Why is it so bad when you call a christian a fool?

thats pretty funny

If I call someone a fool Im in danger of hell but if I call him a dirtbag or an idiot Im ok LOL!

 

I should think one would survey the scriptures associated with this doctrine, review the commentaries, et cetera, rather than simply read a few verses, question them, reach some fuzzy conclusions, then toss them out for comments. Sir, xdisciplex, after an initial prayer, apply the following to all your study times (be careful. Do not make void the words of our Lord in answering --- your interpretation is not being called upon, rather His. We seek the Divine answer, not our own):

(1) What "judgment" does Jesus have in mind as in verse Matthew 5:22?
(2) What type of anger is involved?
(3) Why is He so demanding on the subject of anger?
(4) How serious was He? Today we would use words like "knothead", "fruitcake", "basket case" in interpreting "Raca". Someone whose "elevator doesn't go all the way to the top". Is He simply saying "don't say bad things"?
(5) Have you ever been tempted to damn someone to hell because of his or her actions or attitude toward you, synonymous with "thou fool!"?

Think about the progression in animosity as given in 5:22:

(1) Anger,
(2) Contempt,
(3) Condemnation.

Here is a prayer you can pray, following your study:

"Holy Spirit of God—by Thy Divine fire, burn out the dross in my nature. I do want to love as our Lord did. Enable me to love my neighbor as myself. Deliver me from the bondage of ill-will. Remove all the grudges I hold. Father, you hold no grudge against me! Let it be so in my encounters with others!"

 

Because God said so...

 

This is something I have always wondered about on this subject..

First of all, in Proverbs it calls people fools all the time. Here is one example that seems contradictory at least at first glance:

Prov:26:4: Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
Prov:26:5: Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.


But my question is, how can we follow this counsel on how to treat a fool if we arent supposed to think anybody is a fool?


Claudia

 

XDX, How about actually being involved in the questions you ask? You throw out a question and then just disappear until you throw out the next question. Are you learning anything from the responses?

 

Amy: I have wondered about that too. Perhaps he is a new Christian seeking answers OR someone who already knows the answers and wants to see if anyone else does? :tonofbricks:

 

Scarlett

that was a good article, I just read it, thank you for sharing it...


The one that says not to answer the fool lest you become like him reminds me of a saying that goes kinda like this: "Dont argue with a fool because after awhile it becomes hard to tell which one of you is the fool"

Claudia

 

I believe he is one of two things. Either a very disturbed individual or a troll. In either case he needs the Lord..........

He also cares not a whit for responses, as his continuing postings indicate no growth.

 

I just wanted to say that I think you are just wonderful Scarlett O. and God continue to bless you and your family!

 

xdx does not already know the answers. When an issue pops into his head, he chases the answer endlessly, finally coming here with solutions that are shaky at best, while still longing for peace in a simple answer. He has mental limitations which are very difficult to overcome, and will remain so, until he allows the medical community to help him. hillclimber, I would not refer to him as "disturbed," since he is still able to function in the community, albeit with difficulty.

His posts range from strange to brilliant, reflecting the level of difficulty he is having on a given day. He has been told, publicly and privately, that he needs to listen to his psychiatrist. He can't continue to struggle like this without help.

xdx, with regard to your questions, I would suggest that you carefully consider information from Scarlett and Amy and Hillclimber. They seek to be helpful. Rather than being supportive of your limitations, we need to direct you toward someone who can help. You already know who that doctor is. First get the mental under control. An entirely new world will open up for you if you will do that.

With regard to your Matthew 5:22 question(s), Jesus was speaking to Jews about the Kingdom. We are Gentile Christians, living in the Church Age. In the future Kingdom promised to the Jews, the Millennium, with Christ on the Throne, it will be possible to live up to the demands of the Sermon on the Mount.

The Sermon on the Mount is not a prerequisite for salvation in Christ Jesus today. We are saved by Grace through Faith, and that not of ourselves. It is not of works. Guarded speech will not save you. Guarded speech comes after salvation, as evidence of the born-again experience. You cannot lose your salvation based upon an unguarded moment of foul language or speech that belittles another. When that happens, run to 1 John 1:9 to seek the restoration of fellowship with your Savior. Your salvation, your eternal security, was never in jeopardy.

Do we ignore the Sermon on the Mount today? Of course not. In it we see the quality of life that we, as Christians, can experience right now, today, in an utterly surrended life. Difficult? Yes. Worthwhile? Yes, and Amen! Speak God's words, think His thoughts, do His will, accomplish His purpose, a glorious challenge for the born-again Believer. It is a spiritual matter, not one of the flesh. This will be THE ethic during the Kingdom Age, the Millennium. Go for it today!

:thumbs:

 

Not all that complex a question, huh??

Ed

 

Scarlett_O wrote:

Well put, Scarlett, as to context!

I once heard this statement, which made sense then, and still years later, makes as much sense, as ever.

"A text out of context is a pretext to a proof-text!"

I agree, fully.

Ed