Addressing Sin Without Alienation.

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GardenofWeeden

Well-known member
Jul 27, 2018
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370
63
The Garden of Weeden
#22
The Bible says that there are times when individual believers should address sins that they see in other believers (within the local church). There are also other times when the entire church must get involved. Both situations would apply to what is obvious, since no one can examine hearts other than God.

Then there is the issue of heresy and false doctrine (which also comes under the category of sin). There are instructions for dealing with that also within the church. As someone has already pointed out the end goal should be restoration.
The Bible also says to work with our hands and mind our business. You do you. Peace!!
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
13,773
113
#23
God does not expect Christians to tell those who are not saved what their sins are. They need to hear the Gospel -- repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance means totally turning away from sins and idols.
 

seoulsearch

OutWrite Trouble
May 23, 2009
16,432
5,379
113
#24
God does not expect Christians to tell those who are not saved what their sins are. They need to hear the Gospel -- repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance means totally turning away from sins and idols.
This is a very intriguing point.

Are we as Christians just exhausting ourselves, or even going against the way in which things should be done, if the very first thing we try to do when witnessing is to try to correct the sins of the unbeliever?
 

notuptome

Senior Member
May 17, 2013
15,050
2,538
113
#25
Sinners know they are sinners and do not need to be told they are sinners. What they need to hear is that Jesus died to save them and rose again on the third day so that they do not need to spend eternity in the lake of fire. Most sinners are in denial about the severity of the penalty upon sin. Not a single person can tolerate the lake of fire for even a moment yet they will spend eternity in that place. Outer darkness, torment of fire, weeping and gnashing of teeth, total darkness and no presence of God, they will be totally alone forever.

Nasty place beyond all the nasty we can imagine. It's no joke and they will not ever find release. This is why the goodness of God leads men to repentance in Christ.

For the cause of Christ
Roger
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
113
#26
Sinners need to know they will be forgiven if they repent.
That is why they are coming to Jesus.
That is why WE believers came to Jesus in the first place, though some people in the church strangely seem to have forgotten that!

Jesus didnt come for the righteous!
 

Evmur

Well-known member
Feb 28, 2021
5,219
2,618
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London
christianchat.com
#27
It is the Holy Spirit's job to convict people of sin and He is very good at it, I soon tire of listening to preachers who make sin their theme ... and so do most people.
 
K

kaylagrl

Guest
#28
In the book Waking Up, Alive Psychology professor Heckler interviewed 50 attempted suicides for this study of the process of emotional recovery in those who have attempted to kill themselves.

The book lists many reasons for the descent into what the book calls the suicidal trance. But one reason is being a cultural outcast or being alienated by others or self.

One example is the LGBT community who has a 3x higher rate of suicide. Of course, this is only one factor of alienation.

A complex combination of factors can impact youth health outcomes. LGB youth are at greater risk for depression, suicide, substance use, and sexual behaviors that can place them at increased risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).3 Nearly one-third (29%) of LGB youth had attempted suicide at least once in the prior year compared to 6% of heterosexual youth.
- CDC Kann L, Olsen EO, McManus T, et al. Sexual Identity, Sex of Sexual Contacts, and Health-Related Behaviors Among Students in Grades 9-12 – United States and Selected Sites, 2015. MMWR Surveill Summ 2016; 65(9): 1-202.

So let us discuss the most productive ways to speak on sin but not be a contributing factor towards those who feel suicide may be their best option.

It's a fine line to walk. We may only have one opportunity to reach a person. I was in evangelical ministry, so we would usually only be at a church on a Sun. morning or evening unless we were there for a revival. I've told the story before of how my father began to preach on how homosexuality was a sin. It wasn't a preaching type service, we were doing a concert. He kept coming back to the subject and I thought that was odd. At the end of the service there was an alter call and a young man who had been living with his lover and was ready to get a sex change came forward and gave his life to Christ. He said he did not know that homosexuality was sin. The people of the church had been praying for that young man to come. That was his moment. God had prepared the way. But that may not be so for everyone. It takes discernment. But we must let people know the truth, they may never get a chance to hear it again.
 

Roughsoul1991

Senior Member
Sep 17, 2016
8,846
4,503
113
#29
It's a fine line to walk. We may only have one opportunity to reach a person. I was in evangelical ministry, so we would usually only be at a church on a Sun. morning or evening unless we were there for a revival. I've told the story before of how my father began to preach on how homosexuality was a sin. It wasn't a preaching type service, we were doing a concert. He kept coming back to the subject and I thought that was odd. At the end of the service there was an alter call and a young man who had been living with his lover and was ready to get a sex change came forward and gave his life to Christ. He said he did not know that homosexuality was sin. The people of the church had been praying for that young man to come. That was his moment. God had prepared the way. But that may not be so for everyone. It takes discernment. But we must let people know the truth, they may never get a chance to hear it again.
Very true. That person could die in a car crash while their evangelist sugar coats the message. It is a delicate balance.
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
113
#30
? Nobody wants to die in their sins, unforgiven.

as for car crash, dont be so morbid. Be more careful when driving!!!!

I remember going to a church where the preacher was mostly preaching to himself cos HE had road rage. This was like every Sunday he would go on about it till we were so tired of hearing about it.

and he lived right next door to the church and didnt really have to drive that far lol