Are all poster's at AFF on an equal level of deser

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

Hmm... don't know ... I understand what you are saying about God's acceptance should be sufficient ....

but are we not also social beings ... Are we not to seek communion w/ the head and not the body?? ....

Even God saw fit that Adam not be alone .... prior the fall.

Yes there is peer pressure and an inner desire for peer acceptance ... but is that necessarily always a bad thing?

Oh no, Daniel, not necessarily a bad thing. We grow, expand and become more knowledgeable about so many things interacting with people. It's very exciting when minds come together and we think, talk and plan.

It can be like sitting in a coffee shop, at a round table, and the conversation is so stimulating and the atmosphere is just right for it. Life can be like that, exactly,surrounded by people.


It's only bad when you can't stand on your own two feet and make progress in life. If you have to fall back on the acceptance of people to feel successful, that's when it becomes a detriment to your personal character.

[Felicity]

Originally Posted by LadyRev

Yes, you can love the person in spite of their deeds and words if you love the person as simply a person, not based on their deeds or words.

But if you don't respect someone as a person, you can't love them because you don't hold them in high regard, you don't esteem them - the very definitions of respect.

I think it depends on what kind of respect you're talking about. There are layers of meaning there when you talk about respect.

I think I can love somebody ...... I can value them but not necessarily hold them in the respect and honour I do other people.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by tbpew

P.O.,
thanks as always for your contribution...

"If" the FIRST thing people are more inclined to SEEK is acceptance from their peers, there is a catastrophic loss of opportunity in those who have the Spirit of God dwelling in their hearts.

Some thing has to supply the "earnest", the downpayment, the investment in good will toward all men; it is God's mercy, acceptance and love that bridges this gulf between members of mankind.

I don't see people as "never" seeking acceptance. I think, at times, we always look for it.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

I agree with you 100%... we just, apparently, come to different conclusions.



Indeed it does... along with personal value judged by beauty & body shape. These are all sinking sand and the church should teach the children of the living God a path higher than this sinking sand.



Due to a lack of teaching of the true wisdom of God on these subjects... these things are true.



Absolutely



Exactly... nothing is new... they dealt with this in the time of the apostles... but... just as you stated... the Bible addresses it.

It doesn't accept it. It speaks out against it and addresses it. We should do more of this.

Agreed!

[Felicity]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

Yes there is peer pressure and an inner desire for peer acceptance ... but is that necessarily always a bad thing?

Short answer is no.

But you also have to be able to stand up for yourself, know who you are as an individual, know what you believe, what your limits are and draw lines. Sometimes that separates you from those you love and respect because your parameters are set at a different place/s than others.

But there is defniitely "good" peer pressure. There are groups of people and individuals that I definitely want to please and pleasing them is good and right.

There is scripture that backs this up.

[Felicity]

Originally Posted by Pianoman

Many have forgotten the golden rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you!

This is the favorite verse of some:

2Cr 12:19 Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but [we do] all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.

This is what I was taught at home. That you consider the feelings of others, that you think about how you'd feel if what you're thinking of saying to another was said to you.

It's really all about respecting people with the general kind of respect we all deserve as individuals and people who God loves and died for.

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by Felicity

Short answer is no.

But you also have to be able to stand up for yourself, know who you are as an individual, know what you believe, what your limits are and draw lines. Sometimes that separates you from those you love and respect because your parameters are set at a different place/s than others.

But there is defniitely "good" peer pressure. There are groups of people and individuals that I definitely want to please and pleasing them is good and right.

There is scripture that backs this up.

Could you share these scriptures with us?

[Margies3]

Originally Posted by COOPER

All I know is that I often get personally attacked and put down by some; that if I was to follow them around the forum and provoke them the way they do me; I would be banned.

Coop, I have a feeling that this is the question that you've been trying to ask for the past 6 pages. Am I right?

Are you feeling a little cornered? (I'm being sympathetic, brother. Not confrontational. Please hear it that way )

[COOPER]

Originally Posted by Margies3

Coop, I have a feeling that this is the question that you've been trying to ask for the past 6 pages. Am I right?

Are you feeling a little cornered? (I'm being sympathetic, brother. Not confrontational. Please hear it that way )

Yes....

[CC1]

Originally Posted by LadyRev

You know, I'm really sick of the above statement.

Its not biblical.

In fact, the exact opposite is biblical.

ALL men and women deserve respect. Christian or non-christian. They don't have to earn it.

You don't have to respect their actions, their opinions, their ideas, etc. but you DO have to respect them as fellow human beings created in the image and likeness of God, same as YOU!

You can't love someone you don't respect and Jesus said we are to love everyone.

LadyRev,

I respectfully disagree (pun intended). Recognizing that someone is a human being is not respecting them. It is merely a biological matter. We can understand their place in God's order, that they have a soul, God loves them and we shoudl to, etc, etc but that is not the same as respect.

I do stand by the statement that I and others have made that respect is earned.

I have a relative that I love but have zero respect for as she is an alocholic who over the years has devolved to where she has zero conscience, zero morals, and will not help herself. She is a leech who drains everyone she is around (her loved ones) of their time and money if they will let her. This is an example of me saying that you can have zero respect for someone but still love them and care for them.