G
GaryA
Guest
OOPS!
At the same time -- with rare exception -- ...At the same -- with rare exception -- ...
At the same time -- with rare exception -- ...At the same -- with rare exception -- ...
What I meant here is "the next thing to do which is the best thing to do"...the next best thing to do
I heard a sermon once that changed my life.
The pastor said, "You are not called to everybody, and if you think you are, you're going to burn yourself out."
I admire people who believe they are called to the masses and can help everyone. I've tried to live that life before and I know I can't do it, but I still give kudos to anyone who believes they can.
I have two married friends, "Kristen" and "Ryan", who have worked in ministry all their lives and aren't even 40 years old. They're the kind of people who could convince you to follow them straight through hell because of how much they believe in the power of God and the fact that God has called them to help the poor.
I've gone with them on a couple of their adventures, including to a couple of soup kitchens. I have to admit, though, that I was becoming extremely irritated by the patrons who complained about everything--we had chicken, and someone was demanding ribs. We had bread--and another one wanted to know why we didn't have rolls. Everything was about what we should or shouldn't have and why couldn't they have what they wanted. For Pete's sake... This was a soup kitchen, not a James Beard-level restaurant.
Kristen told me that she had seen this continuously over the years, and that many of the people who came to these places didn't have jobs because they treated their jobs the same way--they were entitled to everything, no one was paying them what they were worth, and they were too good to work for anyone--and even though they found themselves homeless, it did nothing to budge their attitudes.
I would like to please ask that no one would twist what I am saying, because I am NOT saying there aren't legitimate needs out there. But I AM saying there sure were a lot of people who felt they were literally owed the world on a platter.
But that never stops Kristen and Ryan, and they're in the process of working in the midst of a major inner city area because they have a strong heart to reach out to drug addicts--that's where God has placed their hearts. However, they are also the parents of small children, and so they're trying to balance their dream of serving a population so many would give up on while keeping their young family safe.
I found my experience at the soup kitchen to be quite eye-opening into my own flaws, because I was very troubled by my reaction. I asked God that night, "WHY did I have so little compassion on those people? What's wrong with me, and what is it You're wanting to fix in my heart?"
And then God reminded me of the people I DID have compassion on--the guy who was faithfully washing dishes, and the mixed-race girl who was wiping down tables and working so hard (people of mixed race in that area are generally treated very poorly.) I wanted so much to give them extra food, but I wasn't allowed to do so. My heart went out to them because of how diligently and earnestly they were working.
I believe that God told me, "You didn't go there for the masses of people, Seoul. You went there for Kristen and Ryan, because those are the ones I've given you a heart for--the people who take care of other people."
That single event changed my life, because I know now that one of my callings is to other workers. Yes, of course I am to try to help most anyone God puts in my path, but I knew from that experience how to better spend my resources and energy.
If I have an hour to listen and $10 in my pocket to give someone, unless God tells me otherwise, I'm going to give it to the workers--the teachers, the staff, the volunteers, the hosts, the organizers, the people behind the sound booth no one sees, the janitors--because I've learned that my endurance is 10 times greater with the ones who serve others.
I actually think it's pretty cool that God would call some people to take care of the people who take care of other people, and I know that for me, serving that population is what I feel most at peace with, and that also helps me be more efficient with what I do have to give.
I don't want to twist your words. I have zero doubts that you are one of the most generous people here. I guess the thing I would be wondering is would not Christ have compassion for all? And maybe even more compassion for the demanding ones as they are further away from Him and need Him most? I know people have brought up Jesus' harsh words to the pharisees, but He later on the cross cried "Father forgive them, they know not what they do." And they had crucified Him.
I know you are a good person, and very kind. I did not mean to attack you, personally. I just wondered if this idea of cutting out emotionally draining people is prevalent among everyone or if anyone else thinks this is not Christian.
I guess I sound like an enabler, or something. But, I believe that being available to all is at the core of what we believe.
I don't know for sure, but could grumbling about the food be a cover, a defense mechanism? It must be humiliating to eat at a soup kitchen. Maybe grousing about the fare is a way to deal with the humiliation. Anger often covers other emotions. Then, maybe they have gotten hard and tough by living on the streets so are always on the defensive? I'm not sure, but this might be the case for some.
