Some Views Have No Middle Ground

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
113
#21
You dont win people over by making MORE laws.

legalism never works in the long run. Jesus actually whittled down the commandments down to just two.
 

Roughsoul1991

Senior Member
Sep 17, 2016
8,853
4,506
113
#22
er, people outside the truth just dont care and will take whatver punishment anyway.
Not necessarily. For example, think about how many unbelievers are not in jail. Why? If they do not have an absolute moral system to abide by then what prevents them from pleasing their desires for wealth? They could steal it. For sex? They can rape for it. For power? They could take it by force.

Law and order. Laws tell them if they break them then there will be consequences and even most unbelievers enjoy freedom. Ironically, to have laws, you must have a moral system to dictate right from wrong.
 

Roughsoul1991

Senior Member
Sep 17, 2016
8,853
4,506
113
#23
You dont win people over by making MORE laws.

legalism never works in the long run. Jesus actually whittled down the commandments down to just two.
I was talking about government.
 

oyster67

Senior Member
May 24, 2014
11,887
8,705
113
#25
I was talking about government.
I so much look forward to a Heaven where we will never need any of those "no-duh" type laws any more. We will no longer need to lock our doors. Lord Jesus come quickly.
 

Genipher

Well-known member
Jan 6, 2019
2,285
1,688
113
#26
Just like the sailors and Jonah. Jonah was a toxic individual bringing almost death onto the sailors. So they throw him off the boat.

You can pray for them and even forgive them but sometimes you must kick toxic people out of your life.
"And he [Jonah] said unto them, Take me up and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you. Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to land, but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them. Wherefore they cried unto Yahweh, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, O Yahweh, hast done as it pleased thee. So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging. Then the men feared Yahweh exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto Yahweh, and made vows." Jonah 1:12-17

Jonah told the sailors to toss him overboard. They didn't want to kill him so they tried their hardest to get to land. Then they cried unto God to forgive them and gave sacrifices. From the story we're given, the sailors didn't view Jonah as toxic. They didn't throw him off because they were mad at him. They fought for his life and when they saw they couldn't succeed, they did as Jonah wanted, and heaved him overboard.
I don't think this story is a good analogy of booting toxic people out of your life.
 

Roughsoul1991

Senior Member
Sep 17, 2016
8,853
4,506
113
#27
"And he [Jonah] said unto them, Take me up and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you. Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to land, but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them. Wherefore they cried unto Yahweh, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, O Yahweh, hast done as it pleased thee. So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging. Then the men feared Yahweh exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto Yahweh, and made vows." Jonah 1:12-17

Jonah told the sailors to toss him overboard. They didn't want to kill him so they tried their hardest to get to land. Then they cried unto God to forgive them and gave sacrifices. From the story we're given, the sailors didn't view Jonah as toxic. They didn't throw him off because they were mad at him. They fought for his life and when they saw they couldn't succeed, they did as Jonah wanted, and heaved him overboard.
I don't think this story is a good analogy of booting toxic people out of your life.
It is often due to the abuse of the person dealing with toxic people who often feel they cannot kick them out of their lives. They do all they can to save them. But ultimately if they did not throw him overboard, they all would have succumbed to the ocean. Jonah's sin created a toxic environment for those sailors. It was difficult but they ultimately had to kick him out.
 

oyster67

Senior Member
May 24, 2014
11,887
8,705
113
#28
Wherefore they cried unto Yahweh, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, O Yahweh, hast done as it pleased thee. So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea:
It is noteworthy to see what they did first. (Could say it was 'seeworthy' to note:geek:)
 
Mar 1, 2021
85
81
18
#29
This thread seemed to have so much promise. :cry: