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ARROGANCE:
As I have become more skilled in studying and understanding the Bible
over the years, I am continually encountering those who claim to belong to
Christ (call themselves "Christian") and demonstrate the most appalling,
un-Christ-like behavior. Usually these "jerks for Jesus" state that
(speaking of themselves) "I am not a teacher, but ..." and then he or she
goes straight into a highly offensive explanation of just where I am wrong biblically. They refer to my
communicating what the Bible says, as I understand it, with words like "liar",
"stupid", "loser" and so on....... As these folks
describe to me my incompetence in understanding God's written Word, I get
frustrated at every turn in my attempting to show the error of their type of
disagreement with me. I
dedicate this page to these "jerks for Jesus". [Click
here for a review of the Shepherd's Chapel "student" on the Internet.]
If you are not one of these people, but you have bumped into one of their
distasteful personages, I offer you this study to find just what the Bible says
about their style of arrogance and unrighteousness. Maybe you can find what you need
here to plant the seed of edification in their obnoxious minds (not that they
will listen ..... this time). I also show where you are responsible
for telling them (kindly, of course) the error of their ways.
God tells us that He wants us to be firm in our faith and
life in following Him:
James 1:6-7
6 ... For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and
tossed .
7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. KJV
When we are not, He says:
Rev 3:16 and 19
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee
out of my mouth.
...
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
KJV
What is the meaning of this word "zealous":
zealous: zeloo; NT:2206 zeloo (dzay-lo'-o) or zeleuo (dzay-loo'-o);
from NT:2205; to have warmth of feeling for or
against:
KJV - affect, covet (earnestly), (have) desire, (move with) envy, be jealous
over, (be) zealous (-ly affect).
At this point I wish to clearly state:
SPEAKING BOLDLY (zealously)
DOES NOT EQUATE WITH SPEAKING
OFFENSIVELY.
Why? Do you really think speaking offensively gives more credence to
your message? NOT! Read these verses:
2 Tim 2:22-23
22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace,
with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender
strifes. KJV
James 1:26
26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not
his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain
(empty, profitless). KJV
Quite clearly God does not want us arguing with our fellow
Christians. God calls it an abomination as stated here:
Prov 6:16-19
16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination
unto him:
17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to
mischief,
19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among
brethren. KJV
What is "discord"? Clearly it is "strife" or "brawling" and is related
to "judgment". Here is the word-study on it:
Discord: medan
OT:4090 medan (med-awn'); a form of OT:4066:
KJV - discord, strife.
OT:4066 madown (maw-dohn'); from OT:1777; a contest
or quarrel:
KJV - brawling, contention (-ous), discord, strife. Compare OT:4079, OT:4090.
OT:1777 diyn (deen); or (Gen 6:3) duwn (doon); a primitive root
[compare OT:113]; to rule; by implication to judge (as umpire); also to strive
(as at law):
KJV - contend, execute (judgment), judge, minister judgment, plead (the cause),
at strife, strive.
And ...........what about the word "brethren":
brethren: 'ach
OT:251 'ach (awkh); a primitive word; a brother (used in the widest sense of
literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance [like OT:1]):
KJV - another, brother (-ly); kindred, like, other.
Do you really think that God wants us to conduct our interactions with fellow
Christians (our brethren) in a manner He terms as an "abomination"?
Check this out:
Eph 4:30-32
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of
redemption.
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be
put away from you, with all malice:
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as
God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. KJV
... ...
SHOULD WE CORRECT THE CHRISTIAN'S ERROR?
Absolutely!
Here are scriptures that
validate this answer:
Ezek 33:7-9
7 So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel;
therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.
8 When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost
not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his
iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
9 Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not
turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy
soul. KJV
Do you think that this is only speaking about the "unsaved" where it refers
to "the wicked"? .... not at all! Check this out:
Ezek 3:20-21
20 Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his
righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he
shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and
his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will
I require at thine hand.
21 Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and
he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast
delivered thy soul.
KJV
If you have ever
questioned what the biblical answer is to this question, as follows, the above
verses clearly state that each of us is responsible for giving the warning:
"Am
I my brother's
keeper?"
"... because thou hast not given him warning, ... his blood
will I require at thine hand."
That leaves no room for doubt in my mind!
... ...
Look at the Old Testament for God's original guidance to us:
Deut 10:12-13
12 And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of
thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him,
and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,
13 To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee
this day for thy good? KJV
Deut 18:18-20
18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their
brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak
unto them all that I shall command him.
19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words
which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.
20 But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have
not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even
that prophet shall die. KJV
Mic 6:8
8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth
the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk
humbly with thy God? KJV
... ...
... to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly
with thy God. WOW! Now there's specific direction from our Heavenly
Father.
How about some specifics from His Son, Jesus the Christ?
You bet. Jesus was speaking with His disciples when He gave us a clearer picture
of how we are to present ourselves to others. In fact, He says
that if we fail, we will "not enter into the kingdom of heaven":
Matt 18:1-4
18:1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest
in the kingdom of heaven?
2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be
converted, and become as little children , ye
shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little
child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. KJV
If we think we understand the Bible and then try and convey
that understanding to someone else, we need to be cautious of the manner in
which we do
it. In the New Testament, Paul warns us about this knowledge we may have
acquired:
1 Cor 8:1
… Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
KJV
Do you use
charity
in your interacting with your brethren?
What about the meaning of this word "charity":
charity: agape; NT:26 agape (ag-ah'-pay); from
NT:25; love, i.e. affection or benevolence; specially (plural) a love-feast:
KJV - (feast of) charity ([-ably]), dear, love.
1 Cor 13:1-2
13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not
charity , I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all
knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and
have not charity , I am nothing. KJV
Read that again.
If I "understand all mysteries and all
knowledge" and I do not have love, "I am nothing".
... nothing? WOW!
Are you "nothing" in God's opinion?
He
is the only one where opinion really counts!
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j_b@holyscriptures.com
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