Reason for The Crusades explained

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Matthias

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While the gossipers wile away their time talking about me, I‘ll spend my time speaking about the teachings of Jesus and the apostles. I teach, preach and practice what Jesus and the apostles taught, preached, and practiced.

Did they defend themselves? Yes. What then do I teach, preach, and practice? Defend yourselves.

Did they defend themselves by taking up the weapons of the world and killing their enemies? No. What then do I teach, preach, and practice? Imitate the Messiah and the apostles; defend yourselves as they defended themselves, just as the early church did.

Did the Crusaders defend themselves with the weapons of the world? Yes. What then do I teach, preach, and practice? Don’t imitate the Crusaders when you defend yourself.

Defend yourselves …. as the Messiah and the apostles defended themselves, not as the Crusaders defended themselves. Be like the earliest Christians.

What about those who lash out against those who teach, preach, and practice what the Messiah and the apostles, taught, preached, and practiced? Well, what did the Messiah and the apostles (and the earliest Christians) do when “the minister of God” - the pagan government of the Roman Empire - persecuted them? Read their story. They defended themselves, but not with the weapons of the world.

***

We’ve heard the gossipers wax on about how much they appreciate the Crusaders, even while acknowledging that they committed atrocities. That begs the question: Do they appreciate the pagan government of the Roman Empire? If they have, I haven’t seen them say so.

Should we appreciate the government of the pagan Roman Empire? Yes. Even while recognizing and acknowledging that the pagan Romans committed atrocities against the Christians? Yes.

Why?

While my readers contemplate the question, are modern day secular / pagan governments also the “minister of God,” just as the secular / pagan government of the Roman Empire was in the days of the Messiah and the apostles? Should we appreciate them too, even while recognizing and acknowledging the persecutions and atrocities which they commit against the followers of the Messiah? Yes.
 

Matthias

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You haven't answered my question.

From what I've read in your previous posts you expect people to not defend themselves and be killed while on the other hand you would defend yoursef.
That's called hypocrisy.

Your going to need industrial machinery to pull out that log in your eye my friend

View attachment 81369

Since you persist in believing that you are my brother, why didn’t you speak with me privately about it first? You haven’t followed Jesus’ teaching on correcting your brother. You botched it. That’s bridge under the water now, but I’m a “theological” engineer. All is not lost. There is a simple solution to the problem.

I was thinking this afternoon about how I might help you with your blind spot and hit upon a solution. I presume you know Jesus’ teaching (Matthew 18:15-17). There’s something we can do about you not speaking with me privately (v. 15). Allow me to ease your conscience, if it is troubled: Had you spoken with me privately, I would have told you privately what I’ve told you publicly. I’m willing to overlook your mistake, extend you mercy, and treat it as if you had spoken with me privately. That brings us to v. 16. You need to speak with me in the presence of one or two witnesses. Might I suggest @Wrangler has served as your one witness? If you can go along with my suggestion, that is enough to satisfy the verse. I’ve rejected both of you. Right? That brings us to v. 17. This is the difficult one, but we can make it work. I’m “Other Faith”. What church will you tell it to? Here’s my suggestion, since you want to play church here, would you go for “Christianity Board” is your church? (It’s not mine, but first things first.) If you would agree that Christianity Board is your church, I would again extend mercy to you. Here’s the suggestion: Start a thread in one of the “Christians Only“ forums to deal specifically with this issue and tell it to the “church”. Lay out for them what you and your witness have done. I don’t have posting privileges there (nor do I want the privilege) but I‘ll turn a blind eye to it and treat it as if I did. I would grant you permission to relay to the “church” on my behalf that I’m still not persuaded. That would satisfy most of v. 17. That brings us to the final clause of the verse, and that is where your blind spot is. Once you realize it, you will no longer persist in believing that I am your brother.

Still not sure about it? A bonus for you. If you do it, with my blessing, you would no longer be a gossiper. That matter would be resolved once and for all. I’m not your brother. I’m “Other Faith”.

That’s the long way around the barn - bringing us right back to where we are in reality - but it will remove your blind spot, and it will do no harm to me.
 

Matthias

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I’m an ordained elder @Armour of God. I asked AI about 1 Timothy 5:19. Here is what it said:

”I Timothy 5:19 instructs believers not to entertain or accept an accusation against an elder (church leader) unless it is supported by the testimony of two or three witnesses. This principle protects leaders from slander, unsubstantiated gossip, or malicious attacks while ensuring that valid charges are properly investigated.”

I think that’s reasonable. Don’t you?

You haven’t followed Jesus’ teaching. We can fix that. You haven’t followed Paul’s teaching. We can fix that too.

There is an alternative available to you - have the humility to accept loving correction and repent.
 

rvmb

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I’m an ordained elder @Armour of God. I asked AI about 1 Timothy 5:19. Here is what it said:

”I Timothy 5:19 instructs believers not to entertain or accept an accusation against an elder (church leader) unless it is supported by the testimony of two or three witnesses. This principle protects leaders from slander, unsubstantiated gossip, or malicious attacks while ensuring that valid charges are properly investigated.”

You haven’t followed Jesus’ teaching. We can fix that. You haven’t followed Paul’s teaching. We can fix that too.

There is an alternative available to you - accept correction and repent.
""I’m an ordained elder.."
Still waiting for the verses that teach Matthew has authority over Paul to teach Salvation to believers today.
Just the verses Matt, I don't need an interpretation or opinion :)
 

Matthias

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""I’m an ordained elder.."
Still waiting for the verses that teach Matthew has authority over Paul to teach Salvation to believers today.
Just the verses Matt, I don't need an interpretation or opinion :)

Please accept my apology. I intended to get back with you but got tied up and forgot all about it.

