Fruit of the Spirit

[kodiak]

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Matthew 7:16-17 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.

I have seen many of us, not treat others according to the fruit of the spirit. Are we showing the love of Christ in everything we do, even what we say online behind our computer screens? People are watching us, and we need to be a living testimony for God. It is sad when you hear people say Christians are rude and that is a popular belief, just do a google search and you will find many people believe Christians are rude. I believe we all need to work on this, including me. How we treat each other on these forums is seen by many people, not just Christians.

I think it is time we hold each other accountable, if I do something wrong, I want someone to point it out. If we see something wrong, we need to stop being bystanders and take a stand for love, peace, temperance and the rest of the fruit. If good people just stand by and do nothing, evil will prevail. I propose that we all start showing the fruit of the Spirit, sticking up for what is good, treat each other with love and respect, and hold each other accountable for what we say and do.

If I have treated any of you contrary to the way that we as Christians should be acting, I apologize. I hope all of you join me in acting like Christians and holding each other accountable.

 

[Magenta]

The "funny" thing is others will call Christians rude for expressing opinions that disagree with their own, while believing they are free to express opinions contrary to others without being held to their own standard.

 

[Blain]

The "funny" thing is others will call Christians rude for expressing opinions that disagree with their own, while believing they are free to express opinions contrary to others without being held to their own standard.

While this may be true Kodiak is spot on, just here in the bdf love and the fruits of the spirit is rare. As Christians we want God to use us but in all honesty I think the devil uses us more often than not

 

[Magenta]

While this may be true Kodiak is spot on, just here in the bdf love and the fruits of the spirit is rare. As Christians we want God to use us but in all honesty I think the devil uses us more often than not

The problem is that on the one hand, it is being said we are to call others on the carpet when we think they have done something wrong, but on the other hand we are to be tolerant and loving. The question then becomes, to what extent are we to be tolerant, and what exactly are we tolerating? If I see someone promoting error, or behaving in an unseemly manner, and I call them on their behaviour, somebody else is sure to come along and chastise me for attempting to correct them, seeing my behaviour as wrong. In a venue such as this where it is words on a page devoid of tone of voice and other physical cues such as provided by body language, each interprets the words and filters them through their own dark glass of perception. Such is life. Nobody ever has all the answers. I do understand what Kodiak and you are saying, though. I just think it is far more complex, because motives are difficult to discern.

 

[Grace777x70]

In dis-agreeing with someone there is a big difference in what we say to them..

We can berate them....attack them personally....tell them they are heretics for not believing the way we do.....compare their motives with our own.

These traits above can readily be seen when the Pharisees, Sadducees and Lawyer's attacked Jesus...when Jesus showed grace to people...they went ballistic. Actually they only time recorded in scripture where it said that Jesus was "angered" was when the Pharisees with their Bible truth did not want grace to be shown to the people. Mark 3:5 Jesus responded to this group a lot differently then them dirty sinners!

A Pharisee called Nicodemus came to Jesus ( albeit by night ) to "ask" things of the Lord and our Lord responded to them a lot differently then the Pharisee's that wanted to do their own self-salvation.

Or we can civilly discuss scriptures with out attacking each other. eg..What do you think this means here?..Let's compare scriptures to come to what it seems to be saying. I know I have looked at a scripture for years and then when the Holy SPirit illuminates it..it stands out ..and I say to myself..I never saw that before.

That usually comes through "hearing"...either from our own study and prayer or from our brothers and sisters in Christ. We need to submit to each other because you have what I need to add to my understanding of Jesus and His finished work on our behalf.

Great thread Kodiak!..we needed to have this brought to our attention!

 

[Magenta]

I will give you an example. I am direct, generally keeping my answers short and to the point, yet I was recently wrongly accused of being that way for shock value, and giving Scriptures as I do, here in the Bible Discussion Forum, to look cool. These accusations against me came out of the blue, and the other person repeatedly insisted they were right when I confronted them, and then another person questioned why I would even care that another Christian was slandering me on a public forum, as if there was something wrong with me for attempting to set the record straight. I discovered after eventually removing said offender from my ignore list that they have a signature that states something to the effect of true eloquence being in saying only that which needs to be said. How ironic is that?

