root@uunet.uu.net (Gary van den Heever) (08/12/90)
Hi there all,
I, like a lot of you, have been perusing the news and have found a lot
of very interesting stuff. I also have found a lot of 'flames' against
the christians who have tried to comment/flame other's for their
articles.
I don't know about you all and this is my personal opinion, please accept
it as just that, but I have seen many of the flames which I don't think were
called for (from the non-christians mostly). However, this has lead to
arguments/flaming wars or whatever you want to call them. These have not
served the purpose for which the christian has posted it. There is always
some person who has posted some FLAME back, obviously those who have had
bad experiences with "christians". I see then that the whole group, in the
particular newsgroup have then 'ganged' up against the christian and
basically flamed him/her out of it.
One individual has even taken the step of writing a script to filter out
anything from a christian. Did we reach this person for Christ? (NO)
There seems to be a lot of christian activity in a lot of the sex/rock/etc.
type news. I think that our presence should be felt in all areas and
do NOT condone many of the articles I have read there. I do know one thing
however, and that is that Jesus came to save the world not to condem it.
The flames/comments, we as christians offer, should be of a Jesus type
nature. By that I mean - not being part of the world, firm and gentle at the
same time, loving the individual but not necessarily his/her actions, etc.
(obviously I can go on here).
Let's have a discussion about these and other actions on the net.
Bye for now,
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| Wisdom is supreme; Therefore || Gary van den Heever |
| get wisdom. Prov 4:6 (a) || gary@tagete |
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------gross@dg-rtp.dg.com (Gene Gross) (08/17/90)
Hi Gary, Brother, you managed to say a mouthful. ;-) There are some out in netland that simply will not give a Christian a fair hearing--for whatever reason. They do not accept our faith or our ethical standards. So ist das Leben. However, Christians can also be just as stubborn and callous. And this is something that we, as members of the same Family, need to talk about. It happens not only with non-believers, but we also seem to do it with each other. I'm not calling for a uniting of all denominations. I'm not saying that we shouldn't continue to examine the things of faith and try to determine what is the truth of God, in as far as we finite humans can do this. As I've said before, I do sometimes enjoy the debates and discussions that go on--I even enjoy pontificating like others. But there are other more important things that we must be about. For me, this is witnessing for Jesus Christ. Now, I not above standing on a street corner or a soap box in a park. I've done this before and will probably do it again, if the Lord leads me to do so. However, I've also learned that I reach more people by the life I lead. And, while it is difficult for the people out in netland to see my life in person, I can convey some sense of it through the words I choose when posting here and in other groups. I can be brash if the situation calls for it. But I'd rather be loving and warm. I'd like to hear what others have to say in this regard. May His joy be yours, Gene
kday@dtoa1.dt.navy.mil (Day) (08/24/90)
I totally agree. Look at how Jesus dealt with the people. When the Scribes and Pharisees tried to exalt themselves at the expense of the everyday people, he came down on them hard. In most instances though Jesus was gentle. He would heal the sick, feed the hungry and then gently minister God's word to the people. He never ever mixed words though. He called right, right, and wrong, wrong. He gently called the people to follow. Those who believe in and follow Jesus today should be little Jesus' and follow his example. Too often we allow our pride and our need to be proven right get in the way of really communicating what God wants us to communicate. We too often forget that we're not called to win arguements and make sure everyone understands and agrees with us. We are instead, called to sow seeds. As Paul said, "I sow, another man waters, but God gives the increase." Let's stop the argueing, and get down to the business of spreading "the seed" which is the word of God. K. Scott Day David Taylor Research Center Bethesda, Maryland All thoughts expressed are strictly my own, though it's amazing this brain is still capable of having any. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "The more one comes to know men, the more one comes to admire the dog." -Joussenel ------------------------------------------------------------------------
rex@nbc1.ge.com (Rex Espiritu) (08/27/90)
In article <Aug.17.03.31.49.1990.7761@athos.rutgers.edu> gross@dg-rtp.dg.com (Gene Gross) writes: >also learned that I reach more people by the life I lead. And, while it In a similar vein, I'd like to offer some thoughts shared with me by a dear friend and brother after having read my recent sermon... Faith shared is best when exposed, not imposed. Jesus said, "I will make you fishers," not hunters. We're called to lay down our nets and throw out the line. If some bite, great. If not, at least we followed, shared, offered and prayed. The rest is up to the workings of the Spirit. -- M. Rex Espiritu, Jr. NBC News, A Division of rex@nbc1.NBC.GE.COM National Broadcasting Company, Inc. {uunet!crdgw1,ge-dab,philabs}!nbc1!rex 30 Rockefeller Plaza, Room 807 Voice: 212 664-5390 FAX: 212 664-3859 New York, NY 10112