WHO told you that you were naked?

This illustrates one of my problems with your approach, actually, Ken...

You see, I want to think of what is conceptually and thematically related to what the Lord wants to work on in my life; not just to have my head full of verses arbitrarily linked to my surroundings by having the same 'noun' in them.

But I did think like this, twice...and both times it was decided I was in an emergency condition and I was basically forced onto psychiatric meds.

So, why would I choose to think this way again?

 

Romans 12:9 - abhor that which is evil.

Proverbs 23:6 Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats:
7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he

Psalm 139:21 Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?
22 I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.

We are literally commanded to abhor (hate) evil. In Proverbs 23, we are told that the man who thinks upon evil in his heart is literally evil.

God hates evil (sin).

David, the beloved of God, stated that he hated those that hate God with a perfect hatred.

Thus, we discover a biblical doctrine directly opposed to the stereotypical "hate the sin but love the sinner" that is practiced today.

Do you want to be known as the beloved of God? Then you, too must hate evil and those that do evil--because as a man thinks in his heart, so is he--with a perfect hatred.

 

Dear Ken,

Thank you for your post. I agree. God has given us minds and emotions and all the senses to validate the words we read in scripture. This is Life we live. Not just sterile words on a page in a Book. How often He brings us deeper into His Word (both Christ and written word) and we have an aha moment - understanding in a moment what was confusion the moment before. I believe, help me in my unbelief, oh Lord my God! Dare we believe that incorrect interpretation, unbelief, hatred, confusion, separation and sin cannot separate us from the love of God! There is None like Him.

He lives in us as new creations being given a new life and a new mind.

Peace in Christ to you,

GH

 

Star, GH, I humbly and respectfully ask that you assess my last post.

Thank you in advance.

 

Hello again Don,

I understand what you're saying, I really do. But, but........I've chosen to overcome evil with good, by God's grace of course for I couldn't love a thing without knowing His love.

We are living in the dispensation of Grace. The OT vengence is passe' for me. God exhorts me to love my enemies and to pray for those who despitefully use me. In His Grace, does He do less than what He expects me to do? Now that's a question for the ages, I believe.

I am satisfactorily convinced that God loves His enemies too. Therefore, hatred is fast falling from my vocabulary. But I do understand what you're saying, and I want to encourage you to seek God in this and not just believe what someone else may have taught you about it.

Did you know that God loves the world? For God so loved the world He sent His only begotten Son....... If He loves the world, can I do less? I think we (the Church) have gotten things a little bit wrong here - we might want to stop judging and hating the world and start loving it.

Little children we love because He first loved us.

But you are free to choose whichever view sits right with your spirit.

Peace in Christ,

Diane

 

But Diane, you're denying scripture.

Did you even look up the verses I provided? Can you refute them?

Do you believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God--and thus, God's Word? If so, how can you say that, look at the verses that I referenced, and then post what you did?

There is a secret about all this, Diane, and I'll tell you what it is right after you answer these questions, and properly address my post about hating evil.

[ July 09, 2002, 06:46 PM: Message edited by: Don ]

 

Dear brother,

I sure do believe that the bible is inspired by God.

I know those scriptures very well, indeed. Having studied scripture for almost 18 years. The first 6 years solid, every day all day long.

I posted what I did because of love, which is a new language. Love which considers others before itself, hopes all things, believes all things, is not rude, doesn't keep a record of wrongs, loves its enemies......

I hate sickness and disease and ignorance and unforgiveness and hatred for hatred's sake. I hate prejudice and exclusiveness and a whole long list of other things. But to what end? All my hatred in the world doesn't change anything - but love, I have found in my own life, changes everything.

I won't do scripture battle because I think it is futile, but I will share what God has done in my life - the good things He has done in my life. Sometimes using scripture, sometimes just my own life experiences - in the hopes that someone will get a glimpse of the awesome love of Christ. It's my only reason for sharing. Whether I'm right or wrong or your right or wrong means nothing to me. What counts is a life changed by the love of God through Christ Jesus our Lord. Christ came to reconcile us to God - He showed us a loving Father. This is the God I know, and not much else.

I see in Ken's posts the loving grace of God. This is what I respond to - not the myriads of scripture, but the heart for God. Here a little, there a little in the scripture Ken quotes and even in his interpretations I see God's grace booming out to me. And not just in Ken's posts but in all things.

It is wonderful!

Peace in Christ,

Diane

 

Hi
Ive Been Under The Impression That the Enemy Here Is Evil....
When The Real Enemy Is Fear..
Isnt Fear The Opposite Of Love... (Which God... IS...).

Perfect Love Cast Out Fear......Fear Of What?

That Any Individual Believes That God Is Not Sufficient..

Sufficient For What? Anything !

Lets See...Gods Made Everything
(without God...nothing Exists...even fear or evil or sin or enemies)
Who Can Exist outside God ? or where ?...

