I get so tired of reading posts online and following a string of replies that continues to blast the original post.
Do you notice how many times people get offended and feel they need to prove their point. It usually does not go well once that starts. Especially when it comes to spiritual and biblical topics.
We fail to realize that not everyone has the same interpretation as another. We also fail to realize the fact that we cannot prove most of what we believe.
We can fight and argue between Christian and atheist, one Christian denomination and another, among Jewish, Christian, Islam and a host of other religions, about whether there is there a God or not, is there a hell or not, what this verse means or what that verse means. We get bent out of shape when someone goes against what we believe and do our best to prove our point. We even fight over what Christmas designs are on a cup of coffee these days.
Proving Our Point
Thing is, we cannot prove our point. We cannot prove God exists, we cannot prove there is a heaven or a hell, we cannot prove any other aspect of the spiritual. This life is a life of faith and belief. As Christians, we can have faith that God is there and he loves us. We have faith in his words.
And and the other hand, no one can prove there is not a God, there is not a heaven, or there is not a hell. Yet we will fight and argue until we almost hate each other trying to prove our way of thinking.
I think God can take care of himself. We do not have to fight and argue to defend Him. Rather than making ourselves look like mean, hateful people who have to be right, we should be showing the love of God to everyone. Show his love to those who agree with us and also to those who are a hundred percent sure in their minds that we are wrong.
Love of the Spirit
To be sure, we cannot have this kind of love and acceptance in our own strength. God says we are the temple of the Holy Spirit, and it his love that flows out of us. Through His power, we can love those who live differently, who think differently, we can love our enemies and those who want nothing to do with God.
We can have our own way of thinking, our own beliefs and interpretations, knowing that God created each of us differently. Yet we need to remember we are not totally right on everything, and for sure we are not totally right in someone else’s view. We can all learn something by listening and communicating with others.
We all have a right to believe what and how we want to believe. People can put their faith in God or not. We can have completely different lifestyles. We can have a completely different interpretation on bible verses or we can completely reject the bible and not believe anything about it, and it is OK.
Show the Love of God
We are not called to make people believe like us, or believe in God at all. We are called to go into the world and preach the gospel, the gospel message that God loves and accepts us. Jesus came to restore fellowship between humanity and the Father. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are to love and accept others just the way they are.
We can have our individual beliefs and interpretations, yet that does not mean we have to agree with everyone. Love and acceptance does not mean agreement. We can love and accept others just because they are loved by God. We were all created in His image. We can have our differences and still accept and care for those God brings into our lives each day.
Very good. We are to demonstrate God, not defend Him, and all your posts say that one way or another. Love is the command; arguing certainly isn’t. It’s the goodness of God that leads to repentance, not a well thought-out argument. Demonstrate God’s love, and you’ll plant a seed that will grow. You can’t be the Church if you’re arguing and defensive! (or very offensive!)
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Yes, love is the way of God. We show God to others by our love for one another. Thanks for your comment.
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This really is superb. Reblogged it as part of my blog post today: http://www.flyinginthespirit.cuttys.net/2015/11/18/the-graceful-approach/
Thank you as always for your great perspectives 🙂
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Thank you Tony. I appreciate your kind words.
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In response to the graphic: What about people who search for God and don’t find him?
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Yes, the graphic isn’t perfect but closest I could find that worked. Obviously, not everyone finds God or accepts His existence, yet they are to be loved and accepted too.
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PS: Thanks for taking the time to read my article. I appreciate it. I’ve been reading some of yours also.
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I like how every post I see about religion nowadays has at least one mention of Starbucks coffee cups. XD
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You are right. The first and last time you’ll hear it from me. Just couldn’t believe how upset people got over such a silly issue.
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SO true!
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Mike, God showed me that Jesus did not argue with peoples heads, but rather spoke to their hearts for it is out of the heart that comes forth the issues of life, His discussion with the Samaritan woman at the well is a classic example of how she wanted to argue about whose religion was right and He spoke to the issues of her heart that cased her to shack up with many men in her life. If we are going to speak in the power of the Spirit to the hearts of our hearers and readers, we need to pray for eyes that can see and hears that can hear what the Spirit is saying to the ecclesia of God in this hour.
As for arguing our point, that is futile also, for a man convinced against his will will be of the same mind still.
“Behold my servant, whom I uphold; my elect, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth justice to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth justice unto truth.” (Isaiah 42:1-3 KJ2000)
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Very good points. Speaking to the issues of the heart. Thanks for your comments.
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Reblogged this on Ink Pastries.
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Unity, but not uniformity.:) Even within the Church there is dissention of proving a reason for a certain theology. One thing most people in general can agree on is love. Even if we see love differently or where it comes from differently we all still want it, need it, believe in it. Perhaps what can first unify the Church is love…and then maybe we can look outward too.:)
http://unveiledandrevealed.com
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Yes, isn’t that the truth, love and unity, yet not uniformity. I like that. Thanks.
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Anytime! We are all in this together.:) We must encourage one another and spur each other on in truth and love.
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As I like to say because it’s true and God proved it to us through thousands of years of human history: you cannot legislate the Holy Spirit with manmade ANYTHING: laws, arguments, religions. As soon as we try to change someone on the outside going in, it gets UGLY. People need to change (for the better, into spiritual maturity) from the inside going out, and only God (ok, maybe my “opinion”) can do that permanently (and I can tell you that because I tried to quit smoking a million times but when I handed it to God: it happened). He promises to write His law on our hearts, but we must offer our hearts first. That is a free will choice, and we can’t murder that away, or argue that away, or legislate that away from anyone. It is God’s gift.
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Good comment, so true. Thanks for posting.
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