So, I woke up this morning to the realization that I've been a Protestant Christian (as opposed to the Catholic Christianity with which I was raised) for almost exactly four years now
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Sometimes I wonder if the judgmental ones are in it just for the opportunity to be judgmental. I have gay and lesbian friends, I have gay and lesbian friends who are Christian. It is not my place to judge, because I realize I have my own vices to deal with.
Those that judge or get showy seem to have forgotten the teachings in the New Testament and only adhere to the Old. Such as the lesson of removing the plank from your own eye before picking at the splinter in your brother's. Or the poor woman who gave her last two pennies over in the corner as opposed to the showmen throwing moneybags into the offering plate.
I often wonder if they are the ones Jesus referred to in the seed parable. Sown on shallow ground.
I only disagree with your point that accepting Jesus doesn't make us special. I think it makes us very special; we're sinners just like everyone else, but or names are in the Book of Life and our sins are forgiven. This is not something we get to hold over the heads of everyone else, because yes, we are still sinners. Even on our best days, we bumble along and do *something* wrong, but Satan can't hold it against us. Our job then is to try to lead people to Christ, but I do agree that the way to do that is not to shriek at people that they're going to Hell, that Jesus loves them, or by passing out chick tracts.
I believe in witnessing by trying to live by example: be a good person, be a good friend, be there for someone when they need you, with a prayer, a verse or just a shoulder and private prayer in your mind. People start to ask you where your strength comes from, why you tend to be able to come back from a major setback and throw yourself back into life twice as hard as before. Witnessing by example is the strongest form, I think.
Satan is not omniscient, sadly I don't think he needs to be. People don't often need the help, they're quite horrible on their own, and they're even worse when Satan has a plan.
Yes, the judgmental folks seem to be singularly fixated on the OT, indeed. But they do it in a hypocritical sort of way. Like, they'll fixate on the strictures against homosexuality, but they'll get a divorce or lie or do any number of things that God similarly forbids. Can't have your cake and eat it too, people... I wholeheartedly believe that many of these people have never actually read the Bible for themselves; they're just parroting the standard "sound bites" that they believe gives them the right to judge other people or that, worse, as "good Christians" that they should denounce those things and the people who embrace them. Not their place.
As for the special thing...Worded it badly. My meaning was that it doesn't make us special to any other human being. A non-Christian probably could care less whether or not I've accepted Jesus, and the fact that I have doesn't make me special in that person's eyes. In fact, it might just make me contemptible, you know? Also, it doesn't make us special in the sense of being able to dictate to other people on spiritual/moral matters.
And yep, witnessing by example is, I think, the way to go. The owner of my company is astounded that I don't let what he sees as disasters bother me. He asked me how I manage to do that once, how I can stay "supernaturally calm," as he put it. I said, in short, "The Lord." Being an eclectic Buddhist/Taoist/Eastern MishMash who vehemently rejects Christ, he didn't know quite what to make of that, but he's been subtly asking questions ever since. I don't know if that's a good thing or not... :)
Ahhhh, the parables. In the book I read, Mr. Fischer likened the Pharisees to the first workers in the vineyard, all indignant because people got "paid" the same amount for less "work." Meaning that the Pharisees were indignant because Jesus offered salvation to be people who, they felt, didn't deserve it. Judgmental Christians are like that, too. The can't stand it that "unholy" people can get into heaven as easily as they, in their "righteousness," can.
Oh, I definitely agree that we've no right to dictate spiritual or moral matters to people. I swear, drink from time to time, and I've been known to be quite lazy and terribly cynical. What right to I have to tell someone else how to behave? ;P
And yes, being Saved very well could make me quite contemptible to some folks.
Nice comeback to your bossman. ;) And the Judgmental ones forget that their passage into heaven was just as 'free' as ours, all we had to do was accept it. It wasn't anything that anyone had to pay for. It doesn't mean that we can just do whatever the hell we want, we still have a path to try to follow, but we're all going to fall from time to time, and they're deluding themselves if they think they're above that. I'll have to file that thought away for the next one that approaches me...
I'm so glad I was able to introduce you to the Great Fisch. :)
As for your boss...I'd say it's a very good thing. You personally may never see the end result, but you've done EXACTLY what you need to with your "witness" (And I'm beginning to want to find another word to use there. It's been so degraded.)
