How to promote unity while acknowledging doctrinal differences

[Miri]

Things that get in the way of unity among born again believers
(I am not exempt from this either and I would not judge another without
pointing the finger at myself).


Pride, pride, pride, pride, pride, pride, pride, pride pride, pride ........
lack of humbleness, lack of humbleness, lack of humbleness ..........
unwillingness to forgive, unwillingness to forgive, unwillingness to forgive.....

our agenda not Gods, our agenda not Gods, our agenda not Gods......
lack of wisdom and patience, lack of wisdom and patience etc etc..

easier to put down another instead of raising them up, easier to put
down another instead of raising them up.....

I could go on and on and on - why am I repeating myself - because it is
so easy to just gloss over a few words without really reading them.

Lord help me to be more like you and less like me.


John 3:30 NKJV - He must increase, but I must decrease.

Sorry if the above offends anyone, it's just that over the last couple of
weeks I have seen two people delivered and an amazing answer to prayer.

One who was raped at 17 and has struggled with her relationships
and fear of men every since, which has led to difficulties in her marriage.

Another amazing Christian woman who married very young which ended up in
divorce. 23 years on it was still effecting her to the point where she could not
move on with her life and felt a complete and utter failure as a Christian.

A third amazing wonderful testimony of a teen mum who got caught up in
drugs and drink and ended up having her child taken from her. Then God
did an amazing working of salvation and has turned everything on its head.
We prayed with her last week for direction and two days later she said she felt
God tell her to contact an organisation she had never heard of. She looked them
up on the Internet and discovered they are a Christian based charity for young
Christian mums.

She rang them immediately and within 10 minutes of that
phone call they rang her back, offered her a residential placement, offered to
help her pursue her dream of becoming an addiction councillor and all of this
free of charge. She has also just been told that she can have her daughter back
by social services. She moved 4 days later to this place which was a miracle that it all
fell into place so quickly.

Praise God - others have judged these wonderful ladies and written them
off but God had other plans.

Thats the thing, we can disagreement we can give an opinion, but we are not God.
We don't know what God is doing in a person's life, we don't know what plans God has
for a person, yet we tear down other people so easily.

Jesus forgive us and help us to be people who build up others, who pray for others,
people who are willing to get along side others and not push them away.

Even trolls need prayer (they need banning also) but they need prayer.

 

[crossnote]

I don't know about unity but I believe a semblance of civility will return to CC, now that one of the biggest culprits of dissension has been banned in the last 8 hours.

 

[ladylynn]

I don't know about unity but I believe a semblance of civility will return to CC, now that one of the biggest culprits of dissension has been banned in the last 8 hours.

That is just wrong to even imply. Is not banning enough? do you have to keep throwing stones when the people are not even here?

 

[atwhatcost]

So, you really dont care about doctrinal differences. We are enemies?

Pffft, sorry Catholics aren't demons. You're not necessarily saved, but not an enemy either. You're probably not a bro either.

Understand, I'm not buying Catholic doctrines, (funny, since most Catholics don't even know Catholic doctrine lol), but I will love you and keep at you with trusting God instead of the RCC.

Enemies are those who will try to make us walk away from God for whatever reason.

Bad news though, I'm also not afraid to tell you when you're wrong. lol

 

[purgedconscience]

I don't know about unity but I believe a semblance of civility will return to CC, now that one of the biggest culprits of dissension has been banned in the last 8 hours.

That is just wrong to even imply. Is not banning enough? do you have to keep throwing stones when the people are not even here?

I don't know who he's referring to, I honestly don't, but what he said, if true, is actual Biblical:

Proverbs 22 verse 10

Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.

 

[atwhatcost]

You cant tell me? I guess not since you admitted we are enemies. FYI Catholics consider you brethren. Just read that 95 Theses. Did not know you were referring to Luther's demon possession

I let you choose how much you want to know. Did you want to read them all, or just find out what it is, or the history behind it? Honest, just giving you a choice of how much you want to learn.

And if you think Luther was demon possessed, that makes us enemies. That's also not what the RCC calls it. If that's what you think, you're not even close to Catholic, once more Christian. I have no idea what that is or where it comes from.

 

[ember]

In one of my posts recently I mentioned that many of us feel like our backs are up against a wall, so instead of going with defense, we go with offense. I'd say I do that too often. (Well, even once is too often, so let's call it "very often" instead.) Because of that, I've decided to name that wall The Defensive Wall.