 

[kodiak]

I am not talking about when we disagree with what others believe to be Biblical or not. I am talking about when we attack people. I have seen people attack others personally which is what it sounds like you are saying happened to you. You stood up to them, which is what I am saying. We need to stop attacking each other with personal attacks. People are already defending the Bible on here, but we are not defending each other from personal attacks. Do you think Christians should be attacking each other personally? That is what I am speaking out against.

 

[Blain]

The problem is that on the one hand, it is being said we are to call others on the carpet when we think they have done something wrong, but on the other hand we are to be tolerant and loving. The question then becomes, to what extent are we to be tolerant, and what exactly are we tolerating? If I see someone promoting error, or behaving in an unseemly manner, and I call them on their behaviour, somebody else is sure to come along and chastise me for attempting to correct them, seeing my behaviour as wrong. In a venue such as this where it is words on a page devoid of tone of voice and other physical cues such as provided by body language, each interprets the words and filters them through their own dark glass of perception. Such is life. Nobody ever has all the answers. I do understand what Kodiak and you are saying, though. I just think it is far more complex, because motives are difficult to discern.

The issue is People have a hard time understanding loving and brotherly correction and judgement, and true we cannot hear their tones but the words they use how they use it and if it's in caps can help plus sometimes you can just sense their upset

 

[Blain]

I am not talking about when we disagree with what others believe to be Biblical or not. I am talking about when we attack people. I have seen people attack others personally which is what it sounds like you are saying happened to you. You stood up to them, which is what I am saying. We need to stop attacking each other with personal attacks. People are already defending the Bible on here, but we are not defending each other from personal attacks. Do you think Christians should be attacking each other personally? That is what I am speaking out against.

We are called to love and be love not attack, if we are attacking each other and doing what the world already does like speaking rudely and speaking badly about each other letting our emotions take over then how are we any different from the lost? We can say we are Christians with our lips but our hearts will prove if we are or not

 

[MYSAVIORJESUSCHRIST]

Yes. I do my share of attacking my self-but not my intention, it's easy to be misunderstood by anyone especially in a forum setting.---Everyone is different and sensitive in different ways.

As much as I give non-believers grace for this issue I need the same for brothers and sisters in Christ.

Been hurt by more Christians than non-believers just because you expect Christians to be more sensitive, kind, and loving.

I've since learned making this assumption is not fair to anyone, so I expect to get hurt regardless and forgive whether the person is a believer or not.

 

[Magenta]

I am not talking about when we disagree with what others believe to be Biblical or not. I am talking about when we attack people. I have seen people attack others personally which is what it sounds like you are saying happened to you. You stood up to them, which is what I am saying. We need to stop attacking each other with personal attacks. People are already defending the Bible on here, but we are not defending each other from personal attacks. Do you think Christians should be attacking each other personally? That is what I am speaking out against.

The thing is, though, is that it looks like a personal attack to call another person on their behaviour, and even defending one's self against such attacks is brought into question as if we should just roll over and let people walk all over us. For instance, just to say to another what they are seen to be openly doing, is considered by some to be attacking them. Keep in mind this is not attaching motive to what they are doing, just a recitation of what is being done. We live in a time where good is called evil and evil is called good. This manifests in many different ways, and calls more than ever for use of the gift of discernment. A person here says, I will throw truth bricks at you if I think you need them, then bitterly complains about how much they hate Christians more than ever because some dared to deem they needed truth bricks thrown at them. Hypocrisy reigns supreme. On the one hand we are told we need thick skins, on the other we are told not to be so thick skinned. LOL. There is no winning for losing. Most probably do care what other people think, but we cannot allow that to be our guiding light. If I allowed what others might think of what I was going to say to determine whether I posted, I might never post. I am sure that would make some people very happy!

 

[kodiak]

We are called to love and be love not attack, if we are attacking each other and doing what the world already does like speaking rudely and speaking badly about each other letting our emotions take over then how are we any different from the lost? We can say we are Christians with our lips but our hearts will prove if we are or not

Yes. I do my share of attacking my self-but not my intention, it's easy to be misunderstood by anyone especially in a forum setting.---Everyone is different and sensitive in different ways.

