Is the Bible a weapon

[Pie]

Just like the title says. It seems like we have a tendency to throw it at people who just simply need grace from us.

I wish there was a "duck under a chair" icon, cuz I would have put it at the end of this post.

YES it's a weapon! I have a really big one so it's heavy and when I throw it, it hurts...trust me. It even hurts my wrist. Get hardcover if you're looking for something with more "bang" in it.

But in all seriousness... yes, we sometimes do this. It's like if someone asks you, "Why did God let my baby die?" You don't try to give them some sort of intellectual response to the problem of evil and suffering in the world as a result of sin or quote Bible verses at them. They need love and compassion. Maybe they just need a shoulder to cry on. We do need to learn to discern when someone is hurting and just needs compassion and when they need biblical instruction/advice. People won't even be willing to receive anything from you if you are stone cold. In fact, you may push them further away.

I think this is a quality that all Christians must work on daily...discerning how to react to a situation that is...and how to be a light in that person's life.

 

[oldernotwiser]

get a tiny one ..... put it in a sock along with 50 pennies.

 

[Sirk]

When a country goes to war, theoretically they try to break as many things and kill as many of the enemy as possible to force the enemy into submission. We on the other had are told that our fight is not flesh against flesh but against principalities and powers of the air. I understand that when someone comes spreading false doctrine and such it needs to be met with the power of scripture....but the baby believer or pre Christian needs encouragement and kindness. I smile when I see instances in scripture of Jesus basically saying, holy crap you guys, did you seriously not understand what I've shown you? I sometimes can hear his voice and the loving way he encouraged and esteemed his 12. Thinking about that I can almost feel his arm around me saying....even though you have such little faith I hold you high and I love you son. Now isn't that just awesome?

 

[phil112]

When a country goes to war, theoretically they try to break as many things and kill as many of the enemy as possible to force the enemy into submission. We on the other had are told that our fight is not flesh against flesh but against principalities and powers of the air. I understand that when someone comes spreading false doctrine and such it needs to be met with the power of scripture....but the baby believer or pre Christian needs encouragement and kindness. I smile when I see instances in scripture of Jesus basically saying, holy crap you guys, did you seriously not understand what I've shown you? I sometimes can hear his voice and the loving way he encouraged and esteemed his 12. Thinking about that I can almost feel his arm around me saying....even though you have such little faith I hold you high and I love you son. Now isn't that just awesome?

The first thing the "baby believer" needs is true doctrine, not exposure to false doctrine. This is not a recruiting ground, unfortunately, for tyros, but a meeting place of believers. A place to discuss the word and encourage one another to grow in the word.
Silence is implied consent. It isn't okay with me, nor will I be an unwilling accomplice to such lies.
Malachi 3:16

 

[Sirk]

The first thing the "baby believer" needs is true doctrine, not exposure to false doctrine. This is not a recruiting ground, unfortunately, for tyros, but a meeting place of believers. A place to discuss the word and encourage one another to grow in the word.
Silence is implied consent. It isn't okay with me, nor will I be an unwilling accomplice to such lies.
Malachi 3:16

Well that is absolutely just fine and I understand that perspective but communication is a give and take. If a follower of Christ offends another right outa the gate without first understanding another's perspective. "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than you consider yourself"....what good have they done? I say NONE! After all you already know your perspective. When you seek to understand first, you give yourself credibility and a credible person is far more effective in helping believers and non believers than a brash bull in a china closet know it all.

 

[phil112]

Well that is absolutely just fine and I understand that perspective but communication is a give and take. If a follower of Christ offends another right outa the gate without first understanding another's perspective. "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than you consider yourself"....what good have they done? I say NONE! After all you already know your perspective. When you seek to understand first, you give yourself credibility and a credible person is far more effective in helping believers and non believers than a brash bull in a china closet know it all.

I don't understand how/why you are involved in this discussion with me, nor how much of what you say is directed to me specifically. I "sought to understand" long before I came to this forum. I am not here to establish credibility. I came here for fellowship. When someone that claims to know the bible and desires to serve the Lord, yet clings to false doctrine after having it pointed out time after time, from the bible, then there is no place for sugary words. I am not here help people that throw darts at the life raft that has been deployed for their safety.
The good I do is that false doctrine has been confronted, publicly, scripturally, and as it should be. When a person tells falsehoods about God, and you know better from the bible, you tell me: What "good" are you doing by letting it go unchallenged? I can be a blunt man. I am aware of that. When there are times that it is necessary to apologise for it, I will. that time is not now.

What it boils down to Sirk, is this: There is scriptural proof to the contrary and that is more important to me than what you, my mom, my children, or anybody on this board, thinks of me. Christ said we will be judged by His words. His judgement of me is the test I want to pass. Those words are very, very, important to me. There have never, will never, and are never, any more important words.
I hope that satisfies your inquisitiveness about my motive.

 

[crossnote]

I am not here (to) help people that throw darts at the life raft that has been deployed for their safety.

Now that's classic.

 

[Sirk]

I don't understand how/why you are involved in this discussion with me, nor how much of what you say is directed to me specifically. I "sought to understand" long before I came to this forum. I am not here to establish credibility. I came here for fellowship. When someone that claims to know the bible and desires to serve the Lord, yet clings to false doctrine after having it pointed out time after time, from the bible, then there is no place for sugary words. I am not here help people that throw darts at the life raft that has been deployed for their safety.
The good I do is that false doctrine has been confronted, publicly, scripturally, and as it should be. When a person tells falsehoods about God, and you know better from the bible, you tell me: What "good" are you doing by letting it go unchallenged? I can be a blunt man. I am aware of that. When there are times that it is necessary to apologise for it, I will. that time is not now.

