Excellent teaching David. Thank you. It is very sad indeed that most Christians do not love one another as they should. My experience has been that if you don't agree with them you are silenced and told you are not saved. No man has the right to tell you that you are or are not saved.
Jesus commanded us to love our enemies, which may involve refraining from violent self-defense. The early Church set an example of this, as there is no record of them using violence to protect themselves. They trusted in God’s will, even if it meant their enemies might kill them. For believers, the worst that could happen-dying-leads to the ultimate victory: entering heaven. This perspective shifts the focus from fear of death to a profound trust in God's sovereignty and the hope of eternal life.
The root "agape" (ἀγάπη) in Ancient Greek, unlike "philos" (φίλος), which is the basis for many related terms, does not generate as extensive a family of related words. However, there are still a few key words and forms derived from "agape." The relative scarcity of derivatives from "agape" compared to "philos" reflects how "agape" was more of a specialized term in ancient Greek. The development of "philos" into many words (like "philosophy," "philology," "Philadelphia," etc.) shows its broader applicability to concepts of love, friendship, and affinity in various contexts. "Agape," on the other hand, was more specific and less versatile in generating new words.
Pastor's calling out others for cherry-picking which Scriptures they want to obey but packing guns in every room and locked and loaded and ready to fire on anyone who would break into the second story of his house seems very hypocritical. He conveniently sets aside Christ's admonitions to turn the other cheek, do not resist the one who is evil and to trust in God and not arms for protection. Christ told Peter to put his sword away when he retaliated violently to violence. If you really believe in God's Sovereignty and that EVERYTHING comes from Him - why trust in your own strength in the face of evil? There is no faith here and everything that is not of faith is sin. Perhaps he should be honest and admit he is struggling against his own sin just as he advises the young man struggling with homosexual sin. His pride in bearing arms in protecting his family rather than trusting in Yahweh is evident.
Excellent points. Thank you. Conservative churchgoers often agree that violent self-defense is righteous, believing it essential for protecting oneself and others. However, while they trust God for eternal life, they often rely on their own strength for earthly defense, despite Jesus clearly teaching against violence. This mindset is as contradictory to faith in Christ as trusting in wealth for security. The early Church, which never practiced violent self-defense-even when facing persecution and martyrdom-provides clear examples. For instance, early Christians like Stephen accepted death without resistance, and the apostles endured suffering without retaliation, fully trusting in God's provision and the promise of eternal life. Unlike most Pastors who preach self-defense violence, he doesn't stick up for all government political violence known as war. The "trust in guns" Pastors usually stick up for all US wars. Calling yourself Pastor is against Jesus command in Matthew 23: 8-12 in regard to no titles among the brethren. So Pastors who violate Jesus' commands against violent self-defense are part of their cherry picking of Scripture to serve their own purpose rather than serve Jesus purpose.
The lesson of Gideon was that God gets the glory not man. All your weapons won't help you at all in the fiery den. The Lord doesn't differentiate between levels of pride very much in scripture. The pride of an LBTGQ parade and a man who trusts in his weapons and not Him might be all the same to Him. You shoot an intruder you are the man! You trust in God - He gets the glory! All glory to Him alone forever! Amen.
To comment Biden and child predator as similar or the same, whatever the insinuation was intended, without any proof or credible backing is called slander and it is a sin. Where has President Biden been found guilty as a child predator? Someone has been drinking the Far Right fear that Trump regularly spews out. "They're gonna take your guns!" "All hell will break loose if Walz is elected. " Fear... Where are your facts for insinuating Biden is a child predator?
I agree with you. Remember why they did not believe Christ was the Messiah. They wanted someone that would 'fight' - what did Christ say to Pilate? (John 18:36) Jesus answered, `My kingdom is not of this world; if my kingdom were of this world, my officers had struggled that I might not be delivered up to Jews; but now my kingdom is not from hence.' YLT We are to trust God and if we are killed, we should rejoice since we will be with our Saviour!
@@kelliea5729 Yes, the Jews of Jesus' time expected a warrior Messiah who would lead them to military victory and political freedom. Instead, Jesus came with a message of non-violence, teaching love for enemies and turning the other cheek. He rejected the path of violence, focusing on spiritual liberation rather than earthly conquest. Yet, today, so many churches embrace a warrior mentality, missing the core of Jesus' teaching that true faith lies in peace, humility, and love, not in the sword.
