Are we meant to please people, or please God?

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Michiah-Imla

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“Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.” (1 Corinthians 10:32-33)

“As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.” (Galatians 1:9-11)
 
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MatthewG

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“Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.” (1 Corinthians 10:32-33)

“As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.” (Galatians 1:9-11)

So if someone tells me I should kill someone to please them should it be done? It is after all to please the individual.
 

MatthewG

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Those who wish to please God do not contradict Him at every turn (which is generally what you do). So you must be trying to please men.

Did you have any other thoughts?
 

MatthewG

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What if someone tells me I need to mean to another person in order to get their approval should I do it? It is after all going to please the individual.

What if someone tell you they don’t like the way that you handle things or approach things, should change because it will please them that you conform and adhere to their own ways so that you can be more pleasing to the individual?
 

Michiah-Imla

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So if someone tells me I should kill someone to please them should it be done?

You seem to still be a babe if this is what you got out of those scriptures.

“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2)

Do a little more growing.
 
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MatthewG

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Just asking questions sir.

How was Paul pleasing to all men?

Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved


Is it by meeting people on their level where they where at? Because that would seem to be the case in which you shared. But you didn’t take time to explain that part, you just shared a verse. So to be pleasing to others would be able to meet the at where they are in their life be it they are born again or not.

So to meet a person where they are at would be pleasing to them because it would come from a non-judgmental point of view to gain more for Christ in the end by dying to oneself and living by the spirit.

Any other thoughts?
 

MatthewG

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And meeting people where they are at means even over looking the wrongs they have done in their life.

It is sad to see so many people are looked down upon in this life, . . .

I believe Paul did things in order to meet people where they were at, and shared the good news of Christ with others, of course in his day in age he also shared that Jesus was coming back then, and I believe Jesus did come back in that day in age.

In this modern time people get hung up which as Americans people have the right to vote and get involved in politics or wherever they are from their own country, to go and vote.

But Christianity and Politics don’t mix because Jesus and his kingdom is not of this world.

This is why Paul said what he did, and how he was able to be pleasing to people, it is not that he conformed to their wills and ways, unless it was part of the government system - say he had to go do things as ordered in prison during lunch meals and stuff like that.

He did not conform to others, he conformed himself to Christ Jesus and that is the important lesson we learn from Paul and how he was not pleasing really men (in the sense of conforming to their demands or something like that I believe - he was pleasing them by being non-judgmental towards them) , he was living his life in order to please God by allowing God to work in and through Him, and meeting people on their level. . . No matter who they were.

If they were a Jew under the law; Paul became a Jew under the law in order to reach people with Christ.

If they where a Gentile who wasn’t under the law; Paul became as a Gentile who was not under the law in order to reach people with Christ.

That is the picture for us today, is not to look down at people who may have differing views, outlooks or opinions, but if we are going to love them for who they are right where they are at, just as Jesus would have to them.

Which in turns open doors way to share the love of God and the love of Christ to them, no matter how long it takes.

Hope this helps.
 

lforrest

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What if someone tells me I need to mean to another person in order to get their approval should I do it? It is after all going to please the individual.

What if someone tell you they don’t like the way that you handle things or approach things, should change because it will please them that you conform and adhere to their own ways so that you can be more pleasing to the individual?

Paul becoming all things for the sake of spreading the Gospel was the will of God. In so doing he was an apostle to the gentiles. He humored the beliefs of the greeks regarding their Gods to introduce the one true God to them.

Yet he was an offence to many, and lost his head for it. Christ himself is an offence to the Jews, and foolishness to the gentiles. So I wouldn't worry about it, nothing is going to prevent some people from taking offence to the Gospel.

I think a little offence can be a necessary thing. And it isn't the offended that suffer for it but the Christians who endure their retalitory abuse.
 
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Dropship

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We could say it's our Christian duty to be good samaritans and set people straight..:)

"..the Lord's servant must not quarrel...Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will" (2 Timothy 2:23-26)

But if they won't listen, we shouldn't waste any more time on them-
"The Jews argued with him, so Paul said 'I'm clear of my responsibility', and left" (Acts of the Apostles 18:6-7)
"Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words" (Proverbs 23:9)
Jesus said- "If people won't listen to you, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave, as a testimony to them" (Matthew 10:14-15)
 

Waiting on him

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I believe Paul did things in order to meet people where they were at, and shared the good news of Christ with others, of course in his day in age he also shared that Jesus was coming back then, and I believe Jesus did come back in that day in age.
Paul was not a part of the theocratic dictatorship we see today.
 

amigo de christo

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You seem to still be a babe if this is what you got out of those scriptures.

“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2)

Do a little more growing.
How can a man grow when that man dont even believe the original gospel anymore . HE cant . He simply cannot .
I have watched some of the things this man teaches concerning having to believe in Christ . A highly dangerous and deadly
concept has entered into his mind and has taken him captive unto a lie . You should read some of the things
this person has said and he wont budge even when corrected . So if one does not truly beleive in what JESUS himself
said , then how on earth is he gonna grow . Many are being taken captive into this last age false gospel and universal salvation mindset .
AND it wont save them nor any who believed it on the DAY of CHRIST .
For the gospel by which we are saved , is the very gospel we must continue to beleive in unto the end .
And when folks start teaching things like even those who deny JESUS will still have eternal life , I SAY they are in dire trouble .
JESUS is the one who first said , HE WHO BELIEVES shall be saved and HE who beleives not shall be damned .
THUS i am taking HIM at HIS WORD . Now be encouraged my friend .
 

quietthinker

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Are we meant to please people, or please God?
or please ourselves with our opinions and points of view.
 

MatthewG

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Paul was not a part of the theocratic dictatorship we see today.

What does that mean to you when you mention this, cause I don’t understand?

From the view I have Paul was always looking forward to being part of the spiritual kingdom.
 

MatthewG

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We could say it's our Christian duty to be good samaritans and set people straight..:)

"..the Lord's servant must not quarrel...Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will" (2 Timothy 2:23-26)

But if they won't listen, we shouldn't waste any more time on them-
"The Jews argued with him, so Paul said 'I'm clear of my responsibility', and left" (Acts of the Apostles 18:6-7)
"Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words" (Proverbs 23:9)
Jesus said- "If people won't listen to you, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave, as a testimony to them" (Matthew 10:14-15)

Thank you for participating.
 
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MatthewG

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Paul becoming all things for the sake of spreading the Gospel was the will of God. In so doing he was an apostle to the gentiles. He humored the beliefs of the greeks regarding their Gods to introduce the one true God to them.

Yet he was an offence to many, and lost his head for it. Christ himself is an offence to the Jews, and foolishness to the gentiles. So I wouldn't worry about it, nothing is going to prevent some people from taking offence to the Gospel.

I think a little offence can be a necessary thing. And it isn't the offended that suffer for it but the Christians who endure their retalitory abuse.

Thank you for sharing, all we can really share with those who are unbelievers is what Jesus has done for them and the world. Up to them to decide to believe and move forward in growing a Christian or not. It does help to have someone to encourage you to continue to grow.