Is it our job to tolerate scoffers or to defend the gospel? What does blessed are the meek mean?
Is it our job to tolerate scoffers?
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speak the truth in love , not for confrontation but so the person might hear and believe and be saved
“Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also. Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.
But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall be given into your bosom.
For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”
Luke 6:22-23, 27-30, 35-38 KJV
there’s a spirit in Christs teachings they aren’t rules by the letter but they create a spirit of meekness , humbleness , peace , forgiveness , a pure heart , true Godly love as Christ gave us example on his way to the cross . Just my own thought but I’d say meekness is something Thy at comes from his teachings just the nature of his teachings I mean
My understanding is that we pray for the sinnners but never for the sin for if we pray for their ways we are guilty of their sin.
As for tolerating, this is where longsuffering comes into action. Yes we must tolerate sinners or somehow leave this age..
The meek are those who humble themselves before God
“God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
From Matthew 5
This is what Scripture says about scoffers. Maybe that will help
2 Peter 3:3-4 - Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, (Read More...)
Acts 13:41 - Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.
Jude 1:18 - How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
Luke 21:36 - Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
2 Peter 3:2-3 - That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: (Read More...)
2 Corinthians 4:4 - In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
Matthew 24:37-39 - But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (Read More...)
Matthew 24:22 - And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
Proverbs 19:29 - Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.
2 Peter 3:1-18 - This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: (Read More...)
Isaiah 40:22 - It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:
Proverbs 13:1 - A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.
Hebrews 11:5 - By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
1 Timothy 6:20 - O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:
Ephesians 6:12 - For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Proverbs 22:10 - Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.
2 Peter 3:3-4 - Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, (Read More...)
Acts 13:41 - Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.
Jude 1:18 - How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
Luke 21:36 - Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
2 Peter 3:2-3 - That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: (Read More...)
2 Corinthians 4:4 - In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
Matthew 24:37-39 - But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (Read More...)
Matthew 24:22 - And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
Proverbs 19:29 - Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.
2 Peter 3:1-18 - This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: (Read More...)
Isaiah 40:22 - It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:
Proverbs 13:1 - A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.
Hebrews 11:5 - By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
1 Timothy 6:20 - O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:
Ephesians 6:12 - For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Proverbs 22:10 - Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.
The meek are those who humble themselves before God
“God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
From Matthew 5
amen and whenever we do what he said he always does what he said he will , there’s always a blessing to come
“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”
James 4:10
meek is power under restraint Meek is not weak.
For a time.. Until it becomes clear that they are still scoffing after you have clearly explained the Gospel to them.. If they continue to scoff then it is time to move on to the next person.. Continuing to stand there beating your bead against their brick wall is a waste of time and a waste of energy..
The meek tend to react the right way ( with remorse ) to the conviction of the Holy Spirit.. They admit that they need the Atonement of the LORD Jesus Christ.. Pride does not get int he way of conviction thus they are blessed with salvation because they readily accept the gift of the LORD Jesus..
And sometimes this is required:
"Alexander the coppersmith did great harm to me. The Lord will repay him according to his deeds. You too should beware of him, for he has vigorously opposed our message."
"Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”
"Alexander the coppersmith did great harm to me. The Lord will repay him according to his deeds. You too should beware of him, for he has vigorously opposed our message."
"Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”
I did not readily accept... if someone had told me a year before my
conversion that I would be baptized as a born again believer into the
faith, I would have thought they were nuts. My resistance in "the natural
man" has gone a long way to help me understand this rebellion in others
1 John 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Romans 12:20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
1 Corinthians 16:22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.
Luke 17:10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.
Colossians 4:6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Romans 12:20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
1 Corinthians 16:22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.
Luke 17:10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.
Colossians 4:6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
I think we may want to also realize scoffers are sometimes those intent not on learning the truth. Rather, their purpose and intent is that of mocking God's word and making sport of those who try to correct their errors.
Every fallen dinner needs a hobby?
What a waste of one's life's time.
Every fallen dinner needs a hobby?
What a waste of one's life's time.
Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
1 Peter 2:23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
1 Peter 2:23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
(Eph 6:12) For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
2Cor 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
2Cor 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds ; )
2Cor 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
2Cor 10:6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
2Cor 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
2Cor 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds ; )
2Cor 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
2Cor 10:6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
Our job is to ignore the scoffers and preach the Gospel. The word translated as "preach" can also be translated as "proclaim". So when a proclamation is made it is not necessary to worry about how it is received.
Yes. There is more power in quiet faith as meekness is than in war and fighting. This was the way of the church for the first 300 years, and the church had great power under persecution.
Romans 12:17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.
Proverbs 17:14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out.
Galatians 5:19-24 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. ...
I did not readily accept... if someone had told me a year before my
conversion that I would be baptized as a born again believer into the
faith, I would have thought they were nuts. My resistance in "the natural
man" has gone a long way to help me understand this rebellion in others
What was your reistance based upon?
What was your thinking at the time?