Ok, I'm completely serious about this... if you read this, please reply to it.
I'd like to know why it is that people feel that an effective way of turning "sinners" around is by making them feel so guilty that they can hardly stand themselves.
Sin is terrible. It's disgusting in the sight of God. And anything that is an abomination to Him should be the same to us. But why do people think that it is acceptable to make the sinner hate themselves?
I wish people could understand what its like to come from backgrounds where not everything you've done has been ideal. Drinkers, Smokers, people who have had sex, people who have worn "skanky" clothes, people who enjoy partying, whatever.
How can someone just walk up to them and tell them you are an abomination. You do not practice self- control, modesty, wise judgment, fruits of the spirit a b and c...
To me that seems ridiculous. Please correct me if you think it would win hearts in order to offend people to the point where they cannot trust you... but in my eyes, the way that these things should be handled is with gentleness and love... speaking with propriety and an honest heart.
I know that most of the people who preach/ teach/ admonish/ etc that way do it with the best intentions, but I wish they could see that its wrong. Jesus didn't make people hate themselves... He made them hate their sins.
Paul didn't take drastic measures against himself for the evils that he had committed. He didn't get depressed and fall into this wave of self-pity. He saw the evils in his ways and he did a 360... He went out and preached to others with a humble heart but with great conviction.
I wish that everyone who preached the Word could be that way, but I think that many people lose sight of how wonderful each and every person is.
We are all precious despite our many flaws. So precious. It takes time and an open mind to see things that way, but it's so important to our walk as Christians.
Love is the greatest commandment, and in my opinion which should be regarded as nothing if it's not biblically sound, is that Jesus said that because without genuine love in your heart for everyone, no matter, you can't teach, you can't live right... (paraphrase) everything hinges on these commandments: love the Lord your God and love your neighbor as yourself.
If we all could reach that point, we could be more like Christ and could be truly prepared to teach others.
I'm sorry if at any point i've sounded like i'm beating heads in... but to me, so little is more important than people accurately understanding the Word. I wish that instead of people beating others down with Truth, that they would use propriety and give it to them as milk and work up to the meat. Show them that there is a mutual bond of trust and teach them through your life more than your words. Use God's Word and your actions to lead others...
Ok, I'm done lecturing. I just felt it necessary to convey that idea.
I'd like to know why it is that people feel that an effective way of turning "sinners" around is by making them feel so guilty that they can hardly stand themselves.
Sin is terrible. It's disgusting in the sight of God. And anything that is an abomination to Him should be the same to us. But why do people think that it is acceptable to make the sinner hate themselves?
I wish people could understand what its like to come from backgrounds where not everything you've done has been ideal. Drinkers, Smokers, people who have had sex, people who have worn "skanky" clothes, people who enjoy partying, whatever.
How can someone just walk up to them and tell them you are an abomination. You do not practice self- control, modesty, wise judgment, fruits of the spirit a b and c...
To me that seems ridiculous. Please correct me if you think it would win hearts in order to offend people to the point where they cannot trust you... but in my eyes, the way that these things should be handled is with gentleness and love... speaking with propriety and an honest heart.
I know that most of the people who preach/ teach/ admonish/ etc that way do it with the best intentions, but I wish they could see that its wrong. Jesus didn't make people hate themselves... He made them hate their sins.
Paul didn't take drastic measures against himself for the evils that he had committed. He didn't get depressed and fall into this wave of self-pity. He saw the evils in his ways and he did a 360... He went out and preached to others with a humble heart but with great conviction.
I wish that everyone who preached the Word could be that way, but I think that many people lose sight of how wonderful each and every person is.
We are all precious despite our many flaws. So precious. It takes time and an open mind to see things that way, but it's so important to our walk as Christians.
Love is the greatest commandment, and in my opinion which should be regarded as nothing if it's not biblically sound, is that Jesus said that because without genuine love in your heart for everyone, no matter, you can't teach, you can't live right... (paraphrase) everything hinges on these commandments: love the Lord your God and love your neighbor as yourself.
If we all could reach that point, we could be more like Christ and could be truly prepared to teach others.
I'm sorry if at any point i've sounded like i'm beating heads in... but to me, so little is more important than people accurately understanding the Word. I wish that instead of people beating others down with Truth, that they would use propriety and give it to them as milk and work up to the meat. Show them that there is a mutual bond of trust and teach them through your life more than your words. Use God's Word and your actions to lead others...
Ok, I'm done lecturing. I just felt it necessary to convey that idea.