what is truth?
| Posted On: 01/17/08 09:46:54 AM |
Age 50, MS |
While I agree that many have too much watered down and are even speaking lies in what is being preached, I believe that there is a great difference in speaking truth in love and "speaking your mind" about others. When you speak the truth, it stands alone without having to name call. People of God will know the difference. Paul spoke of Christ and His truth...He spoke of what God wants of us without compromise. He told Timothy to preach the Word! He didn't waste His time condemning other people. I think that is what is coming across in many of these writings. Just preach the Word, Brother! Don't get into name calling. God's word alone will stand big and bold.
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men
| Posted On: 01/17/08 09:21:40 AM |
Age 45, TX |
This is a good article. It is true that far too many men do not step up to the plate and do what they are supposed to do. On the other side of the coin, however, is that I have seen men who have stepped back due to fear of what their wives will do or say. Many women will not respect or support their husbands when they do step up to the plate. They say they do, but they only do it when it is convenient to do so and when his actions are 100% in line with what they would do. After a while, the husbands can grow tired of the ridicule and fall back into what is described in this article. That is not a valid excuse by any means, but it is a very real issue.
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- men
| Posted On: 01/17/08 06:46:23 PM | | Age 37, FL |
Sadly, I have seen the very scenario of which you speak. The only light that I could shed on this (from the female perspective) is this, I would have NO PROBLEM submitting to the judgement and authority of my husband if he was clearly loving me "as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for it" or loving me "as his own body." Being married to a non-beleiver makes this directive especially challenging for me. I cling to Paul's exhortation for husbands and wives to put each other's needs first and give ourselves wholly to each other. According to 1Chor. 7:4, the husband's body belongs to the wife and the wife's body belongs to the husband. If we are one flesh, degrading my husband would be the same as degrading myself! It does not say anywhere that this instruction does not apply if the behavior is not reciprocated. So if a husband just keeps truly showing a self-sacrificial, Christ inspired love for his wife- eventually she will be bursting at the seams to please her husband! If we were all as concerned about our spouse's needs and well-being as we were about our own it would not be so inconceivable to end the gender-based friction in marriage and be an example to the world. Likewise, women need to display the same self-less attitude toward their husbands because they would be much more likely to open their hearts and ears if conversations and actions were not driven by a "MEET MY NEEDS" agenda. An unfortunate outcome of the ungodly attitudes of both men and women in history have resulted in men demeaning women and women demeaning men. It's so sad that God's people can't see through this snare (I'm sure the devil is highly amused) and love and care for each other with a servant heart.
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- TO EACH THEIR OWN
| Posted On: 01/18/08 11:38:54 AM | | Age 64, OH |
the reverse is also true. if a wife OBEYED HER HUSBAND AS SHE WOULD OBEY JESUS CHRIST then the husband would have a lot less trouble acting like Christ. this works with believing and non believing husbands. Lou
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Courage in the Pulpit
| Posted On: 01/17/08 09:16:12 AM |
Age 60, TX |
I agree with you. I have about 20 years in the ministry. My first love is international missions but I've also pastored and served as an Associate Pastor. My husband does not preach but he has been a wonderful helpmate. Having said that I want to make this point. I hold similiar views to yours and have expressed them through monthly newsletters and email updates that I send to my "partners". I am a good writer so I know that the quality of my text is not the reason my views are rejected therefore it must be the subject matter. You on the otherhand are obviously well received. What will it take for the American church to break their lustful addiction to fame, fortune, glamor and hypocracy? At one time I thought I had the answer, but I'm interested in your view. Not only do most pulpits serve up a watered down - seeker friendly "speech" on Sunday's but many pastors shun "missionaries" and most people seem disconnected from any obedience to the great commission. Am I missing something here? Is the Bible printed today in 2008 reading the same way the Bible read say, oh in like 1980?
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Those who don't stand for the Gospel are "feminized"?
| Posted On: 01/17/08 09:12:08 AM |
Age 31, IL |
This isn't the first time I've seen an article on this site that equates lack of commitment to biblical truth, failing to stand up for the Gospel, etc, with being "feminized." The label suggests that this would be appropriate feminine behavior -- that is, it would be all right and expected for women to accept a watered down version of the Gospel and not stand up for their faith. Christians in general are to fear God more than man, reject false doctrine, etc -- to fail in this is not to be feminine, but to be disobedient to God.
