[CS-FSLUG] OT: Can this list be split?

[Jerry Van Brimmer]

AMEN!!! Preach it, bro!

Quoting dmc <edoc7 at verizon.net>:

>> Like it or not, Christianity tells us *not to judge*. Yes, that INCLUDES
>> Gates, Ballmer, and Microsoft as a whole. Judgement is reserved for our
>> God. Let's focus on constructive criticism, not out-and-out attacks, hmm?
>
> I sure pray that this horrific theology will one day be
> purged from Christian discourse -- as Steve Brown would
> say "It stinks and smells and comes from the pit of Hell."
>
> I am not attacking the person who posted these words, I
> am speaking against the one who initiated this bad teaching
> and those who repeat it from positions of leadership.
>
> It is a combination of sloppy translating work and of
> sloppy application.
>
> Biblical Christian teaching tells us not to "judge" where
> another person stands in the matter of their salvation, and
> even that is modified by Paul who says we may discern the
> presence of the Holy Spirit (the most critical element of
> true salvation) -- as I recall Paul was speaking about
> selecting leaders at the time.
>
> We are also told not to hold others in distain as if we are
> in any way superior.  A different use of "judge".  We are
> never told to be blind to reality nor to fail to speak the
> truth, albeit in love.
>
> When we misuse the term "judge" in this way we create
> an environment where no accountability may occur inside
> or outside of the church -- people become too afraid of
> being slapped with the scarlet letter "judging".  That
> is deadly - we saw the fruits of that in Paul's 1st Century
> struggles with the young church and we see it today as well.
>
> We are instructed to be "discerning" about matters
> of fruits and to interact with people accordingly.
>
> If Bill Gates uses his power to abuse others we are
> free to label his actions for what they are and to make
> decisions about avoiding helping him with our dollars.
>
> If Mr. Ballmer makes clearly wrong statements about
> Linux we are free to correct his misstatements and
> to question his integrity as he clearly knows better.
>
> Jesus is our perfect model, was He wrong when He called
> the abusive power brokers of His day "whitewashed sepulchers",
> "vipers", "children of perdition", etc?
>
> Did Jesus sin when he cleared the area outside the temple
> with a whip, overturned tables, & caused merchandise and
> animals belonging to others to be damaged and set free?
>
> As for Christians, when we discern that a "brother" is
> in trouble we are to confront him in love with the truth,
> if he fails to respond correctly then we are to request
> church discipline.  If he is at all teachable we are to
> walk with him toward healing and restoration, if he is
> unteachable then as did Paul, our example, we are to
> put him out of the church for a time to allow the Lord
> to discipline him -- and to defend the other sheep.
>
> If we fail to do so we harm the brother and the church
> by our fear-driven or laziness-driven failure to confront
> sin.
>
> Let's not turn the church that Jesus created into some
> wimpy powerless boundaryless "can't we all just get
> along" social club.  Such was not the church Paul spoke
> of nor the one into which he spoke with authority.
>
> Perhaps I have spoken too firmly but from what I have
> observed in the modern (and historic) church I seriously
> doubt it!
>
> --
> Respectfully,
>
> David Colburn, D.Min., M.A.Co.
>
> Freelance Journalist/Writer,
> Crisis, Family, & Individual Counselor,
> Minister of Discipleship:
> First Baptist Church of Spring Hill.
>
> Echoes of Eden Blog: http://bibleseven.com/blog1/blog.html
>
>       /\ /\
> ?(~~~{ @ @ }  Sent from
>  (      *     Puppy Linux
>  (        )
>   ~~~~~~~~~  http://bibleseven.com
>   / /   / /
>
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>



-- 
"Praise the Lord, O my soul!" - Psalm 146:1