Hi there,
So I have been reading this and that, and discussing whether Churches are hot or cold, and I have come to the conclusion that words themselves can be hot or cold, because they can be few or great. Now how is few or great the same as hot or cold, I hear you ask? In the same sense that one degree is colder than many degrees is hot. It's not rocket surgery.
What I am wondering, is if there is an attitude that should go with the words we use. If we use less, is that better if we use less as a rule? Or if we use more, should those with us be enamored that God wants to speak to us so much? I find it very hard to read long passages, I understand that the authors want me to feel loved, but it is a much taller order for me to give cold love back to words upon words (I basically summarize what I can, and interject a little wisdom, if I have any). There are times when I am blown away by how much wisdom people have, but rarely do I find someone saying anything strong in ten quotes than one. Speech is based on a pattern, most of the time; if you can figure out where the author is trying to take the pattern of speech they are using, you basically have hope in understanding the point, without going into further detail at length (in principle anyway).
Now, I suppose what you may not have considered, is that this forum could be hot or cold! For that I am praying that it be cold - because I would love to be understood for fewer words, than more; I would love to be edified as I am at my cold Church, in my cold Nation. Moreover, surviving lawlessness is easier, because lawlessness leads to the love of many growing cold (gospels, from memory), but if you are cold already and have faith, you can see the coldness coming. Therefore, a cold Church is at least in principle a stronger Church. What I am wondering, is if we can gather around being cold, can we speak as being cold? What are the benefits of speaking in a cold way? With fewer words?
Obviously you can't refuse a brother, simply because he uses more words than you would like - but there is a kernel of truth there, that if he loves you, he should at least try in some way to accommodate your desire for fewer words. That specifically, is what I am praying! It may just be a little summary here or there, a little word of wisdom, I think, as a rule, would make all the difference to this forum. I'm not trying to spoil the fun, of tying countless verses together in a string of cohesion that blows the Devil's intentions out of the water. I'm just saying "have mercy!" a treatise on all the details of the word "the" in scripture would reveal something, but is that really why we are here, discussing what is heartfelt to us? Ask the Holy Spirit? Does He use many words or less?
Anyway, I am not shaming anyone (look! four paragraphs! he is contradicting himself!), I am just trying to be an encouragement - there are more cold believers than just me on this board!
God bless.
So I have been reading this and that, and discussing whether Churches are hot or cold, and I have come to the conclusion that words themselves can be hot or cold, because they can be few or great. Now how is few or great the same as hot or cold, I hear you ask? In the same sense that one degree is colder than many degrees is hot. It's not rocket surgery.
What I am wondering, is if there is an attitude that should go with the words we use. If we use less, is that better if we use less as a rule? Or if we use more, should those with us be enamored that God wants to speak to us so much? I find it very hard to read long passages, I understand that the authors want me to feel loved, but it is a much taller order for me to give cold love back to words upon words (I basically summarize what I can, and interject a little wisdom, if I have any). There are times when I am blown away by how much wisdom people have, but rarely do I find someone saying anything strong in ten quotes than one. Speech is based on a pattern, most of the time; if you can figure out where the author is trying to take the pattern of speech they are using, you basically have hope in understanding the point, without going into further detail at length (in principle anyway).
Now, I suppose what you may not have considered, is that this forum could be hot or cold! For that I am praying that it be cold - because I would love to be understood for fewer words, than more; I would love to be edified as I am at my cold Church, in my cold Nation. Moreover, surviving lawlessness is easier, because lawlessness leads to the love of many growing cold (gospels, from memory), but if you are cold already and have faith, you can see the coldness coming. Therefore, a cold Church is at least in principle a stronger Church. What I am wondering, is if we can gather around being cold, can we speak as being cold? What are the benefits of speaking in a cold way? With fewer words?
Obviously you can't refuse a brother, simply because he uses more words than you would like - but there is a kernel of truth there, that if he loves you, he should at least try in some way to accommodate your desire for fewer words. That specifically, is what I am praying! It may just be a little summary here or there, a little word of wisdom, I think, as a rule, would make all the difference to this forum. I'm not trying to spoil the fun, of tying countless verses together in a string of cohesion that blows the Devil's intentions out of the water. I'm just saying "have mercy!" a treatise on all the details of the word "the" in scripture would reveal something, but is that really why we are here, discussing what is heartfelt to us? Ask the Holy Spirit? Does He use many words or less?
Anyway, I am not shaming anyone (look! four paragraphs! he is contradicting himself!), I am just trying to be an encouragement - there are more cold believers than just me on this board!
God bless.
