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I’d say it’s fine to tell people they are wrong. Stephen is quoting the Old Testament in calling the Jews “stiff-necked” as God Himself did. Paul is calling them foolish and questioning them. That’s a far cry from the type of ridicule some “Christians” on this thread heap on others.

I have not cherry picked. See Matthew 25: 31-46 for what Christ Himself says about the value He places on our treatment of others. Whenever He speaks of judgment, He makes it clear that we must give others dignity and respect. I can find many, many passages to support my view. Read the parable of the Good Samaritan again. The Samaritans were misguided, but Christ still applauded the misguided Samaritan’s charity and was disgusted by the Pharisee who followed the Law to the letter and had such disdain for his misguided brother.

I repeat: judgment is reserved for God. I am repulsed by the arrogance, pride, and conceit evidenced by some of the responses on this thread. It’s all sound and fury signifying nothing. Who do you think is convinced of the error of their ways when they read the kind of “witness” they see here? I doubt the real goal is conversion or evangelization. I feel the goal of many is to simply spout their own beliefs and set themselves up as little Christs. In their own minds, they are the only ones who understand Scripture and they feel they are uniquely qualified to render judgment on others.

The Holy Spirit gives each of us unique gifts. Each of us is dear to God, even when we are wandering and lost. Our Shepherd awaits with LOVE, MERCY, and justice.

I repeat: judgment is reserved for God. I am repulsed by the arrogance, pride, and conceit evidenced by some of the responses on this thread.

Wow! I think you've come in second place for the fastest contradictory FReeper post! First you say "judgment is reserved for God"-- and then you turn around & judge some unknown posters for their supposed "arrogance, pride and conceit".

So which is it? Is "judgment" reserved for Him? (Or do you have a special dispensation to engage in it?)

And which standard are we supposed to believe? What you say is the standard -- not to judge? Or what you exhibit? (Where you have the temerity to look down from your self-established high post & judge inner attitudes that are sometimes hard to discern even among acquaintances -- let alone complete strangers that you have very little interaction with)

Who do you think is convinced of the error of their ways when they read the kind of “witness” they see here?

(Please tell us what kind of "witness" it is to be talking out of both sides of your mouth? -- see above)

I doubt the real goal is conversion or evangelization. I feel the goal of many is to simply spout their own beliefs and set themselves up as little Christs. In their own minds, they are the only ones who understand Scripture and they feel they are uniquely qualified to render judgment on others.

Wow! You know these strangers' "own minds" that well? Really? Which posters? You know what they "feel" on the inside? Really? And then you decide to go back to the trough a second time about accusing someone of being judgmental all the while you're judging what's supposedly going on internally in their mind & emotions!

You know, if it's your personal standard that folks shouldn't judge, maybe you ought to set the example bar a little higher, eh?

I’d say it’s fine to tell people they are wrong.

Oh, sure you do. Because you're telling us about these posters & how what they're doing is wrong religiously. But, boy, when these unnamed posters want to tell others in this thread how others are wrong religiously, you don't give them your pat on the back. Nope, it's a slap on the rear end. Note how you describe that: "I feel the goal of many is to simply spout their own beliefs and set themselves up as little Christs." (Now ya wanna tell us the big distinction between telling someone they're wrong & "spouting beliefs" that establishes them as "little Christs?") And how is it again that you know all these inner "goals" people have? Have they shared them with you? Do you have a Magic-8 ball? Have you found their crib notes? How?

The Samaritans were misguided, but Christ still applauded the misguided Samaritan’s charity and was disgusted by the Pharisee who followed the Law to the letter and had such disdain for his misguided brother.

Show me the disgust from Scripture.

Luke 10:25-37

25. On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
26. "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"
27. He answered: "`Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind' ; and, `Love your neighbor as yourself.' "
28. "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."
29. But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
30. In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.
31. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.
32. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
33. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.
34. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him.
35. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. `Look after him,' he said, `and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'
36. "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"
37. The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."