don't correct anyone and always agree with what they believe or say everyone loves me. But as soon as I try to correct them from Biblical teachings or confront people's illusion with the truth. It's like they want to bit my head off...I don't want to get to the point that I stop fellowshipping with Christians, because I'm on egg shells around them....

Advice is needed....

 

[Sketcher]

Depends on how it's coming across, and where they're at. I know someone who preaches his opinion on Facebook in a way that is devoid of any humility, and doesn't bother to listen to the people he is preaching to. He says he's doing the exact same thing you're doing, but his pride and his willful ignorance drives people away from him and for some of them, from God. At the same time, I could present the truth in a very rational and loving way to a completely unreasonable person who loves their sin, and who will accuse me of the things that he and you are getting accused of. I simply do not have enough information about the interaction you are asking about to say who is wrong, and to what degree here. All I know is that the truth is offensive enough, so we need to relay it responsibly without adding our own sin and error to it. That is what I try very hard to do.

 

[SisterBecky216]

Depends on how it's coming across, and where they're at. I know someone who preaches his opinion on Facebook in a way that is devoid of any humility, and doesn't bother to listen to the people he is preaching to. He says he's doing the exact same thing you're doing, but his pride and his willful ignorance drives people away from him and for some of them, from God. At the same time, I could present the truth in a very rational and loving way to a completely unreasonable person who loves their sin, and who will accuse me of the things that he and you are getting accused of. I simply do not have enough information about the interaction you are asking about to say who is wrong, and to what degree here. All I know is that the truth is offensive enough, so we need to relay it responsibly without adding our own sin and error to it. That is what I try very hard to do.

I understand, thank you for your input. I will receive it humbly in Jesus name.

 

[ValleyGal]

People don't like to be corrected, especially when there is no established loving, respectful relationship. When people go around correcting other people, the one doing the correcting is in the assumptive position that they are "right" and the one being "corrected" is "wrong." And sometimes people are not necessarily "wrong" so much as they are in a different place in their spiritual walk and relationship with God, or that the issue itself might be open to interpretation, etc.

I don't know the situation you're referring to, but from my own perspective, one who goes around correcting other people is usually someone who feels like they have something to prove in order to fit in or make themselves feel like they have something worthwhile to contribute or whatever... it usually comes from a very insecure place within the person. We are really not called to go around correcting our brothers and sisters. We are to "restore them gently" and that can't be done without the relationship that can withstand such restoration. There are also strict guidelines on it - that being it must be done in love, and this is not just a love that has no stake in the outcome; it must be a genuine, real concern for the state of the other person's soul. It must be a detrimental sin you are "correcting" and it must be done prayerfully and intentionally in all humility. This is impossible without the relationship. When you've got only ten posts here, I can't see having that kind of relationship..... so I can see why correcting people here might be a problem.

 

[DiscipleHeLovesToo]

correction from God through you will likely bring a defensive response at first (except perhaps from a mature Christian), but after the fact when you're not around the one He corrected through you, God will provide supernatural comfort to you. no one is going to be substantially moved by what we say unless we're saying what He wants us to say, and God is stingy with correction (and we should all be thankful for this), as He uses goodness to change people:

Rom 2:1-4 KJV
(1) Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
(2) But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
(3) And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
(4) Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

 

[Ken Behrens]

People don't care what you know until they know you care. Next to impossible to show online in just a few days of posting.

 

[vinsight4u]

/

 

[Luke17:37]

2 Timothy 4:1-5
I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

I think this passage is very applicable today. I try to be loving while I teach and exhort people to believe the Scriptures, but I am often saddened by people who seem to fall into verse 3-4. I need to focus on the Lord, though; doing every action I highlighted; praying for the Lord to work in the hearts of the people I talk with; and leaving the results to God.

 

[vinsight4u]

Why when you show concern or correction in love to your brothers and sisters in Christ they get so offended? I'm coming across highly sensitive Christians a lot lately online. I just don't know how to approach them when they get like that. As long as I don't correct anyone and always agree with what they believe or say everyone loves me. But as soon as I try to correct them from Biblical teachings or confront people's illusion with the truth. It's like they want to bit my head off...I don't want to get to the point that I stop fellowshipping with Christians, because I'm on egg shells around them....

Advice is needed....

Personally, I like the way you write. Just gave you several likes
as you touched me with your thoughts in your posts. Didn't notice any comment by others as to wanting to bite your head off-at least not on this site. I'd say carry on. Looking forward to your next post.