What it boils down to Sirk, is this: There is scriptural proof to the contrary and that is more important to me than what you, my mom, my children, or anybody on this board, thinks of me. Christ said we will be judged by His words. His judgement of me is the test I want to pass. Those words are very, very, important to me. There have never, will never, and are never, any more important words.
I hope that satisfies your inquisitiveness about my motive.

First of all, this was a thread that I started so pardon me if I overstepped my bounds in commenting directly to you.
I'll make sure and avoid you in the future so as not to hear the swoosh of the "giant sucking sound" I hear and feel emanating from your most awesome glorious powerful all knowing persona. Good day sir.

 

[Timeline]

this will only be in heaven while we are hear there will be war and rumors of war but there will be war make no mistake about that. You can get caught up in this fantasy of all love and peace and get your head knocked slam off. The devil doesn't care about you or play fair. Matthew 24:6-8

King James Version (KJV)

[SUP]6 [/SUP]And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
[SUP]7 [/SUP]For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
[SUP]8 [/SUP]All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Just some thoughts.

Proverbs 15:1 [ Contrast the Upright and the Wicked ] A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.

Galatians 6:1 [ Bear One Another’s Burdens ] Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.

Philippians 4:5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.

Ephesians 4:1-6
4 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, [SUP]2 [/SUP]with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, [SUP]3 [/SUP]being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. [SUP]4 [/SUP]There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; [SUP]5 [/SUP]one Lord, one faith, one baptism, [SUP]6 [/SUP]one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

2 Corinthians 10:1 [ Paul Describes Himself ] Now I, Paul, myself urge you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am meek when face to face with you, but bold toward you when absent!


I assure you that meek does not mean weak.

 

[phil112]

First of all, this was a thread that I started so pardon me if I overstepped my bounds in commenting directly to you.
I'll make sure and avoid you in the future so as not to hear the swoosh of the "giant sucking sound" I hear and feel emanating from your most awesome glorious powerful all knowing persona. Good day sir.

Oh cut the garbage. You came into a back and forth that didn't involve you. You no more own this thread than you own this forum. I bring scripture to the table and then it degrades to me doing it because "I am somebody". This is not about me. I have never made any personal claims here about my "awesomeness" and never expressed my view as being the only thing that matters. I say the bible is the only thing that matters and when scripture convicts some people here they quickly resort to the only weapon they have: personal attacks. If you want to align yourself with that agenda, go ahead. I can tell you one thing. It doesn't pay the bills.

Seems like the people that criticize me for being so blunt are the ones that don't read and understand the bible. Why don't you tell me what Christ was thinking when He drove the money changers out of the temple, or what Paul was thinking when he got in Peter's face, or maybe how poorly Paul handled Alexander the coppersmith.

There is a time for love and a time for war. Do you think Christ is saying in Matthew 16:18 that you should be calm and soft spoken? Try not to be offensive to those who would raze your house? Grow up. Chew on some strong meat. The end gets nearer everyday and we must stanch the flow of evil when possible. Do you think the 6th chapter of Ephesians is about counseling some poor child that needs gentle guidance?
You help that child. I'll try to keep satan from slipping in the back while you do that. Do we have a deal?

 

[pastac]

I have noticed no one wants to be held accountable for the foolish things that are posted and that we are just supposed to sit back and just let the elephant in the room keep standing there. So many sensitive thin skinned Christians who want us all to hold hands and sing cumbyya or something.
Get real this is how we are supposed to address ignorance that runs rampant. Yes the word teaches us love and such but folks Jesus that we say we love and follow was no pushover soft jellybacked man he was a power filled word spitting in the dirt kinds guy. Every time a brother or a sister stands firm for the word the soft hearted peacemakers run to the front of the battle field.
I applaud any man who stands firm in the word and shake my head at the others.Phil112, crossnote, tintin, myself and many many others see the gaphere on cc we are only trying to make a difference in lives for the Christ we all say we love. Just some thoughts

 

[Sirk]

I have noticed no one wants to be held accountable for the foolish things that are posted and that we are just supposed to sit back and just let the elephant in the room keep standing there. So many sensitive thin skinned Christians who want us all to hold hands and sing cumbyya or something.
Get real this is how we are supposed to address ignorance that runs rampant. Yes the word teaches us love and such but folks Jesus that we say we love and follow was no pushover soft jellybacked man he was a power filled word spitting in the dirt kinds guy. Every time a brother or a sister stands firm for the word the soft hearted peacemakers run to the front of the battle field.
I applaud any man who stands firm in the word and shake my head at the others.Phil112, crossnote, tintin, myself and many many others see the gaphere on cc we are only trying to make a difference in lives for the Christ we all say we love. Just some thoughts

You shouldn't assume that I am some pushover or that I don't like a good fight when one is required. The thing is that there probably isn't much that Phil and I disagree on, I suppose I am just not a fan of his tact. In a lot of ways he reminds of the "elders" of the church I grew up in.....all boisterous and holier than thou in proclaiming their faith but with feet quick to shed blood. I love truth and I love Jesus and I will defend His word, I just prefer a scalpel over a bulldozer.

Additionally, the "elders" in my church growing up who were the loudest and most holy in their faith had the most hidden sin. I've found that to be the case in my adult life as well.

 

[oldthennew]

my Bibles have not only been just a weapon when needed,
but they have also held my tears, my prayers, my fears,
my aching heart, my joys and hopes, and on some
nights, cradled me to sleep.

 

[Sirk]

Many believers operate under the false assertion that an untruth must be met with instant and swift retaliation of words. This style of communication reminds me of this:

[video=youtube;FhwwbNA3hjg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhwwbNA3hjg[/video]

Why in the world we as Christians would choose to communicate like this and add to this immature argumentative culture we live in is beyond me. At best it is ignorant and at worst it is damaging to the gospel.