Giving others freedom to think and believe differently

[Grunt Hemlock]

Dianetics

 

[DNB]

No matter how strongly we believe in Christianity, or in our special version of it, we should never coerce or intimidate others for holding a different view.
I value freedom. I live in a democracy. Freedom to have our own thoughts, no matter how immature or strange they may seem to others. That's sacred in my view.
Freedom might be more important than faith in Jesus Christ. Well, surely Jesus wants us to come to him freely. Not with handcuffs on forced to follow him.
I happen to believe in Jesus as the son of God. I came to Him freely. I wasn't forced.
But that freedom I had was very important.
So we are called to evangalise. Personally I try to say less and act more. Be a witness.
I never say to someone " you should believe in Jesus Christ"
Or "Jesus is the TRUTH!! You had better believe it"!! In a threatening tone.
That's a turn off.
What if someone on here suddenly lost their faith and became atheist. Would you lecture them?
Give them space. Give them freedom to go on their own journey. And have their own thoughts.

Well, at a minimum, one must be at least corrected for false views, and many false views are, by definition, offensive.
There is nothing benign about heresy, all that you state that God has promulgated, reflects a great deal of what esteem that one has for God - bad doctrine can be extremely defaming towards Him. Point being, there is a time for correction, and more often than not, rebuke - there is more heresy out there, than there is orthodoxy.

But, you will ask, who has the right to insist that their personal views are more correct than someone else's? That debate will persist until the final days, but, until then, hopefully the voice of reason and Biblical acumen will prevail. Either way, one must be firm and fully convicted of their beliefs, live-and-let-live attitude does not apply to eternal Salvation, nor to seeking God's glory. There is no room for complacency or indifference towards the Gospel of Christ, men continually risked their lives for it, and thus, there is a time for austerity and imposition.

 

[saintiaint]

Well, at a minimum, one must be at least corrected for false views, and many false views are, by definition, offensive.
There is nothing benign about heresy, all that you state that God has promulgated, reflects a great deal of what esteem that one has for God - bad doctrine can be extremely defaming towards Him. Point being, there is a time for correction, and more often than not, rebuke - there is more heresy out there, than there is orthodoxy.

But, you will ask, who has the right to insist that their personal views are more correct than someone else's? That debate will persist until the final days, but, until then, hopefully the voice of reason and Biblical acumen will prevail. Either way, one must be firm and fully convicted of their beliefs, live-and-let-live attitude does not apply to eternal Salvation, nor to seeking God's glory. There is no room for complacency or indifference towards the Gospel of Christ, men continually risked their lives for it, and thus, there is a time for austerity and imposition.

Yes of course I can accept that straight talking can sometimes be necessary. But there's borderline disrespectful and straight out disrespectful.i can usually tell the difference..
I have some Muslim friends. I have some strong reservations about their religion. I'm not a fan of Mohammed. But I don't chastise them for their belief. We of course avoid the topic of religion . That's the best way of preventing problems. But if we do talk about religion I don't tell them " your religion is a lie!" I don't berate them for their faith.

 

[Grailhunter]

Jesus knows our hearts.. And He will judge righteously and with mercy!

Peace be with you!

I have all the confidence in the world in Christ merciful judgment.
Then again we will have to account for every idle word. Maybe He will think that preaching that He is a monster and child molestations are humorous. The imagination can run wild. But I am thinking Judgment Day will be a shock for some.

 

[saintiaint]

But I am thinking Judgment Day will be a shock for some.

For me , and others who suffer religious scrupulosity, it may be an anti climax. We imagine huge punishments for small/questionable sin.

 

[Grailhunter]

For me , and others who suffer religious scrupulosity, it may be an anti climax. We imagine huge punishments for small sin.

Ya I don't think that Christ has OCD.

 

[Irwin Fletcher]

I agree somewhat with the original post, but I believe there are certain important limitations.

1. There are core matters and disputable matters. Core matters relate to salvation and going against the clear teaching of the Bible. If people are adding to or taking away from what it means to be saved, then it is important to stand up to that false teaching and confront it. We see the NT Church modeling this in the book of Acts and the letters they sent to each other. Some issues were considered not worth dividing and others were.
2. The second factor is related to the universal Church versus the local church. Most disagreements over belief should be conducted only in the relational context of the local church. What we see modeled in the Bible is brothers and sisters going to their fellow believer, who they love and gently correcting them. It is only after that person persists in sin that they are to be removed from that fellowship of believers. The church cares for it's own and this is a part of that. Most of the condemnation and fighting over different beliefs that occurs today happens outside of any relational context. People condemn from a far and that doesn't seem helpful. It is one thing to talk about a specific sin and point to the clear teaching of God's Word about that sin without specifically condemning an individual sinner whom you don't even know and another to tweet or attack that person specifically using Bible verses and doctrine as ammunition. That isn't helpful for building God's Kingdom.

Awhile back, I wrote this article, which I believe expresses a similar sentiment to the intent of your post. I would appreciate the feedback of anyone who takes the time to read it. Blessings!
Hostility put to Death

 

[saintiaint]

There are core matters and disputable matters. Core matters relate to salvation and going against the clear teaching of the Bible. If

I'm a Catholic . So whilst the Bible is important it is not the only/sole authority.
This core difference means debating will be challenging.
In fact sometimes I think debating just reinforces difference, as people dig in the trenches further .

 

[saintiaint]

your post. I would appreciate the feedback of anyone who takes the time to read it. Blessings!
Hostility put to Death

I read your article and agree with it. Thanks for posting.

