Love Everybody

[Bishop Cleatus]

Originally Posted by kclee4jc

We have a responsibility to proclaim truth in love. Even when the truth is offensive.

I agree! I recently pulled some of our *ahem* heftier saints aside, and sat them down over a nice low-fat meal and had a conversation about this very thing. I told them that as much as I loved them, I couldn't just sit by and watch them eat themselves into a gluttonous stupor. Needless to say, although I spoke very lovingly, some of them had the nerve to be offended. I said, "but it's the truth!" "In love!" They started off on some defense about heredity and medical conditions and such, and I said incredulously "You want me to believe you were BORN THIS WAY?"

Well, as you can imagine, our Sunday morning crowed "thinned out" a bit, but I felt good knowing that I had provided gentle correction in love, and that they will probably get everything straightened out and come back to church at some point now that they know the truth.

[navygoat1998]

Originally Posted by Bishop Cleatus

I agree! I recently pulled some of our *ahem* heftier saints aside, and sat them down over a nice low-fat meal and had a conversation about this very thing. I told them that as much as I loved them, I couldn't just sit by and watch them eat themselves into a gluttonous stupor. Needless to say, although I spoke very lovingly, some of them had the nerve to be offended. I said, "but it's the truth!" "In love!" They started off on some defense about heredity and medical conditions and such, and I said incredulously "You want me to believe you were BORN THIS WAY?"

Well, as you can imagine, our Sunday morning crowed "thinned out" a bit, but I felt good knowing that I had provided gentle correction in love, and that they will probably get everything straightened out and come back to church at some point now that they know the truth.

Bishop your a funny brother..........lets pray through together!

[navygoat1998]

Originally Posted by Bishop Cleatus

I agree! I recently pulled some of our *ahem* heftier saints aside, and sat them down over a nice low-fat meal and had a conversation about this very thing. I told them that as much as I loved them, I couldn't just sit by and watch them eat themselves into a gluttonous stupor. Needless to say, although I spoke very lovingly, some of them had the nerve to be offended. I said, "but it's the truth!" "In love!" They started off on some defense about heredity and medical conditions and such, and I said incredulously "You want me to believe you were BORN THIS WAY?"

Well, as you can imagine, our Sunday morning crowed "thinned out" a bit, but I felt good knowing that I had provided gentle correction in love, and that they will probably get everything straightened out and come back to church at some point now that they know the truth.

If you would preacher better messages you would spark them to run the isle. First they would look more "spiritual" and secondly they would drop that extra sin hanging around their belly.

[Jack Shephard]

Originally Posted by Cindy

It seems that some Apostolics only love everybody that is just like them. The attitude of, we are right and everybody else is wrong.

And pick up stones and try to hit those that don't believe just like them.

Some feel they have the right to hate whomever they want for whatever reason they want. I don't have that right, don't want it either. I do have the right to love anyone I want... I choose to keep that right because it is the right right to have.

[Aquila]

Religionists will never properly understand true Christian spirituality.

[AreYouReady?]

Originally Posted by Bishop Cleatus

I agree! I recently pulled some of our *ahem* heftier saints aside, and sat them down over a nice low-fat meal and had a conversation about this very thing. I told them that as much as I loved them, I couldn't just sit by and watch them eat themselves into a gluttonous stupor. Needless to say, although I spoke very lovingly, some of them had the nerve to be offended. I said, "but it's the truth!" "In love!" They started off on some defense about heredity and medical conditions and such, and I said incredulously "You want me to believe you were BORN THIS WAY?"

Well, as you can imagine, our Sunday morning crowed "thinned out" a bit, but I felt good knowing that I had provided gentle correction in love, and that they will probably get everything straightened out and come back to church at some point now that they know the truth.

I approve of this post.

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by kclee4jc

We have a responsibility to proclaim truth in love. Even when the truth is offensive.

Just try being "truthful" (I don't care how much love is present in your words) when your wife asks if a certain dress she is thinking of wearing makes her look fat.

[AreYouReady?]

I don't know about other women, but I would appreciate being told I look fat in any certain item of clothing.

To be told otherwise is akin to something visible in your nostril and nobody telling you about it.

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by Cindy

Not necessarily, some just seem to find AFF. I find the same attitudes in other areas and denominations. While trying to defend something that doesn't need defending, (truth) some attack people. It just hurts my heart. How are we going to love sinners, if we don't love our brothers and sisters?

I like what Tim Gill tweeted the other day:

"Telling the truth in anger doesn't diminish truth, just the credibility of the speaker."

There are couple of quandaries that come up when people don't show love to one another--even when speaking *hard* truths. First, those who are trying to appear loving feel pressured to not speak up at all in certain situations lest they be associated with those who aren't speaking the truth in love. Secondly, when you speak the same truth in love that another spoke in anger, you run the risk (again) of guilt by association.

My Dad drilled this into me: If you say you love God, but you don't love your brother, you're a liar. (I John)

If I have to err, I would prefer to err on the side of grace and love than on the side of causing offense or provoking someone to anger.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

If I have to err, I would prefer to err on the side of grace and love than on the side of causing offense or provoking someone to anger.

I was taught the same thing. I was always told that it's better to error by being too loving and forgiving than by not being loving and forgiving enough.

My first pastor always said, "Lean on grace and mercy."