We are a church. We are the body of Christ. We all have different gifts. We all have different ares we work in. YHWH has us do different things in our lives. I might do one thing, someone else another, but we're all working together.
We are a team.
But, if one person does not speak in tongues, then they say that tongues is not a thing, and prove it from the bible. If another does speak in tongues, then they say that if you don't speak in tongues you don't have the Holy Spirit (and may not even be saved), also proved from the bible. (lets NOT get into a debate over tongues, I'm using this as an example. In fact, if you're all fired up over it then it's the exact example I should be using...)
All this does is create division, and that's Satan's goal. Divide and conquer right? So instead of working together, we fight each other. What we should be doing is saying "Hey, I speak in tongues, can I pray for you?" and the other person goes "Yes, that would be great, and I have the gift of faith, so let me help lift you up and focus on God when you need it."
One of the things I see on this forum, and elsewhere, is the idea that if you're not doing it my way then you're wrong. Sometimes, that is correct. Most often, it's not.
On this forum we have a vast array of people of all shapes, sizes, and beliefs. We're all Christians (hopefully), but we all have different ideas of how that looks to us. And there are many different reasons why that is the case, from how long we've been Christians, to our background, childhood, spouse/s, maturity, etc. And that's exactly how a church should be. The elders should be teaching the younger, we should have people of different backgrounds who can relate to people in different ways, we should have those in different stages of life from just leaving school to having a family to retiring. Because the variety of differences mean that we can work better for YHWH. Have you seen a church that has only one type of people? It's very dull indeed and often has no works attached to it.
The men on here are often here for a debate. They're very strong men who need to discuss scripture in a way that often can only be done on here. That's OK. No problems. Sometimes (or, often...) you all go on too long for me in posts that I think are sort of pointless, but for you all it's important and helpful and fun, which is great!
Where I'm seeing a problem is that 'agree to disagree' is getting used less and less, and often is used only after coming down hard on someone.
Most often someone's viewpoint on something does not mean they are going to hell. It does not mean they are wrong. It does not mean they can't work for God, you can't talk to them nicely online, or that they can't even be your mate. Honestly, it really doesn't matter. So, someone thinks that submission looks different to what you see it as. Well, OK then. You can state your point of view and then move on in love. Someone thinks that you can cast out demons. Well, OK then. If they're doing that then that's great it's part of what YHWH wants them to do. Someone thinks that you shouldn't be casting out demons and should only stick to scripture, not listening to the Holy Spirit. Well, OK then. There's nothing wrong with sticking solidly to scripture, it's a good thing, and it's probably helpful for them teaching others, YHWH will speak to them through scripture as needed.
My role, or job if you like, is to be a wife and mother. Always has been, and always will be. That's where YHWH wants me in life. He's given me a passion for it and the skills and abilities I need to do it. Eventually the children will leave home, Samuel may have another wife, and then maybe YHWH will lead me somewhere different as well. But I will never stop being a wife and mother.
That's MY role. It's not necessarily the same role as anyone else. Some women YHWH has called to work outside the home. Some He wants to stay single. Some He wants to be missionaries etc.
Now, imagine if I said that every woman should be married, staying home, and having at least 7 children. Of course that wouldn't be correct for a variety of reasons.
Too often I see people be passionate about something and turn that into nastiness. Example, someone is passionate about stopping abortion. They're outside the abortion mills every week. They're posting numerous things daily on social media about what is happening to do with the laws surrounding it. They're willing to adopt children and help young women who feel that abortion is their only way out. They protest outside Planned Parenthood. Then they turn around and tell me I don't care about babies, or God, because I'm not outside the abortion mills every week. In fact, I'm not even really a Christian apparently because I don't have the same passion as them.
What they are doing is amazing, wonderful, needed. But it's where YHWH has put them, and not me. It's not my role.
I bet you can think of a load of examples of this. I know I can. Who's been kicked out of church because of their belief in PM? Such a small thing, yet such hate towards what is perceived to be wrong.
What does that attitude achieve? Only division. Satan wins again.
It's the same with gifts of the spirit. Like I said before with tongues, it's the same with the other gifts. We're all different, all given different gifts, and we all use them for different things. There's no point in complaining about someone because you have the gift of wisdom and they have the gift of healing and you think healing is wrong. You're only fighting against YHWH.
How many denominations are there now? All arisen through differences in opinion on scripture. Imagine if every single denomination was one church and we were all working together for YHWH in our own roles and with our own thoughts. Imagine what we could achieve.
It's OK to be discussing and arguing on here, I'm really not saying to stop that at all. Please, keep going! We don't all have to get along, or even agree with each other. But remember, that different thoughts and beliefs are not the end of the world. Lets work together as much as we can.