But the Bible says we are to be everything to everyone.
I Corinthians 9:19-22 "For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without the law, as without law (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ) that I might gain them that are without the law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some."
The same spirit that was in Paul is in us.
Yes, I believe this is what we ought to strive to be like.Absolutely! The same Spirit lives in us. Thanks be to GOD for HIS WORD. We have to act like the Good Samaritan in the Bible.
For it is written, "You can do all things through CHRIST JESUS who strengthen you."
I think we have to agree to disagree about this matter. I see a danger in cutting people who need you out of your life. It seems to not be what God intended. After all, He is not willing that any should perish- even the tiresome. Thanks for being understanding. I was not meaning to attack you personally, but this philosophy of "getting rid of people" as if they were so much waste. I was not referring to people who actually endanger others, but simply people who are a bother, annoying, irritating, - pests to put it in a word.Hey Galatea,
No worries. I didn't see it as an attack at all, just a difference of opinions and conclusions. I do agree that we are to have the mind of Christ for others, BUT, I think it's also important to remember that we are NOT Christ.
If I have 5 loaves and 2 fishes in my pocket, try as I might, and as much as I might want to, I can't feed 5,000 people. If God blesses what I have, maybe I could feed 5 people--and it's up to me to ask for God's wisdom and discernment as to who those 5 people will be. Maybe it's going to be on a first-come, first-serve basis.
But knowing what I believe to be is my particular calling, my first choice would be to give it to those I saw working to serve the masses, and not the masses themselves.
I do understand what you mean about people grumbling as a cover for other problems. Shoot, they're at a soup kitchen and presumably homeless, I'm SURE they're probably having a bad day! But I think that's also an issue that people seldom talk about honestly in ministry. You have to use a lot of discernment and sometimes, you have to distance yourself from some people.
Jesus did not always make Himself available 24/7. Luke 5:16 says, "Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed." He purposely got away from the crowds and made himself UNavailable, and I personally think we are to follow this example as well. But that's just my own conclusion.
Several years ago, I was part of a prayer ministry. It was my first time participating in something like that and I was very wide-eyed and wanted to help everyone. I ran into a couple of problems I had never even anticipated:
* A woman who was going through a situation I was familiar with in my own life. But she wouldn't make the decisions she needed to change. I gave her my phone number and told her to call anytime she needed to talk.
And call she did. Day, night, and every time in between, always talking about the same thing. She didn't want to have to make the hard decisions, she wanted to be told that God was going to work things out and make everything all right without her having to do anything, because, after all, "God works for the good of those who love Him."
I was totally overwhelmed and didn't know what to do. This woman would be calling at 2 AM, and I never said no. I always let her talk. I thought I was doing what God wanted me to do. Eventually an elder noticed that this woman had kind of latched on to me and intervened, and fortunately, this stopped most of the madness. I saw this woman 5 years later--and she was still in the exact same situation, and when I talked to her, she wanted to be told the exact same thing.
Sorry... But I believe God was telling me to move on to the next group of people He had waiting for me.
* Our group once prayed for a man about 10 years older than me. Great man of God, wonderful leader, married for a long time--I'd been in one of his Bible classes and really enjoyed it. But like any of us, he had some struggles in his life and asked for prayer, though he didn't say for what.
I can't explain why, but I had this very strong feeling that he was fighting an addiction to porn--it wasn't a judgment, just something I felt God put on my heart to pray over on his behalf without saying anything--and after our prayer for him, I just said, "You know, I think God wants you to know that whatever you're having problems with, He knows your heart is sincere."
Some time later, this man approached me while I was in the prayer group and asked if he could talk to me, and if I'd pray for him alone, because he said that what I'd said had greatly encouraged him.
I have no doubt that this was a great man of God and that he didn't intend any harm, but I am positive that God was saying to me, "NO." I told the man, "Thank you so much for telling me that--it's really encouraging to me, too. My prayer partner, 'Carol' (and I pulled her a little closer) and I would be happy to pray for you."