God Controls Everything..God Knows Everything....who does what, without Gods knowledge..
Lets Not get into free will...What Can Man Imagine To Do Outside Gods permission?
Answer...Nothing..

Fear Exists to mold man..to help man become lovers..and Its By Gods Hand That Fear or evil is USED...

Our Problem Is That We Dont Acknowledge The Fear In Ourselves. To Admit That We Dont Regard God As All Sufficient.... For Everyone.....in His Own Timing...

Even Past That Concept..If We Cant Understand That God Loves Everyone...
Can We Even Begin To Comprehend That Gods Commandments Are That We Forgive Everyone For, Every Offense Committed...That Is Our New Nature ?..Isnt It..?

That Is What We Call Grace...Its Not Us..Its God Through Us..
We've Got To Stop Fearing And Let God DO His Thing..He Is All Sufficient.

Me2

 

Hi Me2,

I say a big Me Too to your post. The beauty of the Lord shone round that one.

God is all sufficient. Does it not make your heart sing?

Bless you for your insightful post.

In His Love, GH

[ July 09, 2002, 10:38 PM: Message edited by: GH ]

 

Star & GH,

You Figured It Out! the Three Most Popular Words

I Love You

The Next Two Most Popular

Me Too

 

Me2,

hahahahhahhaha

Oh that is lovely!

I love you - me too

I'll always see them together that way from now on.

Thanks a bunch, GH (Diane)

 

Hey Starshine,

I do love it when the Spirit moves in us together at the same time.

I see Me2 was touched by the HS too.

Very cool.

Love, the grasshopper

btw I enjoyed reading your post (the one where you asked what hatred was) - lotta good stuff there.

 

Star, you answered that pretty well. The only thing I might add, that completely and utterly refutes what I posted, which you hinted at, is that only God knows the heart.

I would also point out that even though Romans 12:9 tells us to abhor that which is evil, the rest of Romans 12 tells us how to treat that evil (recompense not evil for evil; do good unto your enemies, that you may heap coals upon their heads). I would also point out that Galatians 5 specifically lists hatred as a work of the flesh, and not a fruit of the spirit.

Now for the secret: I don't believe a word of what I wrote about hatred. In fact, I "borrowed" it from a group in Denver that I'm constantly on the look-out for. They've made their faces known on this very board on more than one occasion, and I always point them out as soon as I find them here.

Diane seems to have figured out what I was actually up to, and I hope you pay attention to this, Star:

Except that that's exactly what you've been doing with Ken, Star.

I've shown before that Ken has used verses out of context, changing their meaning to support a viewpoint.

I posted what I posted about hate to show an example of what happens when we take verses out of context. Neither of you were able to refute that the Bible actually has those verses that I posted; but you both knew that those verses, even when put together, were used out of context.

You need to apply what you've done here to everything that is presented regarding the gospel.

Diane, you may see love in Ken's posts, while seeming to know from your years of study that he's using verses wrongly; may I remind you of a small statement?

If you know something is wrong, you should point it out--not give it a chance to perpetuate and grow.

Love is longsuffering, and is kind.

Is it love, or is it even kind, to tell a brother he's sinning? Of course it is. It would not be love and it would not be kind to allow that brother to remain in the sin.

Is it love to tell a sister that she's wrong about something? Of course it is; as long as we do it in a manner of meekness and kindness. It would not be love to allow that sister to continue in her ignorance.

But if we point out their fault to them in an attempt to restore them (see Galatians 6:1), is it love from them to continue in that fault?

Diane, it is folly to say that you don't want to get into a "scripture battle"; how else am I to know for sure that what you're telling me is of God? Simply because you tell me that you do it out of love?

I tell you now that Ghandi, for all his love towards everyone around him, if he knew not Christ as his savior, was doomed.

I prefer you provide scriptures, and your insights into them; not only does it verify you are indeed using scripture as your foundation for your beliefs, it would help me grow. To not get into "scripture battle" denies me, and everyone else--including yourself--the chance to grow and mature in Christ.

Star, please please please think carefully on what I've presented you here.

 

Dear Don,

Whew! I'm glad you're not that hate filled individual I thought you were.

Sorry, I don't agree that I should point out someone's error. I'm not saying that you or someone else shouldn't do it. You see I spent a lot of time pointing out other people's errors to them and I don't think I helped anyone. And I sure didn't like it very much when someone quoted scripture and verse to me when they thought I was in error.

But I'll tell you the truth - when someone loved me anyway - well now that helped me to see the error of my ways. I stopped playing Holy Spirit years ago.

And you, you sly, crafty devil you - you set us up. lol I love it!!!!

No, scripture battle is a no no for me. I prefer Life (Christ) to teach me what the scriptures mean for me, myself and I. And if you'd think about it that's how you learn too, dear brother.

Christ took care of sin on the cross - bless His holy Name - but when I do sin, He has an uncanny way of letting me know - pronto!!!!

Well, so we don't see it the same way. So what. As brother Paul said: and these three remain - faith, hope and love. And the greatest of these is love.

Peace, Diane