Featured Do Christians Show Favoritism Towards Themselves?

I thought you were a Christian?

 

Zaac, you've heard it said that there are 2 types of people in this world GIVERS and TAKERS....I have noticed that even God doesn't change ones personality when they get saved....in my 28 years of being saved I have noticed that if someone was a JERK before they got saved now they are juts a SAVED JERK...for the one who is naturally born a giver, loving others is quiet easy...

For the one born a taker, it is possible to become a giver if they are filled with the Holy Spirit and allowing God to change them for the inside out...otherwise we just have a bunch of people claiming to be Christians yet being a very poor example of Christ and His love.

BTW, Jesus only gave us 2 commandments in which all the commandments fit into...Matt22:37-39..."LOVE the Lord your God with all your heart mind and LOVE and OTHERS as yourself"....

That is why many Christians are walking around being SELFISH and MEAN!

 

Self-prophecy, perhaps?

 

How many times have you told others on this board that in person, you're much different than what people on this board perceive you to be?

Why would that hold true only for you, and for no one else on this board?

 

WOW, you really have NO understanding of Matt 7 do you?

 

BY ME


MERCY and COMPASSION: A much needed commodity in our society today. What does it mean to have these virtues and why do we not see more of it? I thank the Lord that He has given me either by genetics or by experience the ability to show MERCY and COMPASSION. In one sense, I do think much is inherited, as my kids and I are pretty good natured, (People-People) so I am sure ones innate temperament plays a huge role. When I took a test on spiritual gifts many years ago I scored equally high on FAITH/WISDOM, then equally high on SERVING/GIVING and then MERCY and others to follow. (Of course this is a Baptist church, so no sign gifts…which is another study in itself which I actually personally wrote about in 1991 that was 8 pages long, no computer, took me close to a year to put together) Anyway, I honestly believe and I know many will disagree that I think many of our innate gifts can transfer over to spiritual gifts. I also fell the closer one is to God the more God can do with them... I also know God can totally do such a transformation in one’s life under His power to do just the opposite, such as Moses. But for the “most” part if one has COMMON SENSE (Is it really common, that is what I want to know?) then they will have WISDOM. If one has a HEART then they will GIVE, ACT and show MERCY, if one has APPRECIATION then they will SERVE, if one is not prone to WORRY, but has a very TRUSTING nature they will have FAITH…see what I mean?

Anyway I am not going to focus on just Christians, showing Mercy and Compassion is for everyone to practice no matter who you are, or what you do. Mercy is defined as “Forgiving Someone Of An Offense” it may well be warranted that you hold a grudge against that person or that you make sure they know what they did wrong and that no matter what they do or say there is no way you will forgive them. If I remember correctly JESUS forgave every sinner that confessed his sins. So why should we be any different? I mean isn’t the bottom line, (It is for me) that we should “Do Unto Others As We Would Have Done Unto Us?” …I’m sure this isn’t news to many of you, but I’m going to BLOW it at times in what I say or do, that is a fact till the day I die. And so will you. For one, our PERCEPTION alone will cause us to either be offended or to offend, just the way it is….for now. But the key to allowing MERCY to take place is in proper communication STARTING with the ONE WHO IS OFFENDED to say something to the one he feels has offended him and have an open HEART to try and understand the other person’s side…who knows maybe it wasn’t at all what you thought it was and your perception wasn’t reality. MERCY is; no matter what that person said or did, and if they have tried to make it right or are remorseful for it, then YOUR JOB given to you by a higher power, is to forgive, and pray you don’t do the same to someone else. By your NOT forgiving you are now the one OFFENDING…see the irony?

A great example of showing MERCY (and I’ve heard many of these) is a victim or family member of a victim forgiving the offender when they deserved JUSTICE. Think of a MURDER or RAPE situation. The offender may be required by law to pay the penalty, but the victim carries on a relationship with the offender as if they were their best friend…that is the ultimate example of MERCY and is what Jesus did for us. I do think it is much easier (I know it is for me) to show Mercy to someone who is actually REMORSEFUL for what they have done and has tried to do what they can to make things right…if not, than it is hard if not impossible without God’s grace flowing through you.

