Where are all the real Christian men??
- Thread starter JesusFreak1992
- Start date
-
Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.
If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!
To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
Acts 20:28 ESV
Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.
Acts 20:28 ESV
Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.
Ephesians 4:12-16 ESV
To equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
God wants us to be part of a church. We may become "tossed by the waves" if we don't.
Matthew 7 :: NIV. "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
You are judging me based on what? Words I put down on a Christian Chat forum ? You may want to be careful what you say, because God is going to judge you accordingly.
I'm not sure where you got the notion that I was an "adulterous" and such, but that's not true. You don't know what's going on in my life and you will never know because you are very unfriendly.
Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.
Acts 20:28 ESV
Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.
Ephesians 4:12-16 ESV
To equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
God wants us to be part of a church. We may become "tossed by the waves" if we don't.
Matthew 7 :: NIV. "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
You are judging me based on what? Words I put down on a Christian Chat forum ? You may want to be careful what you say, because God is going to judge you accordingly.
I'm not sure where you got the notion that I was an "adulterous" and such, but that's not true. You don't know what's going on in my life and you will never know because you are very unfriendly.
More than enough! You are right of course. David's marriages prior to Bathsheba were legitimate. His marriage to Bathsheba was only possible because he had her husband murdered. To me, that's not much of a basis for marriage.
My point was exactly what you've said. God forgave David and Bathsheba. A lot of Christians have the opinion that divorce is the unpardonable sin. If God can forgive a murdering adulterer, and even bless the next relationship, why do some Christians refuse to accept that remarriage is also not the unforgivable sin?
My point was exactly what you've said. God forgave David and Bathsheba. A lot of Christians have the opinion that divorce is the unpardonable sin. If God can forgive a murdering adulterer, and even bless the next relationship, why do some Christians refuse to accept that remarriage is also not the unforgivable sin?
-
1
-
1
- Show all
S
Sometimes I wonder what a true Christian man is. I always believe it was a man who asked Jesus into his heart, and then did the best He could to follow the scriptures, in the way He lives. Asking Jesus into your heart is the easy part. Following the scriptures at all times isn't easy. Nobody is perfect, I think...
-
1
-
1
- Show all
It's a touchy subject.
We all believe that it is forgivable. But we don't want to be guilty of presumptuous sins of "we can do it and ask for forgiveness later."
But I do agree that many Christians divorce for unbiblical reasons, maybe even thinking "it is not the unforgivable sin" and go through with it, only later to regret it and wish they had not done it, and feel overwhelmed with guilt that because they did think "I will ask for forgiveness later' that they have a hard time believing they are truly remorseful and are stuck in perpetual shame and condemnation.
We have to be able to help these many, many believers find restoration and fellowship with Christ, He has not cut them off forever anymore than he cut off Peter who knowingly and willfully denied the Lord three times.
The hell of an unrelenting toxic bipolar personality that won't get help and stop the rage and verbal fighting is hard for anyone to endure and there must be grace extended for those who were sifted like wheat by the devil and did not stand up under the trial.
To then say, "ok you can be forgiven, but you can never marry again" is just more of the same never-ending condemnation and I don't agree with most of these theological arguments that are presented where they are like legalistic rules created by New Testament Pharisees.
But it is a touchy subject. I am divorced. My wife confessed to sexual immorality with another man, and then she divorced me afterwards while I was processing what to do about it. According to most peoples interpretation of what Jesus and Paul said, I am free to remarry. However, some would say that I shouldn't as long as my adulturess exwife is still alive. That is not what I believe but see how these codes get created and people end up like New Testament Pharisee sects on the divorce issue, some adhereing to one set of rules and some to another even more extreme than the first.
Then we have those who think that a pastor who is divorced even if his wife committed adultery can't be a pastor simply because he is divorced. Others think he can't be a pastor unless he is married. Others think he can be a pastor if his wife cheated on him and left him but he can't ever remarry again. He must stay single. Others say he can remarry again but only after the organization that ordained him officially recognizes that his divorce complied with the biblical reasons for divorce and gives him a recognition of divorce.
