My own Ninevah

Granny Gumbo -

I'm sorry you feel my message of love is not based on doctorine. It comes directly out of God's word, in most cases, directly out of Christ's mouth.

I can easily tell you what I base the believe that we must act in a loving manner on.

I am using an NIV, but feel free to look them up in a KJV if you wish.

"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God, blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called sons of God."

Matthew 5:8-9

"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, "Do No murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment. But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'you fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell."

"You have heard that it was said, Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth. But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, then turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take yourtunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someon eforces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn from the one who wants to borrow from you." Matthew 5:38-42.

You have heard that it was said, love your neighbor, and hate your enemies. But I tell you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his son to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Matthew 5:43-47

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck outof youreye,when all the time there isa plank in your own eye? Youhypocrite, first take the plankoutof yourown eye, and then youwill see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." Matthew 7:1-5

"As Jesus went on from there,he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means; I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Matthew 9:9-12

Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question, "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commanment. And the second is like it; 'Love your neighbor as yourself. All the law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:34-40

"Jesus replied, 'And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselfs will not lift a finger to help them.' Luke 11:46

"So what yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, "I repent," forgive him." Luke 17:3 - 4


"Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times." Therefore the kindgomd of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him, sine he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. The servant fell on his knees before him. "Be patient with me," he begged, "And I will pay back everything."The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt, and let him go. But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denaril. He grabbed him, and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded. His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me,and I will pay you back.' But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the manthrown into prison, until he could paythe debt. When the other servants saw what hadhappened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened. The the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said. 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you? In anger, his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.
Matthew 18:21-35

"Then they asked him, 'What must we do to do the works God requires? Jesus answered, 'The work of God is this; to believe in the one he sent.' John 6:28-29

(continued)

 

The each went to his own home. But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brouth in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group, and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" They were using this question as a trap in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straighted up and said to them. "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this time, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you, Jesus declared. "Go now, and leave your life of sin." John 7:53- John 8:11

[b}"A new command I give you. Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, you love one another. "[/b]
John 13:34

"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spirtual fervor, serving the lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need, Practice hospitility. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written; 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord. On the contrary, If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:9-21

"Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels aginst the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves." Romans 13 1-2

"Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. The commandments, 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not murder,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not covet,' and whatever other commandment there may be are summed up in this one rule. Love your neighbor as your yourself. Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Romans 13:8-10

"Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. Romans 14:1


"Therefore, let us stop passing judgment on one another, instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling blcok or obstacle in your brother's way. As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. If your brother is distressed because of what you eat,you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died. Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who served Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men. Let us therefore make ever effort to do what leads to peace, and to mutual edification. Romans 14:13-19

"May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you know Christ Jesus so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.
Romans 15:5-7

"Follow the way of love, and eagerly desire spiritual gifts. 1 Corinthians 14:1

[b}"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbol.
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
If I give all I posess to the poor, and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient.
Love is kind.
It does not envy.
It does not boast.
It is not proud.
It is not rude.
It is not self-seeking.
It is not easily angered.
It keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices in truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, alwasy perserveres.
Love never fails.
But where there are prophecies, they will cease.
Where there are tongues, they will be stilled.
Where there is knowledge; it will pass away.
For we know in part, and we prophes in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child. I reasoned like a child. When I became a man I put childish ways behind me. Now we are but a poor reflection in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. Now these three remain; faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love. Romans 13:1-13

False doctorine? I haven't even begun to list the scriptures that teach that same "false" doctorine.

 

On a side note - I have to ask this, Granny?

Where exactly is the love in your words?

"writes way too much feel-good, mushy emotionalism without sound doctrine...some of it makes me wanna puke," and "And I say all this in love."

 

Joesph,

I stated, over, and over, and over, that I believe in the importance of all scripture.

I stated, over and over, that I came back because my first statement was NOT clear on that.

Why, if you have "holy intentions," do you ignore the numerous statements that say, "I believe all scripture is important," and "I came back to clarify that I did not mean one scripture is more important than another?"

 

I don't think describing God as "vomiting" anyone is sound doctorine.

As to using Timothy - well, interesting choice. You know who the letter to Timothy condemded the most? The people who were too rigid in the law.

1 Timothy 4:1-5

"The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abanon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods which God created to be received with Thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth for everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer .

In 1st Timothy you read:

"If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words, that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions, and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain." (1 Tim 6:3-5)

Now, I posted scriptures from Matthew, John, Luke, Romans all quoting Christ or referencing Christ as teaching love, forgiveness and understanding. You cannot deny the scriptures without teaching false doctorine, and the scriptures teach forgive 70 x 7, and love .. more than the heathen. The scritpures teach try to be a peacemaker.

Going on in the same section of 1st Timothy:

"But godliness with conentment is great gain."

You prefer 2nd Timothy 4:2? Read the WHOLE verse.

"Preach the word, be prepared in season and out of season, correct, rebuke, encourage - with great patience and careful instruction .

"you make me puke" is neither patient or offering careful instruction.

Keep reading the words of Paul.
Look at his letter to Titus.

"Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be odiedent, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considering, and to show true humilty toward all men." Titus 3:1

"But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law because these are unprofitable and useless." [/b] Titus 3:9

"Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good." Titus 3:14a

"Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some peole have entertained angels without knowing it." Hebrews 13:1

"My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. James 1:19-20

"If anyone considers himself religious and does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless." James 1:26

"If you really keep the royal law found in scritpure, love your neighbor as yourself, you are doign right. If you show favortism, you sin, and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it." James 2:8

Think about that - if you do not love - you have broken all the law.


And - by the scriptures - love is the 2nd greatest of all commandments. Ergo, if you do not love - you have committed a sin greater than theft, greater than adultery, greater than murder.

 

One last thing - Granny - I believe in repentance. In teaching love, I am, in fact, asking people to repent from their refusal to obey the 2nd greatest commandment.

It is impossible for Christ to live within someone and for that person to continue to ignore God's call to repent. Christians stumble. God pulls them back.

You see, if you get the first two commandments down, the rest fall into line. If you love God with all your heart, all your mind and all your soul - you cannot HELP but obey God's law.

God said that was the FIRST of His commandments. GOD said, not Texas Sky, Granny, JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF said, the second greatest commandment was to love others.

Failure to love is sin.
Failure to love REQUIRES repentence.

Many people totally ignore the fact that refusing to love is a sin, and that those who refuse to love need to repent from THAT sin.

If someone comes to me and says, "Sky, I'm committing adultery," I DON'T pretend that is fine. I tell them, "God loves you despite that, and because he loves you, you have to stop that. Adultery destroys homes, it destroys people, and it separates you from the beauty of God's love. Talk to Him, He loves you, and He'll help you through this."

And you know - that person is MUCH more likely to repent than the person who is stoned.

 

Having said that - I ask our Lord Jesus Christ to forgive all of us, me most especially, for the times I have let anger or self righteousness cause me to break the commandments which meant the most to Christ. I ask forgiveness for failure to love.

PastorSBC and Joseph, I ask you both to forgive me for getting angry with you both.