Thank you - I appreciate another believer seeing how wrong this is. I tried to message Helen to talk privately but for some reason can't find her. This is so unchristian that I don't want to be involved in it and I'm glad that you spoke up. Someone else did too. I think that the evil one is involved here; I think it's evident to all with acute discernment abilities exactly what is going on in this exchange - and you're right, he sows discord and tries to get us to react in the flesh. He is a wily enemy and has tactics that are many and varied. He can work even in a believer or as one who poses as one. Deception come in many many forms and are evident to those with a discerning spirit and astute mind and who have studied the enemies wiles. I started a thread on how Satan uses believers; I think it's his most fruitful area and I've seen his subtle methods at work in churches and on this forum in certain people. I believe that discernment is one of the most important exercises of the spirit needed today. Otherwise the evil one goes undetected. It takes discernment to recognize the more subtle forms of lies, games, or stratagems that the evil one employs.
Paul uses the word falsehood. That word covers a wider scope. When I say, ‘don’t lie‘, the first thing that would come to your mind is that you shouldn’t tell a lie; speak an untruth. But we can lie with a glance. We can lie by our silence. We can lie with a nod of the head or the shifting of the feet. We can lie by holding back information that another is not even aware he needs. We can lie about our true motives and post something that is meant to dig at another person or build our low self-esteem but those with discernment can see through these games. What I've found is usually this person has a wound on their soul of some sort. They've been hurt so they hurt others before they get hurt. Still others have something within them - some area of sin in their heart; it comes out as faultfinding that results in raucous fights with their spouse, with their neighbors, co-workers. Christ tells us that none are righteous however and they're among sinners saved by grace here.
Matthew 7:3-5 - And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
The Word is
quick and shows us truth and deception.
Hebrews 4:12:
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Every person at times is an Oscar-winning liar. As the Bible says, "There is no one righteous, not even one …. Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit" (Rom. 3:10-13).
Scripture tells us in Romans "if it be possible as much as lieth in you, live at peace with all men..." but others have to be willing to be at peace for this to be fulfilled. Truth will prevail - "all things are naked and open unto Him with whom we have to do."
Speaking against another believer is doing Satan's work - the slanderer.
The Apostle John spelled it out: “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen” (I John 4:20). “If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.”
I would appreciate it if you would pray about this; I prayed already. This type of exchange and game-playing has no place on a Christian forum. We should come here to be built up, not torn down. I hold no anger at Helen - I prayed for her and about this situation. I sincerely hope that she posts on my thread because we have
all reacted in the flesh. It would be a great Christian witness to others who come on this site to see Christians resolve a disagreement with maturity and grace.