Comments on: Are you avoiding persecution? http://www.blakeyblog.com/2005/04/27/are-you-avoiding-persecution/ Tue, 03 Jan 2012 18:24:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: WES ELLIS http://www.blakeyblog.com/2005/04/27/are-you-avoiding-persecution/comment-page-1/#comment-72 WES ELLIS Sat, 30 Apr 2005 05:45:00 +0000 http://www.blakeyblog.com/?p=65#comment-72 do you think that if we are loved by the "world" there is a problem? Should christians be hated? do you think that if we are loved by the “world” there is a problem? Should christians be hated?

]]> By: blakeyblog http://www.blakeyblog.com/2005/04/27/are-you-avoiding-persecution/comment-page-1/#comment-71 blakeyblog Fri, 29 Apr 2005 00:16:00 +0000 http://www.blakeyblog.com/?p=65#comment-71 Wes, thanks for your comment. I agree with you that as Christians we should be characterized by love. However, I do not think that MacArthur is suggesting rebuke or anything that is opposed to love. I think that he is suggesting a love that "Does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth...(I Corinthians 13:6). I guess I read what MacArthur said differently. When MacArthur says, "If your behavior is so worldly no one can distinguish you from unbelievers" he is echoing James 4:4, "Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." We have to choose which side of the fence we are on and if we are on God's side then we will love others like He did but will still face persecution in this world. Wes, thanks for your comment. I agree with you that as Christians we should be characterized by love. However, I do not think that MacArthur is suggesting rebuke or anything that is opposed to love. I think that he is suggesting a love that “Does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth…(I Corinthians 13:6). I guess I read what MacArthur said differently. When MacArthur says, “If your behavior is so worldly no one can
distinguish you from unbelievers” he is echoing James 4:4, “Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” We have to choose which side of the fence we are on and if we are on God’s side then we will love others like He did but will still face persecution in this world.

]]> By: Kim http://www.blakeyblog.com/2005/04/27/are-you-avoiding-persecution/comment-page-1/#comment-70 Kim Thu, 28 Apr 2005 12:11:00 +0000 http://www.blakeyblog.com/?p=65#comment-70 Good thoughts today, Christa! I think that it is so great that as a young woman, you are so committed to living a godly life. When you have children, you will be so prepared to help them become what God has for them. Good thoughts today, Christa!

I think that it is so great that as a young woman, you are so committed to living a godly life. When you have children, you will be so prepared to help them become what God has for them.

]]> By: WES ELLIS http://www.blakeyblog.com/2005/04/27/are-you-avoiding-persecution/comment-page-1/#comment-69 WES ELLIS Wed, 27 Apr 2005 23:48:00 +0000 http://www.blakeyblog.com/?p=65#comment-69 Just to comment John MacArthur's quote; I think most of what he said was agreeable for me, although, I am weary of at least one statement. "...no one can distinguish you from unbelievers...," I agree there should be a noticeable difference but I am cautious of what MacArthur suggests that difference should be. In scripture it is made obvious to us that our command is “love,” understanding that there is much to be discussed within the concept, it is to be the defining mark, the distinguishing factor, so to speak, in the life of a Christ Follower. It seems to me that “rebuke” is MacArthur’s suggested distinction, not laughing at certain jokes, not being entertained by certain things, “confronting sin.” Is that really a positive distinction? Could this view that our task as Christians is simply to rebuke “the world” be the reason that the beautiful message of the gospel has been distorted and twisted in a great many minds in our culture? The very word Christian does not bring to mind “love” as it should but to many it brings to mind a long list of things that are not consistent with a scriptural picture of the good news. Love, Love is what we have been called to. We are called to genuine love, not love with an agenda, but love. Can we not be molded to be the sort of people who love? Rebuke (in love) when it is necessary but let not that be the perceived difference, let us be authentic. Just to comment John MacArthur’s quote; I think most of what he said was agreeable for me, although, I am weary of at least one statement. “…no one can distinguish you from unbelievers…,” I agree there should be a noticeable difference but I am cautious of what MacArthur suggests that difference should be.

In scripture it is made obvious to us that our command is “love,” understanding that there is much to be discussed within the concept, it is to be the defining mark, the distinguishing factor, so to speak, in the life of a Christ Follower.

It seems to me that “rebuke” is MacArthur’s suggested distinction, not laughing at certain jokes, not being entertained by certain things, “confronting sin.” Is that really a positive distinction? Could this view that our task as Christians is simply to rebuke “the world” be the reason that the beautiful message of the gospel has been distorted and twisted in a great many minds in our culture? The very word Christian does not bring to mind “love” as it should but to many it brings to mind a long list of things that are not consistent with a scriptural picture of the good news.

Love, Love is what we have been called to. We are called to genuine love, not love with an agenda, but love. Can we not be molded to be the sort of people who love? Rebuke (in love) when it is necessary but let not that be the perceived difference, let us be authentic.

]]>