I'm thinking I may not have been around long enough to quite feel what y'all are feeling...? But it does seem some long time members are trying to get a better atmosphere here...and even I have noticed that hostilities have risen lately..for one thing, the popular 'gang that goes around attacking' expression that I have seen used, is nonsense IMO

I bring this up for two reasons:
1. In all fairness, until just now, I've had you on ignore for a while, Ember. I did that because you were offensive, and I didn't want to charge at you like a raging rhino. (Well, I really did, and I'm very good at that, but God didn't want me to, so the only way I could avoid doing that is to put you on ignore to protect me and you.) So, I mention that because I absolutely know that I keep thinking I'm This kind of person, and folks on here have been kind enough to LOL me when I tell what kind of This I am, but I'm really That. So, I figure you could have a little LOL, but not at you. I'm hoping with you. Care to join me on the Defensive Wall? It certainly beats going offensive, and gives time to see how we're being all defensive when we could just be honest with ourselves and others.

uh...hiccup...ditto...I have had you on ignore awhile also because I felt you were too aggresive..now this is strange cause I took you off ignore...I think it was last evening? I'm going to say this might not be a coincidence...well...I think we met halfway then...so that could be an interesting thing!

Which brings me to the other point.

2. Hubby is good at reigning me in when I go all offensive as my good defense. He only needs to say a couple of words to make me realize what I'm doing and back down from it before it goes too far. I could use that here too, but he's never going to come here. (He hates any site that he has to sign up for or participate in. lol) So, since I know I'm not the only one to go offensive when provoked, (I can count on one hand the number of people who don't go offensive on here when provoked and still have enough fingers left over on that hand to eat with. lol), is it okay if we come up with a short phrase to hint at others when to cut it out? It seems a lot quicker and a lot less disruptive for a thread than spend a whole post "being diplomatic."

ha...my husband won't sign on either...I said 'come on...it'll be fun'...nope, no deal. It is my impression that sometimes a disagreement in belief can be translated as 'offensive'...so I'm not sure what you have in mind? Do you mean a phrase for everyone?

And if you think that's a bad idea, umm, why? (And that's not a defensive why, that's a "maybe I missed something" why, so don't worry about being diplomatic on me before telling me why it's a bad idea.)

And if it sounds like a good idea, I can give you hubby's phrase, (which still works despite that no longer being a problem, simply because it worked for so long lol), "When's your period coming, honey?" LOL So, seeing where that won't work so well for many on this site, it can be "care to join me on the defensive wall?"

If that doesn't work for anyone else, please use it on me, because it works for me.

LOL! If someone said that as an calm down phrase for me, they would get a 'you have to be kidding, right?' kind of look...so...uh...nummmm...not going to work..besides if it is for everyone, not everyone here is female...

I'm pretty sure I might still say things you don't agree with, but you could kick me under the table if you think it's addressed to you or just keep reading? dunno.....

 

[p_rehbein]

Pffft, sorry Catholics aren't demons. You're not necessarily saved, but not an enemy either. You're probably not a bro either.

Understand, I'm not buying Catholic doctrines, (funny, since most Catholics don't even know Catholic doctrine lol), but I will love you and keep at you with trusting God instead of the RCC.

Enemies are those who will try to make us walk away from God for whatever reason.

Bad news though, I'm also not afraid to tell you when you're wrong. lol

Well, at least now I know who will be judging us on the day of Atonement............sigh

 

[atwhatcost]

I was composing a post the other day and I suddenly noticed the smell of smoke. I looked in the mirror to make sure that it wasn't proceeding from my ears or the top of my head and, thankfully, it wasn't. haha. Instead, my wife had gone out without first turning off one of the burners on the stove and some oil left in a pot was producing the smell.

Whew! At least she wasn't boiling eggs. The two worst smells coming from a kitchen -- eggs that cooked so long they explode out of the shells and the rubber tops to baby bottles when they're being sterilized to the point the water is gone and the tops become part of the pot. Nasty! lol

 

[atwhatcost]

I don't know about unity but I believe a semblance of civility will return to CC, now that one of the biggest culprits of dissension has been banned in the last 8 hours.

You know nosy person (me) has to go check to see who has been banned now. I can think of two, but no "biggest culprits." lol

 

[crossnote]

That is just wrong to even imply. Is not banning enough? do you have to keep throwing stones when the people are not even here?

I expressed my opinion, or are we no longer allowed to do that by the Opinion Police?

 

[p_rehbein]

[QUOTE=p_rehbein;2139290]True, but I am only addressing the "promotion of unity."