As much as I give non-believers grace for this issue I need the same for brothers and sisters in Christ.

Been hurt by more Christians than non-believers just because you expect Christians to be more sensitive, kind, and loving.

I've since learned making this assumption is not fair to anyone, so I expect to get hurt regardless and forgive whether the person is a believer or not.

The thing is, though, is that it looks like a personal attack to call another person on their behaviour, and even defending one's self against such attacks is brought into question as if we should just roll over and let people walk all over us. For instance, just to say to another what they are seen to be openly doing, is considered by some to be attacking them. Keep in mind this is not attaching motive to what they are doing, just a recitation of what is being done. We live in a time where good is called evil and evil is called good. This manifests in many different ways, and calls more than ever for use of the gift of discernment. A person here says, I will throw truth bricks at you if I think you need them, then bitterly complains about how much they hate Christians more than ever because some dared to deem they needed truth bricks thrown at them. Hypocrisy reigns supreme. On the one hand we are told we need thick skins, on the other we are told not to be so thick skinned. LOL. There is no winning for losing. Most probably do care what other people think, but we cannot allow that to be our guiding light. If I allowed what others might think of what I was going to say to determine whether I posted, I might never post. I am sure that would make some people very happy!

So, I can't assume it is wrong to call others idiots and you must be thick skinned? What some people say is that obvious, yes we should forgive, but we also need to hold each other accountable. Shouldn't a believer try to have the fruit of the Spirit? Last I knew personal attacks like calling people idiots were not part of the fruit of the Spirit. If I have done something wrong like that I want to know, so I can apologize, not just have people make excuses for me.

Yes, I have stated things incorrectly before, words have meaning whether we mean them in that way or not. I was in the wrong even though I didn't mean it in the way I said it. I apologized, because what I said was wrong even though I meant it in a harmless way. I wouldn't have known if someone didn't think of me like a brother in Christ and want me to see my mistake. There is a bid difference between people taking offense to whatever you write and you personally attacking people.

 

[Blessed2Progress]

Galatians 5:13-26King James Version (KJV)

13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

 

[HeRoseFromTheDead]

These kinds of threads would probably get more mileage if they included specific examples of abuse. Then we could discuss whether it really is or not. I could be wrong, but I don't know that I've ever seen someone here call another an idiot.

 

[Magenta]

So, I can't assume it is wrong to call others idiots and you must be thick skinned? What some people say is that obvious, yes we should forgive, but we also need to hold each other accountable. Shouldn't a believer try to have the fruit of the Spirit? Last I knew personal attacks like calling people idiots were not part of the fruit of the Spirit. If I have done something wrong like that I want to know, so I can apologize, not just have people make excuses for me.

Yes, I have stated things incorrectly before, words have meaning whether we mean them in that way or not. I was in the wrong even though I didn't mean it in the way I said it. I apologized, because what I said was wrong even though I meant it in a harmless way. I wouldn't have known if someone didn't think of me like a brother in Christ and want me to see my mistake. There is a bid difference between people taking offense to whatever you write and you personally attacking people.

I think we are talking about two different things here: you, the intention/motive behind what a person says, and me, how what is said is perceived. They are two sides of the same coin. I try to be as clear and concise as possible, but even at that I sometimes cannot come up with just the right word, or I will see later that I missed some element of my response that is easily read in but clarity would have been enhanced had I included it. I do not go around calling people idiots, but if a person speaks down to me, I may reflect that back to them. Mostly I have found that people who behave that way do not respond to just being asked to stop. They deny they are doing it in the first place, even repeatedly denying they are being derogatory when they call people names (that just happened here recently). People often miss what is being done even when I use their very words against them. If they think what I am doing is somehow evil, then they are also evil and condemn themselves. I rarely respond in anger, but I have learned that boundaries are necessary and keeping people accountable is an ongoing battle. I can be cool as a cucumber when I type out a response and the other will claim I am being overly emotional. Personally when a guy says those things to me I think he is just being a misogynist.