 

[SisterBecky216]

Thanks Vinsight. I'm speaking in general. Other sites I'm a member of. All I share is not always written by me. I may have read it in a book or heard it on a sermon. When it moves my Spirit and gives me great relevation I share it with others. Not to offend or arguing truth. It's just hard for me to be selfish when it comes to God’s wisdom! I want to scream it on the roof tops! Those who want to receive it, will in Jesus name! Thank you all for your inputs. I will pray and keep growing in the Lord daily! GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!

 

[ValleyGal]

One word of advice, though... this is the advice board. When you open with a post that is preachy and do not seek advice, it is against forum rules. You might be better to respond to others looking for advice, or make your opening exhortation posts on a non-advice board.

 

[Verward]

Why when you show concern or correction in love to your brothers and sisters in Christ they get so offended? I'm coming across highly sensitive Christians a lot lately online. I just don't know how to approach them when they get like that. As long as I don't correct anyone and always agree with what they believe or say everyone loves me. But as soon as I try to correct them from Biblical teachings or confront people's illusion with the truth. It's like they want to bit my head off...I don't want to get to the point that I stop fellowshipping with Christians, because I'm on egg shells around them....

Advice is needed....

Don't stop speaking the truth in love Ephesians 4:15. Many people took offence at the things Jesus said Matthew 13:57, Matthew 15:12.

 

[Goodbook]

Dont know about the eggshells as far as I know when you walk on them it doesnt hurt you it just makes a crunching noise.

However, we ARE given authority over snakes and scorpions to crush them under our feet. They cannot bite us, if the enemy is properly crushed before they have a chance to strike.
(This is not to do with people, or flesh and blood...this is a spiritual battle)

Perhaps some warfare prayer is called for before striking with the sword of the spirit. To prepare the way of the Lord. Remmeber to wear the sandals of the gospel,to protect your feet. If you are correcting someone, it might be over some issue thats not even that important, rather, the issue is they hadnt really or truly believed the gospel in the first place. If they hadnt understood this or shown any faith, gently remind them.

 

[Tekton Engineer]

Becky,

One thing that I've found personally is that e-mail, texts and forums are quite poor mediums to communicate anything that might touch an emotional response. Tone of voice, inflection, facial expressions.... none of these come across.

And while there are many, many authors who can communicate Biblical truths effectively, they are most often gifted at writing and take a LOT of time pouring over their work. While those on the forums are often not so gifted at writing, do not proof read their text with an eye for what type of response it might evoke from their audience, and don't spend a lot of time wording their posts well.

Making things worse, we are living in a very thin skinned culture, in which people delight in being offended and throwing rocks at the nearest target, any and every time they get their undies discombobulated. It's far too easy to spout off with "fighting words" when you are hiding behind internet anonymity.

Though I enjoy conversations on forums such as this, I personally do not consider it to be "fellowship". But that's just me.

Speak the truth in love, but don't cast your pearls before swine.

TE

 

[Goodbook]

Exhortation and encoruagement is the way you approach ppl, not correction unless that person has asked you personally for you to mentor them.

I did proofreading which is basically correcting ppls mistakes lol (you wouldnt really know it by the way I type on here with grammar errors and such) but thats only because people WANTED me to correct them and needed that. Nobody, christian or not, really likes to be corrected or criticised.

If you want to make a living correcting people work in the department of corrections for the ministry of justice. Then you will see how tough it is.

Just uphold the truth you dont have to hound people because many of us do make mistakes but we learn as we go along plus God teaches us, many of us on here do read the bible and then find out something later. To constantly correct people isnt christian it can be a form of self-righteousness, even Pharisees did that to Jesus 'correcting' him cos he healed on the sabbath day.

 

[Stillicidia]

.

 

[Stillicidia]

Why when you show concern or correction in love to your brothers and sisters in Christ they get so offended? I'm coming across highly sensitive Christians a lot lately online. I just don't know how to approach them when they get like that. As long as I don't correct anyone and always agree with what they believe or say everyone loves me. But as soon as I try to correct them from Biblical teachings or confront people's illusion with the truth. It's like they want to bit my head off...I don't want to get to the point that I stop fellowshipping with Christians, because I'm on egg shells around them....

Advice is needed....

Revising my posts,

That was me for ya,
I only learned a day ago what righteousness was.
Righteousness, and following the commands of Jesus, being necessary to not be offended. It's a little hard to sort of find that place, and many haven't found it, and I'm barely stepping into it.