Do I think this man had any wrongdoing on his mind at the time? No. But I also believed that God was telling me, "Don't encourage or provide an atmosphere that might contribute towards his getting attached to you."
The experiences I had on this team were invaluable, and I learned, very clearly, that, for me, at least, I need to set very clear boundaries and hold to them, and if anyone tries to overstep them, I seek help from elders or higher authorities.
I know that you and others may feel differently, and I applaud you for wanting to help anyone that crosses your path at anytime, but I also appreciate the fact that I think you and I are also the kind of people who can agree to disagree in a peaceful way.
Much respect to you, Galatea. And thank you for all the hard work you pour into the the next generation.![]()
I'm very sorry you were banned again. God bless and take care of you, my friend.It is because they have their little clique mentality. They are not much different than their fathers whom killed all the prophets and stoned Stephen, and stoned Paul, and beat Peter and John, and crucified our Lord Jesus. Consider, if their fathers accused and thrust out blessed King David, and if their fathers slandered all manner of things upon Lord Jesus and did not give him fair trial, and if they ultimately crucified our Lord Jesus; how little of a thing is it in their eyes then to call after us all manner of things, and to thrust us out and to do us evilly?
Yea it is nothing in the sight of the pastor whom thinks he is saved by his broad phylactery to call his brother toxic or trolls, yea this is nothing to them. Oh it is nothing to the evil counsellor to smite the same fool whom shewed him great kindness in his time of travail, behold how that fool is indeed a fool for he thought surely the counsellor will treat me and the others well for my treating him well rather than condemning him for being the adulterer that he is, but nay oh fool he smote you when he had the chance without a mercy and slandered thee and cast thee as a woman beater. And it is nothing to them to set at nought a man whom once treasured them, and if that were not enough to then snipe at him daily provoking him, and then when he enquires why he is treated like filth for them to raise false report upon him to see him cast out. And it is nothing for their rulers to openly admit to their hypocrisy constantly saying, if I did justice and punished so-and-so I would have to do punish all, wherefore he admits plainly he deals in double-standards and that he neglects not only to do justice but to also neglect mercy impartially. I say to you it is nothing for these to betray even their own friends of many years, no, it is nothing to them I tell you.
Moreover behold even how they attempt to justify themselves and how they have hated their brethren and done evilly against them to thrust them out like Saul did to David thrusting him out thereby telling him to follow other gods, which are not gods at all. Therefore the rebuke of the Lord is come down upon them and they will be angered and make their excuses and mockery all the more when they ought earnestly entreat for the return of their brethren whom they have thrust out with all ungodliness. And behold as the Lord God liveth this testimony is truth for I have felt it myself, even at many of their hands that are here, and seen it with my own eyes, and not just I be witness to it, but many, and the Lord Jesus also bear witness against this nest of hornets. Praise the Lord God whom lives forever for he sees it, and he hears the prayers and comforts the hearts of all whom these have all without a shame persecuted, therefore he has sent many prophets and many apostles and many witnesses to cry against them and to test out them and to serve as examples to their shame continually. But to those whom will bear this in mind with a heart of wisdom and a sincere wish to be forgiven of his brethren and will diligently seek to restore their brethren and will diligently talk with their brother face to face rather than behind his back to fix out that which is wrong, truly that good brother shall forgive thee as the Lord Jesus commands. Praise the Lord God and praise his Son Jesus Christ forever!
So it is written truly of them and so it is what we have, to our shame, come to expect of them my Lord, I lay myself down at thy truth, blessed is he that come in the name of the Lord God whom lives forever:
Matthew 23:23-39
[SUP]23 [/SUP]Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
[SUP]24 [/SUP]Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
[SUP]25 [/SUP]Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
[SUP]26 [/SUP]Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
[SUP]27 [/SUP]Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
[SUP]28 [/SUP]Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
[SUP]29 [/SUP]Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,
[SUP]30 [/SUP]And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
[SUP]31 [/SUP]Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.
[SUP]32 [/SUP]Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.
[SUP]33 [/SUP]Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
[SUP]34 [/SUP]Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
[SUP]35 [/SUP]That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
[SUP]36 [/SUP]Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.