The word "witness" in that context has acquired some very negative connotations, indeed. Most people think of the JWs, if nothing else. (And don't get me started on them.... ;) ). That and some folks seem to think that witnessing is somehow synonymous with sermonizing. *sigh* While we're at it, the word "Christian" has some serious negative connotations now, too. People think "Falwell" or "Phelps" or some other extreme wacko. Sad. :)
And yes, I thank you for the Fisch education. :) I'm loving this guy more and more. Haven't really gotten around to going through his website, but I will. Need to add it to my links here, since I tend to use those to navigate around almost more than my bookmarks... It's very refreshing to find a higher-profile Christian who tells the truth instead of trying to be someone or something that he isn't just to impress/condemn the heathens. *rolls eyes*
Satan is not omniscient, sadly I don't think he needs to be. People don't often need the help, they're quite horrible on their own, and they're even worse when Satan has a plan.
Honestly, why would Satan care if you bullied a kid at school or stole that pack of gum? That's small time to him. He's more interested in plowing planes into buildings and killing thousands of people who may not have had a chance to know God. More company for him in Hell. Because really, ever wondered how many of those people lost in war (no matter how just/unjust) terrorist attacks and the like, knew God?
Those that judge or get showy seem to have forgotten the teachings in the New Testament and only adhere to the Old. Such as the lesson of removing the plank from your own eye before picking at the splinter in your brother's. Or the poor woman who gave her last two pennies over in the corner as opposed to the showmen throwing moneybags into the offering plate.
I often wonder if they are the ones Jesus referred to in the seed parable. Sown on shallow ground.
I only disagree with your point that accepting Jesus doesn't make us special. I think it makes us very special; we're sinners just like everyone else, but or names are in the Book of Life and our sins are forgiven. This is not something we get to hold over the heads of everyone else, because yes, we are still sinners. Even on our best days, we bumble along and do *something* wrong, but Satan can't hold it against us. Our job then is to try to lead people to Christ, but I do agree that the way to do that is not to shriek at people that they're going to Hell, that Jesus loves them, or by passing out chick tracts.
I believe in witnessing by trying to live by example: be a good person, be a good friend, be there for someone when they need you, with a prayer, a verse or just a shoulder and private prayer in your mind. People start to ask you where your strength comes from, why you tend to be able to come back from a major setback and throw yourself back into life twice as hard as before. Witnessing by example is the strongest form, I think.
Satan is not omniscient, sadly I don't think he needs to be. People don't often need the help, they're quite horrible on their own, and they're even worse when Satan has a plan.
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As for the special thing...Worded it badly. My meaning was that it doesn't make us special to any other human being. A non-Christian probably could care less whether or not I've accepted Jesus, and the fact that I have doesn't make me special in that person's eyes. In fact, it might just make me contemptible, you know? Also, it doesn't make us special in the sense of being able to dictate to other people on spiritual/moral matters.
And yep, witnessing by example is, I think, the way to go. The owner of my company is astounded that I don't let what he sees as disasters bother me. He asked me how I manage to do that once, how I can stay "supernaturally calm," as he put it. I said, in short, "The Lord." Being an eclectic Buddhist/Taoist/Eastern MishMash who vehemently rejects Christ, he didn't know quite what to make of that, but he's been subtly asking questions ever since. I don't know if that's a good thing or not... :)
Ahhhh, the parables. In the book I read, Mr. Fischer likened the Pharisees to the first workers in the vineyard, all indignant because people got "paid" the same amount for less "work." Meaning that the Pharisees were indignant because Jesus offered salvation to be people who, they felt, didn't deserve it. Judgmental Christians are like that, too. The can't stand it that "unholy" people can get into heaven as easily as they, in their "righteousness," can.
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And yes, being Saved very well could make me quite contemptible to some folks.
Nice comeback to your bossman. ;) And the Judgmental ones forget that their passage into heaven was just as 'free' as ours, all we had to do was accept it. It wasn't anything that anyone had to pay for. It doesn't mean that we can just do whatever the hell we want, we still have a path to try to follow, but we're all going to fall from time to time, and they're deluding themselves if they think they're above that. I'll have to file that thought away for the next one that approaches me...
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As for your boss...I'd say it's a very good thing. You personally may never see the end result, but you've done EXACTLY what you need to with your "witness" (And I'm beginning to want to find another word to use there. It's been so degraded.)
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And yes, I thank you for the Fisch education. :) I'm loving this guy more and more. Haven't really gotten around to going through his website, but I will. Need to add it to my links here, since I tend to use those to navigate around almost more than my bookmarks... It's very refreshing to find a higher-profile Christian who tells the truth instead of trying to be someone or something that he isn't just to impress/condemn the heathens. *rolls eyes*
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A great line, and so very, very, very true.
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