Valiant for the truth

Brothers and sisters,

I have limited time so please allow me to be short and direct.

I notice that there are so many things which are a grief to us, and which we may believe are a grief to God also, that are discussed on the forums here.

Some questions to you all: how can we do more than talk about these things or is that an acceptable response in and of itself. What would God have us to do? How can we respond to these things in a way that will glorify God?

What would [b]God[/b] have us to do?

Unless we are willing to honestly and purposefully seek to answer that question and to act upon the answer, how can we distinguish between our discussions of these things, and gossip?

Christopher

Pray.

Some questions to you all: how can we do more than talk about these things or is that an acceptable response in and of itself. What would God have us to do? How can we respond to these things in a way that will glorify God?

Well this really cuts to the heart of the issue doesn't it? It's not all that hard to look around and find some wrong ways in others. The question God has been asking me when these things come up is, "are you going to criticize or are you going to be a living demonstration of the right way?" The latter is much harder than the former, I admit I have often taken the easy route-by God's grace, no more.

In Christ,

Ron

Unless our discussions drive us to our knees, they do us no good.

Well this really cuts to the heart of the issue doesn't it?

Yes brother. God made me think on this subject as never before, thanks to brother Chris. If someone else noticed, this was raised up also in other thread, while ago.

What would God have us to do?

Unless we are willing to honestly and purposefully seek to answer that question and to act upon the answer, how can we distinguish between our discussions of these things, and gossip?

I have to ask myself, am I here to win an argument or am I here to be sharpened like iron for work. There are days when I am foolishly just trying to be right and there are days when God uses something said to bring greater clarity to His word.

I believe the answer to that question lies within each and every person's motives for being here.

Lord, help me to love my brothers and sisters and to seek only exhortation and edification and on top of all this to love.

Everywhere Paul went he faced argumentative people. Did that lessen his faith in God? It strengthened it! We absolutely must do what is required of us in love. I have made the mistake of trying to get people to believe what I believe instead of letting God give me the grace, temperance, forebearance, patience, meekness, and humility of spirit to do His Will through His eternal Word, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The joy of the Lord is my strength, and that is something that just came to me as I type this. Praise be to Almighty God forever!

Thanks for this emphasis!

What would God have us to do? There are many who find, really, nothing to criticise. All is well as far as they're concerned.

And then there are others who perpetually criticise and find fault. Like the Accuser of the brethren. (God help us to have nothing to do with that one's ministry.)

But then there are some who are grieved by it all for His Name's sake, and feel the reproach of Christ very deeply within. These are not content to merely be pointing out all that's wrong with the Church these days. They are crying out to Him, making intercession (not accusation) and asking Him to deal with the corruption in their own hearts, greatly desiring the grace to walk in obedience to His will, that through them (or WHOEVER He chooses, it makes no difference to them) He might shine forth in a way that brings honour to His Name in the earth once again.

Purify US, Lord!

AD

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Again my time is limited. I would like to sit on this question for some time and meditate upon it for myself.

Something that has been in the back of my mind in this is asking if there is not a way for us to form and use our collective voices here as a community of beleivers to respond to some of the things we see, if God would have us to do it.

I think of what that may look like?

What if we were to write to some of the leaders of the ministries that we see failing or compomising, or to some of the [i]Christian artists[/i] of which we see the same. Is it possible to do this in a godly and God honoring way? Is this even something God would have us to do, personally or collectively?

Maybe there is a message here on SI that we could send to some of them, if God be willing? Or perhaps a book that we could buy and send them a copy of?

May God give us wisdom and sincere love, to walk humbly, and to do justly before Him.

Blessings to you all in Christ.

Chris

EDIT: [i]Would like to thank you all also for your thoughtfull responses[/i]

Chris,
I appreciate your last post. I appreciate your heart, your humility, and the desire to see our Lord's Name honoured.

May He give clear direction in what you are suggesting, and what He would have us to do.

AD