Okay Duck. It's not ultimately up to me to soften you.
I would caution you however. "Whoever preaches another gospel is to be accursed". That would be those who deny Jesus. Those who deny the good news that He brought with Him...the good news that those who believe in and love Him, will be saved. I don't know that any one here has denied that. Denying the gospel is denying Christ. So we are being called to 'curse' people who worship false gods, those who try and tell the world Jesus was just a 'good man', or that He's nothing but a figment of histories imagination. I can't help but feel you are confusing the gospel, with doctrine. The gospel is Jesus...His birth, death and resurrection. Doctrine grows out of the gospel...and sometimes people get doctrine right, sometimes they get it wrong...but as long as they hold tight to that central gospel...then they are not to be cursed by us, they are our brothers, to be led gently back towards more wise doctrine.
As far as the other verses you posted...well, as I said about the Pharisees before...yes Jesus was harsh to some. To some the most loving thing you can do it lay it out straight for them. But Jesus was not harsh all the time. The majority of the time He spent teaching, He was loving, kind and encouraging. We don't have the excuse to be harsh all the time. And we cannot pretend that all occasions and all people warrant a harsh response.
And the other verses, about Christians being hated for Jesus' sake. Duck, the people on this board aren't "out to get you" because you are the only one here sticking up for the Bible and Jesus. They simply can't understand why you need to be so hard and argumentative all the time. Hence me trying to steer you towards a more loving response.
In the end it's up to you whether you choose to listen to advice and ultimately to what scripture teaches. I won't get into an argument with you about it...that would totally be missing my own point! As I said before, nothing is ever lost by being more loving. If you feel you need to accuse someone, you should do it with profound sorrow in your heart, at the loss of a brother. You should plead with them, let them hear your worry for their soul. They are no more or less worthy of salvation, forgiveness or truth then any of us, and most certainly not loved any less by God or their family. It should be a tragic day to see the need to finally consider a 'brother' lost to us. We should never turn from them with an attitude of "well, I told them, so serves them right". I cannot feel that is an attitude that Jesus would admire.
I would caution you however. "Whoever preaches another gospel is to be accursed". That would be those who deny Jesus. Those who deny the good news that He brought with Him...the good news that those who believe in and love Him, will be saved. I don't know that any one here has denied that. Denying the gospel is denying Christ. So we are being called to 'curse' people who worship false gods, those who try and tell the world Jesus was just a 'good man', or that He's nothing but a figment of histories imagination. I can't help but feel you are confusing the gospel, with doctrine. The gospel is Jesus...His birth, death and resurrection. Doctrine grows out of the gospel...and sometimes people get doctrine right, sometimes they get it wrong...but as long as they hold tight to that central gospel...then they are not to be cursed by us, they are our brothers, to be led gently back towards more wise doctrine.
As far as the other verses you posted...well, as I said about the Pharisees before...yes Jesus was harsh to some. To some the most loving thing you can do it lay it out straight for them. But Jesus was not harsh all the time. The majority of the time He spent teaching, He was loving, kind and encouraging. We don't have the excuse to be harsh all the time. And we cannot pretend that all occasions and all people warrant a harsh response.
And the other verses, about Christians being hated for Jesus' sake. Duck, the people on this board aren't "out to get you" because you are the only one here sticking up for the Bible and Jesus. They simply can't understand why you need to be so hard and argumentative all the time. Hence me trying to steer you towards a more loving response.
In the end it's up to you whether you choose to listen to advice and ultimately to what scripture teaches. I won't get into an argument with you about it...that would totally be missing my own point! As I said before, nothing is ever lost by being more loving. If you feel you need to accuse someone, you should do it with profound sorrow in your heart, at the loss of a brother. You should plead with them, let them hear your worry for their soul. They are no more or less worthy of salvation, forgiveness or truth then any of us, and most certainly not loved any less by God or their family. It should be a tragic day to see the need to finally consider a 'brother' lost to us. We should never turn from them with an attitude of "well, I told them, so serves them right". I cannot feel that is an attitude that Jesus would admire.