Excellent teaching David. Thank you. It is very sad indeed that most
Christians do not love one another as they should. My experience has been that if you don't agree with them you are silenced and told you are not saved. No man has the right to tell you that you are or are not saved.
Jesus commanded us to love our enemies, which may involve refraining from violent self-defense. The early Church set an example of this, as there is no record of them using violence to protect themselves. They trusted in God’s will, even if it meant their enemies might kill them. For believers, the worst that could happen-dying-leads to the ultimate victory: entering heaven. This perspective shifts the focus from fear of death to a profound trust in God's sovereignty and the hope of eternal life.
War is a racket, by General Smedley Butler
The root "agape" (ἀγάπη) in Ancient Greek, unlike "philos" (φίλος), which is the basis for many related terms, does not generate as extensive a family of related words. However, there are still a few key words and forms derived from "agape." The relative scarcity of derivatives from "agape" compared to "philos" reflects how "agape" was more of a specialized term in ancient Greek. The development of "philos" into many words (like "philosophy," "philology," "Philadelphia," etc.) shows its broader applicability to concepts of love, friendship, and affinity in various contexts. "Agape," on the other hand, was more specific and less versatile in generating new words.
Pastor's calling out others for cherry-picking which Scriptures they want to obey but packing guns in every room and locked and loaded and ready to fire on anyone who would break into the second story of his house seems very hypocritical. He conveniently sets aside Christ's admonitions to turn the other cheek, do not resist the one who is evil and to trust in God and not arms for protection. Christ told Peter to put his sword away when he retaliated violently to violence. If you really believe in God's Sovereignty and that EVERYTHING comes from Him - why trust in your own strength in the face of evil? There is no faith here and everything that is not of faith is sin. Perhaps he should be honest and admit he is struggling against his own sin just as he advises the young man struggling with homosexual sin. His pride in bearing arms in protecting his family rather than trusting in Yahweh is evident.
Excellent points. Thank you. Conservative churchgoers often agree that violent self-defense is righteous, believing it essential for protecting oneself and others. However, while they trust God for eternal life, they often rely on their own strength for earthly defense, despite Jesus clearly teaching against violence. This mindset is as contradictory to faith in Christ as trusting in wealth for security. The early Church, which never practiced violent self-defense-even when facing persecution and martyrdom-provides clear examples. For instance, early Christians like Stephen accepted death without resistance, and the apostles endured suffering without retaliation, fully trusting in God's provision and the promise of eternal life.
Unlike most Pastors who preach self-defense violence, he doesn't stick up for all government political violence known as war. The "trust in guns" Pastors usually stick up for all US wars.
Calling yourself Pastor is against Jesus command in Matthew 23: 8-12 in regard to no titles among the brethren. So Pastors who violate Jesus' commands against violent self-defense are part of their cherry picking of Scripture to serve their own purpose rather than serve Jesus purpose.
The lesson of Gideon was that God gets the glory not man. All your weapons won't help you at all in the fiery den.
The Lord doesn't differentiate between levels of pride very much in scripture. The pride of an LBTGQ parade and a man who trusts in his weapons and not Him might be all the same to Him.
You shoot an intruder you are the man!
You trust in God - He gets the glory!
All glory to Him alone forever!
Amen.
To comment Biden and child predator as similar or the same, whatever the insinuation was intended, without any proof or credible backing is called slander and it is a sin. Where has President Biden been found guilty as a child predator? Someone has been drinking the Far Right fear that Trump regularly spews out. "They're gonna take your guns!" "All hell will break loose if Walz is elected. "
Fear...
Where are your facts for insinuating Biden is a child predator?
I agree with you. Remember why they did not believe Christ was the Messiah. They wanted someone that would 'fight' - what did Christ say to Pilate? (John 18:36) Jesus answered, `My kingdom is not of this world; if my kingdom were of this world, my officers had struggled that I might not be delivered up to Jews; but now my kingdom is not from hence.' YLT
We are to trust God and if we are killed, we should rejoice since we will be with our Saviour!
@@kelliea5729 Yes, the Jews of Jesus' time expected a warrior Messiah who would lead them to military victory and political freedom. Instead, Jesus came with a message of non-violence, teaching love for enemies and turning the other cheek. He rejected the path of violence, focusing on spiritual liberation rather than earthly conquest. Yet, today, so many churches embrace a warrior mentality, missing the core of Jesus' teaching that true faith lies in peace, humility, and love, not in the sword.