In addition, the one example of such failure in the blogosphere sounds like a tongue-in-cheek comment; more context is needed if this quote about "big 'ol meanies" is to be taken seriously. One example doesn't show a widespread trend of failure to defend the Gospel -- one can certainly find more rigorous debates about doctrine and truth in which Christians, both men and women, defend the Gospel.
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Feminization?
| Posted On: 01/17/08 08:32:43 AM |
Age 24, MN |
Why is it that you label the qualities of being "non-confrontational, passive, soft, or simply 'nice'" as "feminization"? Femininity has nothing to do with being wimpy. If you think that Christians are being too "nice" that's one thing, but to identify this weakness with women and imply that only men have what it takes to really "speak the truth in love" is going too far.
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- MEN AND WOMEN
| Posted On: 01/17/08 09:16:42 PM | | Age 64, OH |
There is nothing wrong or second class about being a woman; as long as that person is a woman. In case you have not noticed there is quite a difference between men and women. God recognizes this difference. Look at Gen 3:16 To the woman he said,"I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing;with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and HE WILL RULE OVER YOU." - Or from the NT Eph - 22Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.- So when a man does not take his responsibility to lead as Christ would lead then he is acting in submission or as a woman. This is wrong when a man acts as a woman. For A woman to be submissive and gentle in spirit is to her glory but for a man to be a woman is an abomination. Lou
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Feminization
| Posted On: 01/17/08 07:52:59 AM |
Age 45, MO |
It isn't only evangelical men that are being feminized, it's all men. How ironic that women are not being encouraged to become more feminine. Even God is not immune to this gender reassignment. He has gone from becoming an initiator to responder. He is seen as subservient to man's will and like a harried mother with a brood of willful children, busy "dealing" with the destructive choices of brats that rule the roost.
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Partially Agree
| Posted On: 01/17/08 07:46:28 AM |
Age 54, NC |
I do agree that we need to speak the truth and not compromise. We don't need to make it vague or fuzzy so as not to upset others. This is important.
There are other sides of the truth.. and I am a truth person. First Proverbs says the wise makes knowledge acceptable, so wisdom needs to be used in how to present it.
The other big problem, especially in the area of politics is where pride and arrogance causes what could be called the Ann Coulter syndrome. This is a trend that is totally worldly of overplaying points, demonizing opponents beyond the truth and facts, etc. It is not very Kingdom and is all too prevalent. We should not be doing that. So some of the concern in the political arena is because of people not speaking the truth.. and we have not gotten to the love part...
Ray
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Partially Agree
| Posted On: 01/17/08 07:42:06 AM |
Age 54, NC |
I do agree that we need to speak the truth and not compromise. We don't need to make it vague or fuzzy so as not to upset others. This is important.
There are other sides of the truth.. and I am a truth person. First Proverbs says the wise makes knowledge acceptable, so wisdom needs to be used in how to present it.
The other big problem, especially in the area of politics is where pride and arrogance causes what could be called the Ann Coulter syndrome. This is a trend that is totally worldly of overplaying points, demonizing opponents beyond the truth and facts, etc. It is not very Kingdom and is all too prevalent. We should not be doing that. So some of the concern in the political arena is because of people not speaking the truth.. and we have not gotten to the love part...
Ray
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Male versus Man
| Posted On: 01/17/08 01:12:13 AM |
Age 46, TX |
Amen! Well put brother Steve.
Edwin Louis Cole said, Being a male is a matter of birth; being a man is a matter of choice. Many males aren't qualified to be called men, at least not yet.
It's true and sad that many men have had no strong male role models in their lives. That's the result of 50% of marriages ending in divorce - no dads in the home and moms left raising boys alone.
Males drawn from their wives and families by their lust and lure of worldly desires lead to many broken homes. Satan loves it because it's had a dominoe effect in the home and in the church.
Many focus only on the LOVE of GOD and act as if GOD only loves. The truth is because GOD loves, he also must hate. i.e. He loves marriage, so He hates divorce. God loves children, so He hates abortion...get it?
Is that too negative? Is that being divisive? I guess it is, but so is saying there is only one way to get to heaven.
I couldn't agree more that many evangelical believers treat confrontation of error with biblical truth as being negative, I guess because they would rather turn on their spiritual siblings than fight a spiritual battle for truth in this life/ vapor.
We must hate sin the way GOD does otherwise we deceive ourselves & tempt His judgement.
Read Hebrews 12:8 and Isaiah 53:5 and ask yourself what is my understanding of love?
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