There are no such verses. (Matthew doesn’t have “authority over Paul to teach Salvation to believers.” I thought it best to provide an explanation, understanding that you don’t need it.)
 

rvmb

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Please accept my apology. I intended to get back with you but got tied up and forgot all about it.

There are no such verses. (Matthew doesn’t have “authority over Paul to teach Salvation to believers.” I thought it best to provide an explanation, understanding that you don’t need it.)
Thanks Matthias.
Yes, only Paul has authority to teach Salvation to believers today.
1 Cor 15:1-4, Eph 1:13 is how believers are justified/saved/sealed today.
Gal 1:11-12 Christ taught that Gospel to only Paul
1 Tim 1:16 Paul was the first to be saved by it.
Gal 3:28, 1 Cor 12:13, Col 3:11, Gal 6:15 are the believers who that Gospel applies to.
 

Matthias

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Thanks Matthias.
Yes, only Paul has authority to teach Salvation to believers today.
1 Cor 15:1-4, Eph 1:13 is how believers are justified/saved/sealed today.
Gal 1:11-12 Christ taught that Gospel to only Paul
1 Tim 1:16 Paul was the first to be saved by it.
Gal 3:28, 1 Cor 12:13, Col 3:11, Gal 6:15 are the believers who that Gospel applies to.

Thanks. I’ve conversed with others on the forum about this position.
 

rvmb

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Thanks. I’ve conversed with others on the forum about this position.
I assume then that you agree it is only Paul who has the Christ given authority to teach Salvation to believers today.
 

Armour of God

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Since you persist in believing that you are my brother, why didn’t you speak with me privately about it first? You haven’t followed Jesus’ teaching on correcting your brother. You botched it. That’s bridge under the water now, but I’m a “theological” engineer. All is not lost. There is a simple solution to the problem.

I was thinking this afternoon about how I might help you with your blind spot and hit upon a solution. I presume you know Jesus’ teaching (Matthew 18:15-17). There’s something we can do about you not speaking with me privately (v. 15). Allow me to ease your conscience, if it is troubled: Had you spoken with me privately, I would have told you privately what I’ve told you publicly. I’m willing to overlook your mistake, extend you mercy, and treat it as if you had spoken with me privately. That brings us to v. 16. You need to speak with me in the presence of one or two witnesses. Might I suggest @Wrangler has served as your one witness? If you can go along with my suggestion, that is enough to satisfy the verse. I’ve rejected both of you. Right? That brings us to v. 17. This is the difficult one, but we can make it work. I’m “Other Faith”. What church will you tell it to? Here’s my suggestion, since you want to play church here, would you go for “Christianity Board” is your church? (It’s not mine, but first things first.) If you would agree that Christianity Board is your church, I would again extend mercy to you. Here’s the suggestion: Start a thread in one of the “Christians Only“ forums to deal specifically with this issue and tell it to the “church”. Lay out for them what you and your witness have done. I don’t have posting privileges there (nor do I want the privilege) but I‘ll turn a blind eye to it and treat it as if I did. I would grant you permission to relay to the “church” on my behalf that I’m still not persuaded. That would satisfy most of v. 17. That brings us to the final clause of the verse, and that is where your blind spot is. Once you realize it, you will no longer persist in believing that I am your brother.

Still not sure about it? A bonus for you. If you do it, with my blessing, you would no longer be a gossiper. That matter would be resolved once and for all. I’m not your brother. I’m “Other Faith”.

That’s the long way around the barn - bringing us right back to where we are in reality - but it will remove your blind spot, and it will do no harm to me.
You've already exposed your hypocrisy. You expect others to surrender their lives to invaders yet you would defend yourself.
There is nothing more to say
 

Matthias

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I assume then that you agree it is only Paul who has the Christ given authority to teach Salvation to believers today.

You shouldn’t. I don’t agree. You’re welcome to search my posts for those conversations that I mentioned. I’m not going to discuss it in this thread.
 

Armour of God

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That’s false. I do not expect others to surrender their lives to invaders while I would defend myself.
You said it yourself.
So I ask again. Last chance

Do you agree that we can defend our selfs from invaders or not?
 

Matthias

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You said it yourself.

No I didn’t. You’re reading your thoughts into my posts and drawing erroneous conclusions, causing you to bear false witness against me. If I were your pastor I would take the appropriate steps, as prescribed in scripture, to discipline you.

So I ask again. Last chance

Do you agree that we can defend our selfs from invaders or not?

Everyone has the right to defend themselves from invaders.
 

Matthias

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Don't be silly it's not a sin to have an opinion on self defence.

Bearing false witness against me is your sin. You’ve accused an elder, slandered him, gossiped about him, and failed to obey the instruction of the Messiah and the apostle. I offered you an easy out and you declined it.

Answer my question

I already have. You still haven’t answered mine.

Is it ok to defend yourself against invaders?
 

Wrangler

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You've already exposed your hypocrisy. You expect others to surrender their lives to invaders yet you would defend yourself.
There is nothing more to say
Because he lost the argument, there is nothing more to say. He’ll do laps on ground already covered because his ego cannot admit his error, which is over-spiritualization IDOLATRY. He displaces Jesus and our God for his pacifism.

God is a warrior, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, and we are made in his image but that means nothing to such IDOLATORS.
 

Matthias

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Because he lost the argument, there is nothing more to say. He’ll do laps on ground already covered because his ego cannot admit his error, which is over-spiritualization IDOLATRY. He displaces Jesus and our God for his pacifism.

God is a warrior, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, and we are made in his image but that means nothing to such IDOLATORS.

Will you now compound your sin and publicly accuse of being an idolator @Armour of God?