All of these different approaches usually have in mind the objective of upholding a high standard of marriage in the church and to discourage believers from getting a divorce unless it is for biblical reasons.
But what happens when people just can't handle the constant fighting and get a divorce anyway? Your churches are full of them.
And this Sunday visitors will come who are part of this camp. What then? Do we over analyze their divorce history or do we just take them where they are today and point them to the cross of Christ who is able to grant them true repentance and heal their broken hearts.
Jesus said that the Spirit of the Lord was upon him because the Father had sent Him to heal the broken hearted (Luke 4) and I can't think of anything that qualifies more as a broken heart than divorced people. Then Jesus said, as the Father has sent me so I send you.
So we must go and heal the broken hearted and be lead by the Spirit on how to deal with each person that we meet who has gone through a divorce and we must not let the leaven of the Pharisee get in us and cause us to say things to people that God is not telling them.
It's a touchy subject.
I am a minister who has been divorced. The ex cheated on me and left. My fellowship recognizes that as biblical grounds for me to divorce, even though she divorced me. They have no problem giving me credentials and recognizing me as a minister. However, if I were to remarry, then they require that I fill out some forms so that they can give me an official recognition that I qualify to remarry. And at that time they will require that my potential wife fill out some forms and they will do some investigation to make sure that she has not been divorced and if she has, was it for a biblical reason. Otherwise they would deny permission for me to remarry. This is of course in order to maintain credentials as a minister and remarry. The reason for all this is to hold our ministers to a strict standard concerning divorce and remarriage as an example to believers.
I am glad that they do this. However we do not require any such thing for someone to be a member of our church. If they have had a divorce and it was not for biblical reasons, we don't judge them, or require to know this information in order from them to join the church. We don't put a stigma on divorced people. Sometimes I think that ignorant people confuse the rules for ministerial credentials with rules for membership and end up saying things to people they shouldn't say that make them think that our church looks down or divorced people. Cruel wagging tongues never cease.
We all believe that it is forgivable. But we don't want to be guilty of presumptuous sins of "we can do it and ask for forgiveness later."
But I do agree that many Christians divorce for unbiblical reasons, maybe even thinking "it is not the unforgivable sin" and go through with it, only later to regret it and wish they had not done it, and feel overwhelmed with guilt that because they did think "I will ask for forgiveness later' that they have a hard time believing they are truly remorseful and are stuck in perpetual shame and condemnation.
We have to be able to help these many, many believers find restoration and fellowship with Christ, He has not cut them off forever anymore than he cut off Peter who knowingly and willfully denied the Lord three times.
The hell of an unrelenting toxic bipolar personality that won't get help and stop the rage and verbal fighting is hard for anyone to endure and there must be grace extended for those who were sifted like wheat by the devil and did not stand up under the trial.
To then say, "ok you can be forgiven, but you can never marry again" is just more of the same never-ending condemnation and I don't agree with most of these theological arguments that are presented where they are like legalistic rules created by New Testament Pharisees.
But it is a touchy subject. I am divorced. My wife confessed to sexual immorality with another man, and then she divorced me afterwards while I was processing what to do about it. According to most peoples interpretation of what Jesus and Paul said, I am free to remarry. However, some would say that I shouldn't as long as my adulturess exwife is still alive. That is not what I believe but see how these codes get created and people end up like New Testament Pharisee sects on the divorce issue, some adhereing to one set of rules and some to another even more extreme than the first.
Then we have those who think that a pastor who is divorced even if his wife committed adultery can't be a pastor simply because he is divorced. Others think he can't be a pastor unless he is married. Others think he can be a pastor if his wife cheated on him and left him but he can't ever remarry again. He must stay single. Others say he can remarry again but only after the organization that ordained him officially recognizes that his divorce complied with the biblical reasons for divorce and gives him a recognition of divorce.
All of these different approaches usually have in mind the objective of upholding a high standard of marriage in the church and to discourage believers from getting a divorce unless it is for biblical reasons.
But what happens when people just can't handle the constant fighting and get a divorce anyway? Your churches are full of them.
