The War of Ideas Part 1
https://christianchat.com/bible-discussion-forum/the-war-of-ideas.192344/
The War of Ideas Part 2
1 John 2:9-11 New International Version (NIV)
9 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. 10 Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. 11 But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.
A continuation of the latest thread The War of Ideas Part 2. Hate and love are actions that are much louder than mere words. To say I love is easier than showing it. Divisive actions are exactly what causes believers to stumble. In the sea of theological beliefs, a believer must determine what beliefs will lead people to Heaven or Hell. Because that is the most important conclusion.
Despite your modern opinion of NATO, it was originally a plan to unite like minded nations for the purpose of securing liberty and peace. Many countries banded together to combat evil. These countries came from many different cultures, with different accents, and despite not always seeing eye to eye they banded together for the greater good.
The North Atlantic Alliance was founded in the aftermath of the Second World War. Its purpose was to secure peace in Europe, to promote cooperation among its members and to guard their freedom – all of this in the context of countering the threat posed at the time by the Soviet Union. The Alliance’s founding treaty was signed in Washington in 1949 by a dozen European and North American countries. It commits the Allies to democracy, individual liberty, and the rule of law, as well as to peaceful resolution of disputes. Importantly, the treaty sets out the idea of collective defense, meaning that an attack against one Ally is considered as an attack against all Allies. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization – or NATO – ensures that the security of its European member countries is inseparably linked to that of its North American member countries. The Organization also provides a unique forum for dialogue and cooperation across the Atlantic.
https://www.nato.int/wearenato/why-was-nato-founded.html
A group of nations united around a few core beliefs. All to stand together for the greater good and to fight against the greatest of evil at their time. Communism was the greatest evil at the time being at its roots a anti God worldview as it was part of its original manifesto.
Jesus once asked a simple question.
Mark 3:33-34 New International Version (NIV)
33 “Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked. 34 Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers!
We should ask the same question. Who are my fellow believers? Only my church? Only my denomination? Just my belief? Certain denominations? Certain beliefs? Who or what decides?
James 3:17 English Standard Version (ESV)
17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.
The church or individual should be evident of the Spirit. Pure, defender of peace, gentle, merciful, good fruits, impartial (treating all rivals or disputants equally; fair and just) sincere in their motives. But one thing I left out was open to reason.
Obviously, this does not mean we should sacrifice truth but if the church or individual is showing signs of the Spirit then within reason, we should find a middle ground to keep the peace.
Hebrews 5:14 New International Version (NIV)
14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
This obviously involves discernment or the ability to distinguish between good and evil. Some are more gifted in this than others. Some can easily see the heart’s desire.
Galatians 5:22-23 New International Version (NIV)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
A church or individual should ultimately be producing good fruit. We should be seeing the Biblical definitions of love, joy, peace, forbearance (patient restraint) kindness (a meditated act) goodness (premeditated act) faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Who are your brothers and sisters?
Who are the fellow believers?
People are or they are not believers. So, I believe one must be extremely confident in their reason to sow division. If there is any doubt, then possibly one should act within reason, mercy, gentleness, impartialness, patience, kindness, love, joy, peace, and self-control.
https://christianchat.com/bible-discussion-forum/the-war-of-ideas.192344/
The War of Ideas Part 2
1 John 2:9-11 New International Version (NIV)
9 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. 10 Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. 11 But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.
A continuation of the latest thread The War of Ideas Part 2. Hate and love are actions that are much louder than mere words. To say I love is easier than showing it. Divisive actions are exactly what causes believers to stumble. In the sea of theological beliefs, a believer must determine what beliefs will lead people to Heaven or Hell. Because that is the most important conclusion.
Despite your modern opinion of NATO, it was originally a plan to unite like minded nations for the purpose of securing liberty and peace. Many countries banded together to combat evil. These countries came from many different cultures, with different accents, and despite not always seeing eye to eye they banded together for the greater good.
The North Atlantic Alliance was founded in the aftermath of the Second World War. Its purpose was to secure peace in Europe, to promote cooperation among its members and to guard their freedom – all of this in the context of countering the threat posed at the time by the Soviet Union. The Alliance’s founding treaty was signed in Washington in 1949 by a dozen European and North American countries. It commits the Allies to democracy, individual liberty, and the rule of law, as well as to peaceful resolution of disputes. Importantly, the treaty sets out the idea of collective defense, meaning that an attack against one Ally is considered as an attack against all Allies. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization – or NATO – ensures that the security of its European member countries is inseparably linked to that of its North American member countries. The Organization also provides a unique forum for dialogue and cooperation across the Atlantic.
https://www.nato.int/wearenato/why-was-nato-founded.html
A group of nations united around a few core beliefs. All to stand together for the greater good and to fight against the greatest of evil at their time. Communism was the greatest evil at the time being at its roots a anti God worldview as it was part of its original manifesto.
Jesus once asked a simple question.
Mark 3:33-34 New International Version (NIV)
33 “Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked. 34 Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers!
We should ask the same question. Who are my fellow believers? Only my church? Only my denomination? Just my belief? Certain denominations? Certain beliefs? Who or what decides?
James 3:17 English Standard Version (ESV)
17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.
The church or individual should be evident of the Spirit. Pure, defender of peace, gentle, merciful, good fruits, impartial (treating all rivals or disputants equally; fair and just) sincere in their motives. But one thing I left out was open to reason.
Obviously, this does not mean we should sacrifice truth but if the church or individual is showing signs of the Spirit then within reason, we should find a middle ground to keep the peace.
Hebrews 5:14 New International Version (NIV)
14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
This obviously involves discernment or the ability to distinguish between good and evil. Some are more gifted in this than others. Some can easily see the heart’s desire.
Galatians 5:22-23 New International Version (NIV)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
A church or individual should ultimately be producing good fruit. We should be seeing the Biblical definitions of love, joy, peace, forbearance (patient restraint) kindness (a meditated act) goodness (premeditated act) faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Who are your brothers and sisters?
Who are the fellow believers?
People are or they are not believers. So, I believe one must be extremely confident in their reason to sow division. If there is any doubt, then possibly one should act within reason, mercy, gentleness, impartialness, patience, kindness, love, joy, peace, and self-control.
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