Posted on 10/04/2002 11:30:35 PM PDT by RnMomof7
Now it seems to me the early church said what need to be said without concern for peoples feelings.That led to a great revile.Has God changed? Has the gospel changed? Was Jesus a hell and Brim stone preacher?
I believe this is all too common these days. When I hear or see a commercial or sign for a church and the prevailing messege is something along the lines 'a personal relationship' it strikes me as one of those feel good places.
Never a sermon on sin just have a relationship and feel good. Plus, look at all this cool recreational stuff we got. This nice new gym and this wonderful fellowship center with a kitchen and games.
Too often churches just focus on numbers. I got 2000 in my congregation therefore we must be doing things right.
Not to be picky but I come from the South. That should be "hell fire and brim stone preacher." Thanks.
This is indeed an IMMENSE problem today. My fiancee is substitute teaching at a Catholic high school...the kids told her: "Religion class is so boring! They say the same thing over and over again!"
She agreed with them, and told them the only thing they teach nowadays is to be good and "Jesus loves you no matter what."
To which they responded "Yeah! That's EXACTLY what they say!"
It breaks my heart for these poor kids. Instead of being raised to be good Christians, they are all apostates in training.
Is there a difference between abuse and "speaking hard truth." You bet there is!
1. Knowing the heart. The preacher is NOT the Lord Jesus. He does not know the heart as Jesus did. Preachers/Pastors are human, they can be wrong about their impressions, and the honorable ones admit that.
2. The definition of Abuse.
....a. Webster definition: language that condemns or vilifies unjustly, intemperately, and angrily ; physical maltreatment
....b. Definition in Christian Counseling: victimization and/or manipulation of others through verbal, emotional, sexual, or physical attacks on the person or the person's essential identity.
....c. Medical Definition: 1. Improper treatment or use; 2. Physical ill treatment; injury. 3. Vituperative words; coarse, insulting speech; abusive language; virulent condemnation; reviling. 4. Violation; rape; as, abuse of a female child. 5. Abuse, Invective. Abuse is generally prompted by anger, and vented in harsh and unseemly words. It is more personal and coarse than invective. Abuse generally takes place in private quarrels; invective in writing or public discussions.
The relevant questions:
1. Was it possible for Jesus to abuse?
2. Is it possible for human pastors/preachers/priests and other religious persons to abuse?
3. If possible for religious humans, how is it (a) recognized, (b) opposed, (c) treated?
4. How does one heal the victims of religious physical, sexual, emotional, and verbal abuse?
I will not cease to praise Thee,O our Lord.Ceaselessly will I sing of Thy glory,that Thy truth may not condemn me. I know the extent of my guilt,that if Thou dost punish me according to my sins my inheritance will be gehenna.Then all hope will be lost.Then my prayer will be silenced.Have mercy on me therefore, and forgive me my debts.
I slipped and fell into sin.Extend to me Thy right hand and I will arise,like the harlot in Simon's house,like the thief on the cross.Have mercy on me,Thou who art kindhearted to sinners.
but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness,but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. [1 Cor 1:23-24, NAS95]
That said, Paul also wrote:
The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.[ 2: Ti 2:24-26, NAS95]
So I conclude that we need to be careful to distinguish between an inherently offensive message and an arrogant messenger...
Stephen evidently believed in severe words, too. He said, "Ye stiff necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Spirit: as your fathers did, so do you" (Acts 7:51).
I think it is hugely important to look not only at the words that Jesus and the others were speaking, but to whom they were speaking them to. On the occasions you describe Jesus was talking specifically about the Scribes and Pharisees, not all of the crowds that had gathered around Him. Stephen was speaking before the Council of the Sanhedrin, again not before the general masses. Except for the awkward exchange that Jesus has with the Syrophoenician woman in Mark 7:24-30, Jesus saved His harsh words for those in power, not usually for the guy in the street, and certainly not for those who came to Him for healing or deliverance. Even the words “Sell everything you have and give it to the poor” (try preaching on THAT verse) that Jesus said to the rich, young ruler, Mark writes that Jesus said that after looking at him and feeling a love for him (Mark 10:20) so we know that Jesus did not speak these words out of disdain or frustration, but from love.
There has been alot of discussion on being to harsh.
When you talk about people being “harsh” here on FR, aren’t you really talking about people being rude, dismissive and condescending?
There is one manner of being "harsh", which means speaking truth and holyness against the tide of our current culture immersed in lies and evil. This is the harshness of Scripture. It is quite another to manner of being "harsh" as merely being caustic, nasty and dishonorable. This, usually, is the harshness of FR.
Becky
He was allowing himself to be used by Satan or was speaking the words of Satan by opposing Christ's mission.
Expand the principle now: murder, theft, demonic opposition to Christ's mission. (Is that fair summary? Help me with the wording.)
1 John 2:11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
How's that for hard preaching:)
Becky
Becky
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