And this Sunday visitors will come who are part of this camp. What then? Do we over analyze their divorce history or do we just take them where they are today and point them to the cross of Christ who is able to grant them true repentance and heal their broken hearts.
Jesus said that the Spirit of the Lord was upon him because the Father had sent Him to heal the broken hearted (Luke 4) and I can't think of anything that qualifies more as a broken heart than divorced people. Then Jesus said, as the Father has sent me so I send you.
So we must go and heal the broken hearted and be lead by the Spirit on how to deal with each person that we meet who has gone through a divorce and we must not let the leaven of the Pharisee get in us and cause us to say things to people that God is not telling them.
It's a touchy subject.
I am a minister who has been divorced. The ex cheated on me and left. My fellowship recognizes that as biblical grounds for me to divorce, even though she divorced me. They have no problem giving me credentials and recognizing me as a minister. However, if I were to remarry, then they require that I fill out some forms so that they can give me an official recognition that I qualify to remarry. And at that time they will require that my potential wife fill out some forms and they will do some investigation to make sure that she has not been divorced and if she has, was it for a biblical reason. Otherwise they would deny permission for me to remarry. This is of course in order to maintain credentials as a minister and remarry. The reason for all this is to hold our ministers to a strict standard concerning divorce and remarriage as an example to believers.
I am glad that they do this. However we do not require any such thing for someone to be a member of our church. If they have had a divorce and it was not for biblical reasons, we don't judge them, or require to know this information in order from them to join the church. We don't put a stigma on divorced people. Sometimes I think that ignorant people confuse the rules for ministerial credentials with rules for membership and end up saying things to people they shouldn't say that make them think that our church looks down or divorced people. Cruel wagging tongues never cease.
-
2
-
2
- Show all
I hesitate to say anything in response because I don't want to come across as engaging in an immature exchange. However, in the spirit of a healthy discussion I think we all have our preferences as to what kind of church we wish to attend and I hear your opinion expressed here, but I think many people are looking for a church where they will not be judged for their divorce status and I will always strive to make sure they feel that ours is a good place for new beginnings in Christ.
Is there not a need? So many are letting the devil beat them down over the divorce stigma and make them think they can never be used by God again because of it. I will do everything in my power to help them find faith in the cross of Christ and know that if God has their whole heart today, through faith in Jesus and the death burial and resurrection on their behalf God can take them where they are today (in spite of their past) to where He wants them to be and NOTHING will stop Him including judgmental people who try to hammer them with the their past mistakes.
Is there not a need? So many are letting the devil beat them down over the divorce stigma and make them think they can never be used by God again because of it. I will do everything in my power to help them find faith in the cross of Christ and know that if God has their whole heart today, through faith in Jesus and the death burial and resurrection on their behalf God can take them where they are today (in spite of their past) to where He wants them to be and NOTHING will stop Him including judgmental people who try to hammer them with the their past mistakes.
-
3
- Show all
I've wondered for a long time what Bathsheba felt about it all. It would not have been exactly healthy to say NO to the king... Then her husband gets killed off, then the king just takes her, then God himself kills off her child, all because of David's pride/lust/greed. And now this man is her husband? Uh... Yay.
L
Judas was both a disciple (Greek: "mathētēs") and an apostle (Greek: "apostolos").
Matthew chapter 10
[1] And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
[2] Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
[3] Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;
[4] Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
In fact, Matthias was chosen to replace Judas' apostleship.
Acts chapter 1
[15] And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)
[16] Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.
[17] For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.
[18] Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.
[19] And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.
[20] For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.
[21] Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
[22] Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
[23] And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
[24] And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,
[25] That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.
[26] And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
Just for the record.
Matthew chapter 10
[1] And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
[2] Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
[3] Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;
[4] Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
In fact, Matthias was chosen to replace Judas' apostleship.
Acts chapter 1
[15] And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)
[16] Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.
[17] For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.
[18] Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.
[19] And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.
[20] For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.
[21] Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
[22] Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
[23] And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
[24] And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,
[25] That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.
[26] And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
Just for the record.
-
1
-
1
- Show all