xfrodobagginsx said:
Oldbear83 said:
xfrodobagginsx said:
Oldbear83 said:
I notice a lot of talk about when you die. Strange that so few seem to have joy in the present with the Holy Spirit given us.
The only way you can have peace in the present is to know that you're going to be with the Lord when you die. Who says you can't have joy in this life if you are a c Christian? This life is preparation for the next life. If you are a Christian then you are being tested and tried and shaped into the image of Christ. Non-christians are given a chance to accept God's great gift of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.
I just don't see you or BTD showing the joy that Christians have in knowing Jesus in their lives. Lots of lectures, lots of anger on his part, but no simple happiness being able to have a growing relationship with the Lord.
Just seems strange to me.
I have Joy in the Lord, but I can also.have contempt for lies and deception and point it out because that's what loving your neighbor does. It tells the truth and tries to help people see the deception that they are under when they believe a false Gospel and or aren't folllowing Scripture. Speaking the truth is what Christ and the Apostles did and were hated for it and killed for it. The Pharisees would have said the same as you are saying about Jesus and the Apostles. I don't think I have been angry on here, but even if a Christian gets angry that doesn't somehow prove that what they said is false. Seek the truth no matter where it leads and you will find it. God will show you.
"and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. "
John 8:32 KJV
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. "
Matthew 6:33 KJV
You are different from BTD in two important ways, Frodo:
1) You try to
persuade rather than attack, and
2) you use Scripture at least some of the time.
I agree that anger can be good and right, but if you use it to attack people they will not be persuaded by you.
You are wrong, also, in your claim about the Pharisees. They and the proud scholars hated Jesus and attacked Him, accusing Christ of working by power of Satan:
"While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus. And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, 'Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.'
"But the Pharisees said, 'It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.' "Matthew 9:32-34
They also raged when Jesus plainly spoke to them:
"Jesus replied, "If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and obey his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad."
"You are not yet fifty years old," they said to him, "and you have seen Abraham!"
"Very truly I tell you," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!"
"At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds." John 8:54-59
Those who hate the word of God often rage when it is revealed to them, sadly.
I made my point about showing Joy in Christ for two reasons:
First, if we are to persuade, we should be more like Paul:
" Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings."1 Corinthians 9:19-23
Too often immature Christians think that they can force people into believing, or forget that winning believers requires us to humble ourselves, even as Christ set aside His power and rank in order to reach lost sheep. Attacking people online, as BTD does so often, does nothing to serve Christ or the Father, and drives away the Holy Spirit.
Jesus was very clear about how we are to seek Him, and show our attitude:
" But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.""Luke 18:16-17
As I said, the way is clear. It reveals something when someone tries to change what was said, and becomes angry over someone mentioning joy in following Christ.
