Nominal Christianity is characterized by the fact that doctrines, theology, religiosity are more important than love.
It alienates others. If you want to understand how a Christian should imitate Jesus then look at Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman.
This woman was lost. She had five husbands and was living unmarried with another. A nominal Christian would come up to her and tell her that if she didn't repent, she would end up in hell. She would feel condemned and ...she would probably find another man.
Meanwhile, Jesus Christ walking on earth Love arranged the meeting so that they would be alone. He sent the apostles into town to do some shopping.
"For his disciples went into the city to buy food.
He found an appropriate situation for it.
Secondly, he gently told her that she was lost in male-female matters while giving testimony to his prophetic abilities:
"(17) The woman answered, saying, I have no husband. Jesus said to her: Thou hast said well, I have no husband. (18) For you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband; you have told the truth. (19) And the woman said unto him, Lord, I see that thou prophet.
...(27) At that very moment his disciples came and wondered, That he spoke to a woman."
Third, the very fact that He spoke to a Samaritan woman was a breaking of conventions and prejudices, for the Judeans abhorred Samaritans.
"(22) You worship that which you do not know, we worship what we know, because salvation comes from the Judeans. (23) But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father also seeks such to worship him in this way. "
In spite of her complicated life, the Samaritan woman felt accepted, not condemned, by this exposition of her heart condition. This, among other things, is how you will know every follower of Jesus: by his gentleness in reproof.
The rest are mere religionists who bash something in public like a hammer and then sometimes add "I exhort you in love."....
A man with the gift of exhortation will say to a sinning, lost person, more or less, "Sister, I know it's hard for you, God knows what you're going through better than I do, but by your actions you may be grieving the Sanctifying Spirit..."
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We, by our sin, grieve the Holy Spirit rather than incur His wrath.
If you are unkind to your loved ones then the Holy Spirit is grieved and the angels of God depart for a time.
It looks exactly like in a marital relationship or in a family. If someone offends someone, it's hard to be happy and pretend like nothing ever happened.
Sadly, when some Christians see only grace in Jesus, others see only judgment and condemnation, but that has nothing to do with love. Run away from such people and separate yourself, because you will live constantly in condemnation. They will make your condition worse.
No follower of Jesus will attack anyone in public, except people opposed to God like Francis and the ecumenists. But if they do rebuke, it is in a spirit of empathy and concern, not judgment. By this you will know the true inspired followers of Jesus.
I came across a saying that bluntly puts into words what I wrote above:
"'If it is difficult to accept a rebuke, even a private one, it is even more difficult to give it with loving humility.
Simple prescriptions for fellow brothers. Not for those we do not consider brothers. Those there will be judged by God.
- Empathize with the specific sin of the sinner and pray for compassion for others. Mercy leads us to loving humility.
- Pray for the person you think is sinning before confronting such a person.
- Talk about mind transformation, but don't build up your judicial hubris. You are not a judge and NEVER will be. God is only a judge. If you feel in yourself a judge then you are only a JUDGE of our brethren.
- Try to be nice.
"The servant of the Lord should not be quarrelsome, but kind to all, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, gently correcting his opponents. " 2 Tim 2
People who sternly admonish usually have no joy in themselves. You can see it at first glance. You can feel the coldness, distance, and harshness even over the Internet. You don't need to see them face to face. You can feel it.
"Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual, restore him in spirit of gentleness" Gal 6:1.
5. have a sense of rescue, not a sense of superiority when admonishing.
"My brethren, if any of you depart from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings a sinner back from his walk will save his soul from death and cover a multitude of sins" James 5:19- 20.
So this should be accompanied by joy. I rejoice that I have saved a brother, a sister, and helped them to be changed into the image of Jesus Christ....
The very text I have now written stems from a concern for others but also a safeguard against religious judges from whom we should stay away.
On the Internet there are a lot of mental descendants of Cham, who have nothing to do with human feelings and judging is such a simple activity that it comes down to typing a few words, sometimes sentences, without considering the emotions and feelings of the other person. He feels better because he got the upper hand, because he had/has the power to judge, because he managed to "admonish" someone older, because a woman can admonish a man, etc.
Personally, I don't go to any profiles or pages of people I disagree with, and this text is not directed to any one person or to my fellow heathens, who, by the way, I sometimes pray for. It is addressed to everyone.
The article on exhortation is firstly aimed at distinguishing what loving admonition is and what admonition is from the worldFor if the people of the world often have more love in their admonition, what kind of Christ-followers should they be?
Second, the text was intended to help train ourselves to admonish. God did not upload everything necessary for us at baptism. Sanctification is a process that we must engage in vigorously.
This is beautiful, by the way, because we acquire the gift of diplomacy, we are constantly learning, we constantly want to be better for others. Looking at it this way, then, the Bible is an art of motivation, affirmation, savoir vivre, and a manual for living well.
" (13) The mercy of man - over his neighbor, and the mercy of the Lord - over all mankind: He chastens, educates, instructs and turns back like a shepherd his flock. (14) He takes pity on those who accept His instruction and who hasten to His commandments. (15) Son, to good works do not add adversity or an unpleasant word to every gift. (16) Isn't the heat relieved by dew? Yes a word is better than a gift. (17) Behold, is not a better word than a good donation? And the one with the other [is combined] in a man of kindness. (18) But the unintelligent makes excuses inconsistent with love, and the gift of the envious squeezes tears from his eyes." Syracuse 18
Praise Jesus.
Cześć Piotr, dobry tekst, cieszę się że zacytowałeś Syracha. Wielu pastorów odradza czytanie ksiąg deuterokanonicznych bo rzekomo są nie natchnione, i o tym wszystkim zadecydowała dawno temu, jakaś grupa rabinków, żenua. Czasem oglądam taki angielsko języczny kanał chrześcijański, Lion of Judah i tam pastor powiedział że Pan Bóg nie zakazał czytać ksiąg deuterokanonicznych, bo przecież Paweł pisał że całe Pismo jest natchnione przez Boga, oczywiście powinniśmy badać pisma ale myślę że takie księgi jak, Tobiasza czy Machabejskie nie wyrządzają krzywdy głodnemu poznania Jezusa. Oczywiście pomijam jakieś dziwne wynurzenia w midraszach, czy inne spirytyzmy rabiniczne. Natomiast ja na początku posiadając Biblię Pierwszego Kościoła czytałem wszystko jak leci, teraz mam jeszcze Biblię NBG, i jestem szczerze przekonany że jeśli ktoś prawdziwe szuka Pana Jezusa Chrystusa to go znajdzie w Słowie Bożym, cz to katolickim przekładzie czy ewangelickim. Pozdrawiam Cię serdecznie i Błogosławię w imię naszego Pana Jezusa Chrystusa.