Comments on: Top 10 Ways Christians (Including Me) Tend to Fail

By: John Shore

John Shore — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 13:29:06 +0000

RMcMillan: So that's twice, in your opening sentences, that you used the word "perverse." Fixate much?

By: R McMillan

R McMillan — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 13:06:51 +0000

Candace, who are you to step in? This man has publicly presented a perverse argument regarding a tenet of the Christian Faith and you are justifying him. Your words are also perverse and reminiscent of a sycophant or a shill. Moreover they're just plain ignorant. As for my relationship with God, I've had one for several years but not until recently did I start acting accordingly. Also, I'm quite aware of the virtue of taking correction from the brethren but your not qualified to say anything here. Moreover, as for the atheist comment, I debate atheists regularly with humility and sometimes a hard edge but it's always backed with scripture. This is something you clearly neglect to do, relying more on your own gut feelings and opinion. Bottom line, you haven't enlightened anyone with your glib comments but darkened an otherwise valid admonition. Don't condone sin in any way. I suggest that the author retract or rewrite his comments regarding homosexuals because they are not biblical and neither is your support of him.

By: Candace

Candace — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 23:07:39 +0000

Casey,I actually reconsidered the atheist thing, but there was no way to edit my post!

Not that the comparison I made doesn't apply in some cases.

BUT when I think about how I would have come off, had I stumbled across this blog in my own non-believing days, I am faced with the reality that (for the most part) you heathens are soooooooooo much more polite and civil than I would have been (and indeed, than I WAS. Just not in the context of John's blog).

And I can also recall (with chagrin) times when, newly Christian, I acted a bit too much for comfort like R McMillan. My hubris (I pray) has been tempered with increasing maturity. I am hopeful his will as well.

By: casey

casey — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 21:41:49 +0000

here here Candace! (not counting the atheist thing…. but I suppose we are guilty too)

By: Candace

Candace — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 21:07:32 +0000

R McMillan, I am not John, but I hope he'll forgive me if I step in here a moment …

As a short-time Christian (by your own description), mightn't a bit of humility on your part be called for here? Take out the religious vocabulary and your tone is alarmingly akin to a lot of the atheists who come in here and call John to task or dismiss the lot of us as a bunch of idiots.

"I'm going to give you credit .. "?? "I detect a little leaven …" ?? "How dare you .."??? Or the most annoying of the bunch, "Shame on you …"???

I say this with love: Personally, I can't envision Christ conducting Himself as you have here with another brother. That Bible you've freshly engaged with is a good way to examine and adjust one's OWN behavior. You may wish to consider that. As well as to walk the walk a while longer before reproving others.

By: R McMillan

R McMillan — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 19:56:45 +0000

I’m going to give you a lot more credit for “works” and possibly “faith”, however, you seem to be overreaching with the gay comments. Even a short time Christian like myself understands the following admonition from Christ, “… be on your gaurd against the yeast of the Pharasees and Sadducees” (Mathew 16:6, NIV). I detect a little leaven in your words. Moreover, how dare you try to lull Christians into a sense of apathy towards this or any sin. Keep in mind, “…Till heaven and earth pass, not one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law…” (Mathew 5:18, KJV); so until God puts a moratorium on sodomy you shouldn’t either. Also, can you envision Christ giving that advice? I cannot. What I can envision is Christ confronting this sin(all sins for that matter) everytime it raises its ugly head and not “…just give it a rest for a while…”. Since when does Christ turn a deaf ear or a blind eye to sin? Shame on you!

By: John Shore

John Shore — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 21:46:05 +0000

Thanks, Lavrai, for stopping by and commenting. And good point you've made here, of course. Beautiful.

By: lavrai

lavrai — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:59:02 +0000

Thank you, and very well put. I, personally, need to keep numbers 2 & 3 in mind If none of us will ever be perfect until the LORD's return and earthly rule, then that must mean we must constantly be working to remain in HIS will.

By: Skerrib

Skerrib — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 10:46:29 +0000

Hope I'm not beating a dead horse here, but I had a thought over the past few days…

John at one point (somewhere…maybe in another thread) you mentioned something to the effect of the early church perhaps proselytizing more 'aggressively' than we need to today. As you say in "I'm OK…" if anyone here in America wants to know more about God and/or Christianity, there are plenty of people and/or places they can get that information.

And I totally agree about us not having to be aggressive with our friends, but I'm not sure the early church had to be all that aggressive either. I wonder if they went out and said something like "If you want to know about Jesus, meet us at such & such a time," and whoever wanted to would show up. Whoever didn't–I don't think they necessarily went back to try to convince them.

I hear time & time again from missionaries…especially in 3rd world-ish countries…that they might go around in the morning to villages and say "church is at such & such a time," and people just show up because there's a hunger to know more about God. I do know a couple of the in-your-face types, but most are more mellow in their approach.

Anyway, my point is that, even in the first days of Christianity, I think the disciples more or less said "Hey, if you want to know more about Jesus, lemme know," rather than the crazy-aggressive approach many evangelicals take today. Sorta like "hey, your house is on fire." But then it's up to them to pursue it further if they want.

By: Andy

Andy — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 10:03:29 +0000

I agree with everything except letting God worry about non-Christians. I wouldn't negelect to tell my neighbor his house was on fire just because it would be hard to get him to believe me. Or because he might think I was crazy. Of course, that's an easy thing to convince someone of. But Jesus didn't say it would be easy. He said to just do it. In fact, Mt 28:19-20 is such an important thing he said that we call it the Great Commission. I don't like worrying about non-Christians, but I must.

I also was saved in spite of Christians' efforts — at least obnoxious Christians' efforts, but many other gentle, loving ones planted many a seed before I met the right woman who introduced me to the Right Man.