John, Good post. I think we ALL relate to
it more than we would like to admit. J Izzy
From:
[EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Monday, May 03, 2004 1:42 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: [TruthTalk] Bible
versions - ad hominem arguments
In a message dated 5/3/2004 9:40:46 AM Pacific Daylight
Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
David,
I agree. I am sure that Chris has NO idea what I (and probably some
others on TT) know about him and his ministry (and his marriage for that
matter) which I could have used against him many times over the past several
months when he was insulting me and others on TT. (Especially when he calls
other people hypocrites.) I have chosen, instead, to avoid the impulse to
publicly embarrass him, as I have no desire to humiliate anyone (unlike
Chris). I have chosen to let his own words speak loudly for his character
on TT. Enough said. I just hope he continues to grow in kindness as kindness is
shown to him by those of us who truly wish only God’s blessings for him. Izzy
Good posts from Izzy and David. I might add -- our manner of conduct is
often influenced by the people we choose to run with. If you
associate with loud mouthed, boorish, vile "Christian" folk, some of
it will rub off. Actually, they do not have to be
Christian. I am around the construction types and as a result, have to
check my other nature (you know, the one Paul speaks of in Romans 7:25)
constantly. I see much of myself in Chris, Daniel, Elsman and the
like - I could sound just like them except that I am and can be
"better" at it than they are. If they were honest about
it, they actually enjoy getting next to people. They are not angry
nearly as much as they are satisfied with their tirades. I know this is
true for me when I practice that type of rebuttal. I mean, isn't
that the reason any of us get involved initially in sin -- because
we enjoy it?
The biblical admonition to not let the sun go down on your wrath does not work
for me. I just can't even get mad at all. What people like me (and
Chris and Daniel and ...) must do to deal with this problem is
first, questioned and make hard decisions about our commitment to Jesus
Christ; 2) admit that nothing good comes from such conflicts (3)
confess this issue as a sin (confess your sins ONE TO ANOTHER is sometimes more
difficult than confessing to God in the darkness of closet) and (4) work
against it. In the few weeks I have been in this group, I have come to
depend upon Izzy's criticism or scriptural warnings. When she or anyone starts
quoting scripture about peace and love and all that stuff, I
swallow real hard, the script personal, and stop (sometimes for only one or two
posts, I am sorry to say). Communication is an interesting
phenom -- especially in this observation: you say exactly what people think you say.
We all on TT should put this at the top of our computers. Of course,
other's emotional situations have something to do with continuing and
aggressive debate, but there is never much we can do about that
circumstance, is there. Looking to ourselves as the source of the
problem is never a bad thing.
As much an antagonist as I was in regard to Daniel, I do understand his youth
and his rage. I have been there in spades -- it remains a
temptation.
I work with youth at risk, as I call them. Little bad-asses (please allow
me this _expression_, just this once) full of tattoos, anger and a deep seated
loneliness. For the most part, they like me and I do not really understand
that. But this I do know, I love these kinds of kids.
Many of them have a background that only allows them to understand that Christ
died for them. He (Christ) is the perfect God for a tough
guy. But I digress. I got angry with Daniels insults --
but I know a lot about the kid without ever having met him.
Grace (thank God) to you all
John Smithson
