[TruthTalk] Some questions

[Judy Taylor]

From: "Lance Muir" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Christianity is indeed offensive to the natural human mind;   jt: How did the "truth" get changed to "Christianity" Lance? At times the two are incompatible..   and yet it is often made offensive by its representatives for the wrong reasons.   jt: Been there, done that, also. We lived in AR for 2yrs and I started attending the local rcc because I could not handle the Bible Belt Baptists. I didn't understand what being "saved" was all about and the aggressive manner of the preacher sent me running the other way ATST I knew he was well meaning.   I've been rebuffed occasionally while "speaking the truth" and, in hindsight deserved it!   jt: So you weren't suffering for the sake of righteousness??   God grant us the discernment to recognize the distinction between being offensive and saying things that are intrinsically offensive. Let's not confuse our role with that of the Spirit of God. Lance    jt: This won's happen until we learn obedience. Jesus did and said nothing he had not first seen his Father do and say. When we learn to be led by the Spirit of God and follow the Master's voice it will happen. ATST everyone wasn't pleased with Jesus; he made people angry ...   judyt   ----- Original Message ----- From: Judy Taylor To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: March 28, 2004 11:39 Subject: [TruthTalk] Some Questions about Getting to know you. From: Terry Clifton <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> God did not make the body of Christ to be all fingers or toes or eyeballs.  The body needs some of each to be complete.  We need one another.  With that in mind, it seems inappropriate to me to tell a brother or sister not to speak (write) to us again.  By the same token, it is wrong to cram our opinions down someone else's throat.  Maybe if we all went back and studied what Paul had to say love was? Terry   jt: I agree with you on both counts Terry. It's not good to take up offenses and it's not good to cram our own opinions down other's throats. I've heard the saying "People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care." in the past and wondered where this saying originated.  Do any of the scholars on TT know?   This idea may be the basis for Churches like Saddleback in CA who go out of their way to create an environment which makes the unbeliever feel good but is founded upon the principles of mass marketing rather than God's Word. I have to say that the Church I was raised in, although spiritually dead, was full of nice folk who acted like they cared about me but were void of truth.   a) How does "speaking the truth in love" happen?  Does it take place by osmosis or does someone need to make a concerted effort?   b) Since the truth has never been popular to ppl walking in the flesh, is someone who is willing to go out on a limb with it walking in love or lifting themselves up?  judyt