We can't achieve unity just by making personal changes, we have to advocate for change across the board -- literally.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=p_rehbein;2139290]True, but I am only addressing the "promotion of unity."[/QUOTE]

Viligant............. That is also what I am addressing. Simply removing the hate/arrogance/pride/etc. from one's own heart doesn't promote unity, though. That was my point (which I see now I didn't do a very good job of developing).


promote.....
v. verb

• 1. further the progress of (something, especially a cause, venture, or aim); support or actively encourage some regulation is still required to promote competition
• 2. give publicity to (a product, organization, or venture) so as to increase sales or public awareness
• 3. act as a promoter of (a catalyst)

Seems to me that promote is exactly what removing the "hate" from one's heart and replacing it with Christian love and fellowship does.....

 

[Viligant_Warrior]

promote.....
v. verb

• 1. further the progress of (something, especially a cause, venture, or aim); support or actively encourage some regulation is still required to promote competition
• 2. give publicity to (a product, organization, or venture) so as to increase sales or public awareness
• 3. act as a promoter of (a catalyst)

Seems to me that promote is exactly what removing the "hate" from one's heart and replacing it with Christian love and fellowship does.....

No doubt removing hate is the first part. I'm just saying I don't think it is all of it. Removing the hate doesn't mean you "support; encourage; give publicity to; act as a promoter." Those things, at least it seems to me, are the next step after yours.

 

[atwhatcost]

I'm thinking I may not have been around long enough to quite feel what y'all are feeling...? But it does seem some long time members are trying to get a better atmosphere here...and even I have noticed that hostilities have risen lately..for one thing, the popular 'gang that goes around attacking' expression that I have seen used, is nonsense IMO



uh...hiccup...ditto...I have had you on ignore awhile also because I felt you were too aggresive..now this is strange cause I took you off ignore...I think it was last evening? I'm going to say this might not be a coincidence...well...I think we met halfway then...so that could be an interesting thing!



ha...my husband won't sign on either...I said 'come on...it'll be fun'...nope, no deal. It is my impression that sometimes a disagreement in belief can be translated as 'offensive'...so I'm not sure what you have in mind? Do you mean a phrase for everyone?



LOL! If someone said that as an calm down phrase for me, they would get a 'you have to be kidding, right?' kind of look...so...uh...nummmm...not going to work..besides if it is for everyone, not everyone here is female...

I'm pretty sure I might still say things you don't agree with, but you could kick me under the table if you think it's addressed to you or just keep reading? dunno.....

LOL You aren't a newbie! You're an oldbie. You've been around here for ages longer than I have. lol

And, yeah, I suspect we'll rub each other the wrong way. At least Sirk has taught me to warn before rubbing the wrong way.

 

[p_rehbein]

No doubt removing hate is the first part. I'm just saying I don't think it is all of it. Removing the hate doesn't mean you "support; encourage; give publicity to; act as a promoter." Those things, at least it seems to me, are the next step after yours.

Ok, anyway not really worth arguing about........

 

[mwc68]

I let you choose how much you want to know. Did you want to read them all, or just find out what it is, or the history behind it? Honest, just giving you a choice of how much you want to learn.

And if you think Luther was demon possessed, that makes us enemies. That's also not what the RCC calls it. If that's what you think, you're not even close to Catholic, once more Christian. I have no idea what that is or where it comes from.

The demon possession is my own theory.

 

[ember]

LOL You aren't a newbie! You're an oldbie. You've been around here for ages longer than I have. lol

And, yeah, I suspect we'll rub each other the wrong way. At least Sirk has taught me to warn before rubbing the wrong way.

Ha...now where did I get the idea you were here at the conception?

yeah...I'm way older here than you...and I have the wounds to prove it...(kidding)

yeah...I am not sure we are quite compatible for a variety of reasons, but that's ok....I think you are genuine and that always gets some nice big shiny stars in my book

 

[ember]

OK...having just read some of a certain thread that has been started to draw attention to the one who started it,
I wish to say that I am up to here with people thinking their place is to tell others they are going to hell

Those are the ones that should be banned IMO...within the framework of that thread, are a couple of people who actually think they are gifted by God to judge your motives and then tell you that God told them about you

This, is a serious matter. In any other forum I have ever been a part of, that person would be warned and then banned

 

[dcontroversal]

At the end of the day it comes down to the following simplicity.....

Two cannot walk together unless they be agreed!

 

[crossnote]

LOL You aren't a newbie! You're an oldbie. You've been around here for ages longer than I have. lol

And, yeah, I suspect we'll rub each other the wrong way. At least Sirk has taught me to warn before rubbing the wrong way.

AARRRGGGHHH, so that's what those warning were all about