Do you "tell it like it is?"
Do you call a "spade a spade?"
Are you "as bold as a lion?"
I read about Jesus and notice he was a straight forward man,didn't mince his words whatsoever.Even to his brothers he told it like it is.Remember:
Matt 16:23 "But he turned and said to Peter,get behind me Satan!"
Imagine saying that to a friend of yours.Or better yet,remember:
Matt 12:48 "..who is my mother and who are my brothers?"
Matt 12:49 "..He stretched out his hand toward his desciples and said,here is my mother and brothers"
Imagine saying that to your blood parents,or blood family.That takes guts-or rather,faith!
Do you sometimes tell it like it is when you are around your acquaintances and family?When your family member does something wrong,do you say,"hey,that is wrong,don't do that.”
Luke 13:32 "Go tell that fox.."
Imagine calling the president that?
Do you sometimes "sit against the fence?"
Currently i am developing a relationship with this christian,and he likes teaching me.And I have been sitting against the fence,not debating him,not arguing with him.Just listening to him.And he actually thinks I am agreeing with him every time he shares his wisdom with me.Funny thing is:Jesus tends to make me run into him frequently,which I tend to laugh about -we just tend to run into each other.Then he goes on and on and on..teaching me,whilst I keep quiet.
His reaction is going to be interesting the day I open my mouth-the day i "tell it like it is."
Had a conversation with a relative of mine the other day,told her:"God created evil and he uses it."
Whoa!It didn't end well!
Hi Shechiyn, I really believe the Scripture that says, "be ready to give a defense
to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear" (1Peter 3:15). Now out in the world that just doesn't happen, so I never really have reason to speak up.
I have mentioned a few things to my sisters, who are very steeped in their churches, one did respond positively to a few conversations we had, up until a discussion we had about a year ago. She seemed to maybe have been given some advice about what I had been saying and that last time she was very strongly apposed to what I said. So I dropped it and I doubt we will discuss our beliefs again.
Also about a year ago I had these JWs come by the house, he has his Bible out and was showing me verses. I decided to be nice and said I was not interested, I did my own study and did not accept his literature. They left and I thought that was the end of that, but they showed up a few weeks later, again I told him I did my own studies and was not interested, they left. Well they turned up a few weeks later again, i was kind of perturbed, because like you were saying he was trying to teach me. So when he started up and opened his Bible and showed me a very familiar verse about witnessing and asked if I believed that all Christians were suppose to witness for Christ? I said no I did not believe that, no, that I believed that God gives each gifts according to what He sees fit and everybody is not used the same to serve Him. Without another word he turned on his heals and quickly left, and has never returned, it was kind of strange.
But I agree with your assessment that if somebody is telling/teaching you something and you do not say you disagree, then they must think you agree. Thinking about this, that not disapproving to an obvious falsehood that is being directly spoken to you and actually inadvertently agreeing... is that like denying Christ, the truth?
Matt 10:32 So everyone who acknowledges Me before men, I also will acknowledge before My Father who is in heaven,
v. 33 but whoever denies Me before men, I also will deny before My Father who is in heaven.
v. 34 "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
v. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
v. 36 And a person's enemies will be those of his own household.
v. 37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of Me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
v. 38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me.
v. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
It's a fine line we walk as to when to speak up, but I think we must respond in that situation... what kind of witness is it if somebody believes we accept their blasphemy? Now I'm not talking about explaining the whole truth of the matter, but I think we need to at least say something like 'I don't believe that way.' It really depends on the person as to how much you say... to a coworker's preaching, I might say very little accept to disagree and using tact is always a good thing.
To a close relative I would probably say more... but to a believer I would say as much as I felt they needed, as people here know I do. However if somebody is like minded and wants to understand I do try to use great care in how I answer, especially if they are new to this truth. If we are too bold in correcting, could we cause a person to stumble? We must be careful how we speak to each other here, I take Christ's warning very serious.
Mark 9:42 "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.
But I do not tire of answering the same old questions here, I enjoy helping a believer even a little bit. If I am blessed to know a Scripture or a place Ray spoke on something that somebody is struggling with, I'm always glad to show it to them. It's a real blessing to me to help others here.
mercy, peace and love
Kat