[SUP]37 [/SUP]O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
[SUP]38 [/SUP]Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
[SUP]39 [/SUP]For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
That's part of the problem, right here. For the life of me, I never saw where Gaaraieh, Chokmadiel, etc. posted anything so terribly shocking. He is a soul whom Christ died for, and worthy. I don't think he is toxic and was friendly with me. I understand people being banned if they are out of bounds for sexual posts, racist posts, or physically threatening posts- but just annoying people? Why, we'd all be banned if the grounds were annoyance and irritation! With the possible exception of Sweetmorningdew, that is.It's been determined that this member has a toxic personality and has therefore been banished.
That's part of the problem, right here. For the life of me, I never saw where Gaaraieh, Chokmadiel, etc. posted anything so terribly shocking. He is a soul whom Christ died for, and worthy. I don't think he is toxic and was friendly with me. I understand people being banned if they are out of bounds for sexual posts, racist posts, or physically threatening posts- but just annoying people? Why, we'd all be banned if the grounds were annoyance and irritation! With the possible exception of Sweetmorningdew, that is.
I mean, really, is it such a big deal if someone comes here with a theology that is unorthodox and annoys people?
He was not a toxic person.
I think we have to agree to disagree about this matter. I see a danger in cutting people who need you out of your life. It seems to not be what God intended. After all, He is not willing that any should perish- even the tiresome. but this philosophy of "getting rid of people" as if they were so much waste. I was not referring to people who actually endanger others, but simply people who are a bother, annoying, irritating, - pests to put it in a word.
I've read many of his posts, but not all, of course. I know he has some offbeat doctrines. We've even argued about them, but I really see no purpose in banning people at all, except for extremely lewd posts, racist posts, or posts threatening physical harm. Name calling or something seems a petty reason to ban someone.You're right, sometimes I saw the wrong things at the wrong times. I didn't know the guy and don't even remember reading any of his posts. I was trying to be my usual amusing self and it backfired and for that I'm sorry.
I would end up not associating with anyone, and not even able to talk to myself as I am a fool.The bible absolutely does tell us to separate from certain kinds of people; and it tells us the reasons why.
The wisdom of Proverbs tells us to:
STAY AWAY FROM
- a fool. Pro 14:7
Why? You will not find knowledge on their lips.
- According to the WISDOM of Proverbs, a fool
- spreads slander. Pro 10:18
- is careless and reckless. Pro 14:16
- despises instruction. Pro 15:5
- is right in his own eyes. Pro 12:15
- brag about their foolishness.
Pro 13:16
- finds pleasure in wicked schemes. Pro 10:23
- has perverse lips. Pro 19:1
- is quarrelsome. Pro 20:3
- talks too much. Pro 10:8,10,14
Pro 14:3, 12:23, 15:2
DO NOT MAKE FRIENDS
- with a hot-tempered person.
Pro 22:24
DO NOT ASSOCIATE WITH
- one easily angered. Pro 22:24
Why? You may learn the their ways and get yourself ensnared.
Pro 22:25
DRIVE OUT
- a mocker. Pro 22:10
Why? Out goes strife; quarrels and insults are ended. Pro 22:10
Mockery can be a form of emotional abuse.
MOCK - Definition from the KJV Dictionary
HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH - People who are lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God having a form of godliness but denying its power.
2 Tim 3:2-5
KEEP AWAY FROM EVERY BELIEVER
- who is idle
- disruptive
-does not live according to the teaching you received from us.
2 Thes 3:6
YOU ARE NOT TO ASSOCIATE
- with anyone who claims to be a BELIEVER yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. DON'T EVEN EAT WITH SUCH PEOPLE. It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, “You must remove the evil person from among you.”
1 Cor 5: 11-13 NLT
I honestly don't know why anyone is banned, to be perfectly honest. Resurrection, the guy in New Jersey with the Penguin avatar, and another user whose name begins with an S were banned, much to my surprise as I did not read anything overly sexual, racist, or threatening by any of them.Oh I remember him. All I'll say is, there is good reason for the banning. I don't like to talk bad about people so I'll leave it at that.