COMPASSION: Is going a step beyond EMPATHY, it is actually doing something about the “feelings” that make you stop and say, “what is wrong with this picture and how can I fix it, so we can go back to harmony.” I want to live in a world where people get along; a beautiful world based on harmony. (don’t we all?) I want to live in a world where we take care of each other, we are not to live isolated lives…the saying “NO MAN IS AN ISLAND” rings true. There is strength when two or more people are gathered, when the more strands you have the tougher the rope, where one does the right thing because it is the right thing to do. I can’t help but think sometimes, by the GRACE of God there go I. I want someone to be there when I need them… not IF, but when. The song “LEAN ON ME” and “YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND come to mind.

I guess my bottom line is, everyone cries out, especially models lol… that their deepest wish for mankind is that there be PEACE...Specifically “World Peace” well guess what, if you really do want that then it STARTS WITH YOU!...it starts with me. But I am only responsible for ME! …in closing I say…

Peace through Mercy and Compassion.....:wavey:

 

God does NOT vieew all sins commited as being equal in either effect/punishmnet, for there are varying degrees of judgement on them!

Murder is one that he decreed deserves/merits death...

Appleas and oranges, as one sin is enough to cause God to condemn us as guilty of all, but he still has varying degrees of badness in sins!

Do you think a perfect and holy judge cannot decide which sin merits which degree of punishment?

 

I'm pretty sure the bible is very clear that those who are In Christ will not be judged themselves, but ONLY their works will be depending on if they allowed Christ to work THROUGH them, all else will be burned up and one will suffer loss and those who are faithful will receive rewards...1 Cor 3.

All our sins past, present and future were nailed to the cross you can sin all you want and still go to heaven...all sin does for the bible is effect their walk/relationship with God nothing else!

1 Cor 3...11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.

21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are your's;

22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are your's;

23 And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.

 

Zaac...We also end to be as WISE AS SERPENTS and GENTLE AS DOVES.

The bible is clear that there are many TARES among the WHEAT and WOLVES in sheep's clothing...not everyone who says Lord Lord is following the savior and by their fruits you shall know them...what are the fruits?

Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Sad to say I wonder about many on here if they are really saved or if they just grew up in some legalistic church therefore have no idea what they are doing or saying and worse yet they actually just may and are doing it on purpose out of resentment for their sad upbringing...I can so see that happening.

 

Seems we posted at the same time on page one...not sure you saw my reply to Y

 

sad truth they are on all boards...but for a "Christian" this shouldn't be.

What I don't get is WHO DO THEY THINK THEY ARE FOOLING?

Not me or you....don't take it personal....just know as long as we preach the TRUTH it will ruffle feathers, especially those belong to vultures and the like.

Have a good rest of your day...got to go to town...check in later...

 

There are two very different views of the impact of sin in an unsaved life. The one size fits all view, a little or a big sin results in the same punishment. That is true in that eternal punishment, separation for God forever is the same for any unforgiven sin. However, that view overlooks the second thing that happens to the lost, they are judged according to the deeds they have done, so more or worse sins pile up more wrath, torment in Hades/Gehenna. So the old saying is true, you cannot work your way to heaven, but you can dig yourself a deeper pit in hell.

 

jesus Himself told us that there will be varying degrees of punishemnt in hell, as man will be judged based upon the light that was revealed to them and how they responded to that!

 

jesus died to pay for ALL my sins in the sense of atonement to the father, but i can still go to jail here for those sins right, and get hung for crimes right?

My eternal punishment stoned for and removed, but NOT the temporal one!

 

Reading this thread is like watching a slow-motion train wreck.

 

Zaac -- this is why most of us disagree with you, and why I asked you a serious question about being a Christian.

We ALL have broken one, therefore have broken all. But where you mentioned one boat, there are actually two. Just as was described in a previous post, and was well-explained in a post about halfway down by Matt, there are those whose boat is heading for eternal damnation; and those who God has saved in the other. Both boats are filled with sinners; but the bigger boat is filled with unrepentent sinners.

Why did I ask you about being a Christian? Because you said, "God forgive us." God has already forgiven the Christian--you, me, Matt, most everyone on this board. And I'm comfortable saying that because I don't know the hearts of anyone here.

The degree of punishment for ALL of us is the same: NONE if we're Christians, and eternal damnation if we're not.