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Post by Jesse Morrell on Feb 21, 2009 22:06:43 GMT -5
I have heard from a few people that we should not "debate" or "argue" with sinners in the open air. Usually these people believe that arguing and love cannot co-exist. Just today I received a message from someone who basically said this.
This is my response:
We are not to debate foolish issues (2 Tim. 2:23; Titus 3:9). But we are to debate and argue important issues (Acts 9:29; Acts 17:17; Jude 1:9).
Our motive in debating no doubt must be love (1 Cor. 13). And if we love sinners, we will rebuke them for their sin (Lev. 19:17; Rev. 3:19). We must lovingly debate and lovingly rebuke.
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Post by fs on Feb 22, 2009 8:16:04 GMT -5
Debates itself both in your form of preaching (this is from an outsider looking in, as I do not street preach but do tract and other ministry. We all cannot be street preachers, I think) and on this very board, but the problem is when you debate, emotions can run high. Speaking from an incident or two with myself here I can safely say debate is good if kept in check and it does not get out of hand. Again street preaching from the snips I have seen in emails and on u tube and even many debates on this board are not kept in check and extend tot he point where anger rather than common sense rules the day and this can be a big disservice to Christianity.
Another problem on the board is we have people of different denominations who are so set their church has itr right they will flat NOT listen tot he other person;s argument (ie Eternal SANCTIFICATION of the believer vs conditional salvation, speaking in tongues, should women street witnessing, are Obama and Bush saved, is national health care of God, whatever...) we gets sidetracked and at that point again forget our main concern should be trying to lead the lost to Christ and strengthening our own spiritual walks)
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Post by rebecca on Feb 22, 2009 21:11:28 GMT -5
There is a balance in everything and the Lord is teaching me what that perfect balance is. There is a huge lack of balance in the church. Professing christians do not practice love towards one another. Many christians profess to love God but they do not love one another.
The love we have towards God should engender the love we have to each other and this is not so with most christians.
1 John 4:20 If a man say , I love God and hate his brother he is a liar: for how can he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen love God whom he hath not seen?
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Post by rebecca on Feb 22, 2009 22:39:00 GMT -5
There is a balance in everything and the Lord is teaching me what that perfect balance is. There is a huge lack of balance in the church. Professing christians do not practice love towards one another. Many christians profess to love God but they do not love one another. The love we have towards God should engender the love we have to each other and this is not so with most christians. 1 John 4:20 If a man say , I love God and hate his brother he is a liar: for how can he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen love God whom he hath not seen? I'm speaking of unconditional love. Hate sin and love the sinner unconditionally.
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Post by Brother. Ross on Feb 23, 2009 21:47:49 GMT -5
Jude 3 says "contend earnestly for the faith..." Proverbs 28:4 They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them. Titus 1:9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
The disciples contended, and reasoned with, and persuaded and convinced those in unbelief and in opposition. This is the nature of debate!
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Post by fs on Feb 24, 2009 6:52:08 GMT -5
The following conditions eradicates some of the actions approved of by certain street preachers here such as calling gays Queers in street sermons. Yeah, that'll win them over to Christ!
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