We are a team.
But, if one person does not speak in tongues, then they say that tongues is not a thing, and prove it from the bible. If another does speak in tongues, then they say that if you don't speak in tongues you don't have the Holy Spirit (and may not even be saved), also proved from the bible. (lets NOT get into a debate over tongues, I'm using this as an example. In fact, if you're all fired up over it then it's the exact example I should be using...)
All this does is create division, and that's Satan's goal. Divide and conquer right? So instead of working together, we fight each other. What we should be doing is saying "Hey, I speak in tongues, can I pray for you?" and the other person goes "Yes, that would be great, and I have the gift of faith, so let me help lift you up and focus on God when you need it."
One of the things I see on this forum, and elsewhere, is the idea that if you're not doing it my way then you're wrong. Sometimes, that is correct. Most often, it's not.
On this forum we have a vast array of people of all shapes, sizes, and beliefs. We're all Christians (hopefully), but we all have different ideas of how that looks to us. And there are many different reasons why that is the case, from how long we've been Christians, to our background, childhood, spouse/s, maturity, etc. And that's exactly how a church should be. The elders should be teaching the younger, we should have people of different backgrounds who can relate to people in different ways, we should have those in different stages of life from just leaving school to having a family to retiring. Because the variety of differences mean that we can work better for YHWH. Have you seen a church that has only one type of people? It's very dull indeed and often has no works attached to it.
The men on here are often here for a debate. They're very strong men who need to discuss scripture in a way that often can only be done on here. That's OK. No problems. Sometimes (or, often...) you all go on too long for me in posts that I think are sort of pointless, but for you all it's important and helpful and fun, which is great!
Where I'm seeing a problem is that 'agree to disagree' is getting used less and less, and often is used only after coming down hard on someone.
Most often someone's viewpoint on something does not mean they are going to hell. It does not mean they are wrong. It does not mean they can't work for God, you can't talk to them nicely online, or that they can't even be your mate. Honestly, it really doesn't matter. So, someone thinks that submission looks different to what you see it as. Well, OK then. You can state your point of view and then move on in love. Someone thinks that you can cast out demons. Well, OK then. If they're doing that then that's great it's part of what YHWH wants them to do. Someone thinks that you shouldn't be casting out demons and should only stick to scripture, not listening to the Holy Spirit. Well, OK then. There's nothing wrong with sticking solidly to scripture, it's a good thing, and it's probably helpful for them teaching others, YHWH will speak to them through scripture as needed.
My role, or job if you like, is to be a wife and mother. Always has been, and always will be. That's where YHWH wants me in life. He's given me a passion for it and the skills and abilities I need to do it. Eventually the children will leave home, Samuel may have another wife, and then maybe YHWH will lead me somewhere different as well. But I will never stop being a wife and mother.
That's MY role. It's not necessarily the same role as anyone else. Some women YHWH has called to work outside the home. Some He wants to stay single. Some He wants to be missionaries etc.
Now, imagine if I said that every woman should be married, staying home, and having at least 7 children. Of course that wouldn't be correct for a variety of reasons.
Too often I see people be passionate about something and turn that into nastiness. Example, someone is passionate about stopping abortion. They're outside the abortion mills every week. They're posting numerous things daily on social media about what is happening to do with the laws surrounding it. They're willing to adopt children and help young women who feel that abortion is their only way out. They protest outside Planned Parenthood. Then they turn around and tell me I don't care about babies, or God, because I'm not outside the abortion mills every week. In fact, I'm not even really a Christian apparently because I don't have the same passion as them.
What they are doing is amazing, wonderful, needed. But it's where YHWH has put them, and not me. It's not my role.
I bet you can think of a load of examples of this. I know I can. Who's been kicked out of church because of their belief in PM? Such a small thing, yet such hate towards what is perceived to be wrong.
What does that attitude achieve? Only division. Satan wins again.
It's the same with gifts of the spirit. Like I said before with tongues, it's the same with the other gifts. We're all different, all given different gifts, and we all use them for different things. There's no point in complaining about someone because you have the gift of wisdom and they have the gift of healing and you think healing is wrong. You're only fighting against YHWH.
How many denominations are there now? All arisen through differences in opinion on scripture. Imagine if every single denomination was one church and we were all working together for YHWH in our own roles and with our own thoughts. Imagine what we could achieve.
It's OK to be discussing and arguing on here, I'm really not saying to stop that at all. Please, keep going! We don't all have to get along, or even agree with each other. But remember, that different thoughts and beliefs are not the end of the world. Lets work together as much as we can.