 

[Philip James]

what is being burned up and destroyed?

That's a great question, so many answers came to mind...

Selfishness? Pride? Ignorance? ...

What part of us are our 'sacred cows' ?

Peace!

 

[Ronald David Bruno]

I have a question. Maybe a really pointless question. But If you could never quote another verse to your mother, never bring up the the name Jesus nor speak of him...how would you present the gospel of Christ to her? How would you show her who He is without words?

You can't remove Jesus from the gospel. The the gospel is that He died for our sins and rose on the third day. Who did? "Sorry I can't tell you his name." Silly hypothetical situation. Faith comes by the word. You remove the Word and he cannot know Him. You couldn't even present yourself as a reflection ... reflection of who. People would be just left with His creation, His invisible attributes as stated in Romans 1, for which they are without excuse.

 

[VictoryinJesus]

You can't remove Jesus from the gospel. The the gospel is that He died for our sins and rose on the third day. Who did? "Sorry I can't tell you his name." Silly hypothetical situation. Faith comes by the word. You remove the Word and he cannot know Him. You couldn't even present yourself as a reflection ... reflection of who. People would be just left with His creation, His invisible attributes as stated in Romans 1, for which they are without excuse.

wasn’t speaking of removing Him but instead removing me. Get it was silly to ask. Feel for you because you love your mother yeah? Even in your words there is (Imo) an endearing tone toward her still no matter how she is. That is something yeah? Unless I’ve misunderstood and have read into it what isn’t there. Does that in itself display Him that you love her still? Why do you put up with what you find offensive if not for her sake and not your own sake? How is patience grown there? Silly questions but never meant the question as offensive nor suggesting Him as removed from it. Since your post last night I’ve been considering: if you have two tunics (undergarments) impart to him who has none. Would your mother be one that has none?

 

[VictoryinJesus]

That's a great question, so many answers came to mind...

Selfishness? Pride? Ignorance? ...

What part of us are our 'sacred cows' ?

Peace!

felt bad after I asked you that question last night because we may disagree here. So not arguing but don’t see torment as a futuristic place of torment with literal flames of Fire where God tosses people.

He will burn away all that is not worthy,

and here we are in a thread speaking of torment and Fire which will burn away all that is not worthy. Good or evil? Romans 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

The body of sin is it “all that is not worthy.”?

 

[Philip James]

felt bad after I asked you that question last night because we may disagree here

Oh don't feel bad, it prompted some deep introspection in me... I'm glad you asked it!

Just so I'm clear, I'm not talking about the hell of the damned, whatever that may be,
But about that final cleansing of my heart.
'only the pure in heart can see God'

Where do I still build it my way and not stop to listen to His way...

What things to I take pride in my own efforts and sneer at those of others..

How do my acts build the society around me to God's glory or to mans..?

Where am I not laying down my life for those around me and living for myself instead?

Peace!

 

[dev553344]

No matter how strongly we believe in Christianity, or in our special version of it, we should never coerce or intimidate others for holding a different view.
I value freedom. I live in a democracy. Freedom to have our own thoughts, no matter how immature or strange they may seem to others. That's sacred in my view.
Freedom might be more important than faith in Jesus Christ. Well, surely Jesus wants us to come to him freely. Not with handcuffs on forced to follow him.
I happen to believe in Jesus as the son of God. I came to Him freely. I wasn't forced.
But that freedom I had was very important.
So we are called to evangalise. Personally I try to say less and act more. Be a witness.
I never say to someone " you should believe in Jesus Christ"
Or "Jesus is the TRUTH!! You had better believe it"!! In a threatening tone.
That's a turn off.
What if someone on here suddenly lost their faith and became atheist. Would you lecture them?
Give them space. Give them freedom to go on their own journey. And have their own thoughts.

Free thinkers, we have a ton of them on CB's forums. Every strange doctrine you can stomach pretty much. What doctrine are you looking for?

 

[April_Rose]

Phillip, I totally forgot to respond to your comment about Purgatory. I thought that was a place between Heaven and Hell and it's either one or the other according to the Bible.

 

[DNB]

Yes of course I can accept that straight talking can sometimes be necessary. But there's borderline disrespectful and straight out disrespectful.i can usually tell the difference..
I have some Muslim friends. I have some strong reservations about their religion. I'm not a fan of Mohammed. But I don't chastise them for their belief. We of course avoid the topic of religion . That's the best way of preventing problems. But if we do talk about religion I don't tell them " your religion is a lie!" I don't berate them for their faith.

No, abuse and ridicule is never an option to consider. But solicitude does impose itself upon others.

 

[Renniks]

Purgatory is a false hope for people whose loved ones died unsaved. Maybe if I pray really hard I can get uncle Jack into heaven. What a crock.

 

[dev553344]

No, abuse and ridicule is never an option to consider. But solicitude does impose itself upon others.

I think being an example and representing Christianity might go far if it's presented pleasantly.

 

[DNB]

I think being an example and representing Christianity might go far if it's presented pleasantly.

Yes, that also, ...coupled with many other approaches to bring people to Christ. ...I've heard too many people use that as an excuse to not get confrontational, or because they, understandably, feel awkward evangelizing. So, I personally would caveat that with, amongst many ways to compel people to Christ, one is in the manner that we behave...

1 Peter 2:12-15
2:12. Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation. 13. Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, 14. or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. 15. For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.