WHAT IS THE NATURE OF CHRISTIAN LOVE? --It's full depth and breadth

"And, at some point, one would have to obey God more than man regardless. ... But here and now, on this forum, I humanly needed a clearer sense of the Christian Consensus in order to feel comfortable enough with laying aside something I’ve seen God use powerfully for several decades.

Our Lord is also human. We always obey God more than man and even have the best example or image possibly available to us through faith in Him at all times.

Which commandments were the most important to our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus?

Mat 22:36-40

(36) Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

(37) Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

(38) This is the first and great commandment.

(39) And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

(40) On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Now, what defiles a man?

Mat 15:17-20

(17) Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?

(18) But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

(19) For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

(20) These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

If somebody claims they are offended in their feelings or emotions by reading something, we might recognize they have a weakness for being so offended and avoid touching on their weakness.

On the other hand, a brother who has backslidden is likely when using a cosmic, worldly, counterfeit system of order, to avoid facing the brunt force of reality when faced with opposition. A backslidden believer and many an unbeliever will frequently feel frustrated and react to another believer's faithfulness so as not to return into fellowship with God or admit their personal accountability of their volitional responsibility.

It is very likely for those not in fellowship with God to be frustrated by the fellowship of others. They will likely strike out at believers and frequently based upon emotions in an adversarial fashion.

It is interesting to note that emotions in the Greek come from a place associated with emptiness, and void of life in the soul or spirit.

Who is to say that your use of language while in fellowship with God, and the type of expressions used, aren't in themselves part of His plan? IMHO, as long as they are used through faith in Christ in fellowship with Him, then it is legitimate, and depending on the situation might be more fruitful than many in opposition might ever acknowledge.

My recommendation is not to place priority with the complaints of others, but rather remain first in fellowship with Him, express yourslf in a fashion which loves our fellow man as ourselves, and run as the Lord so guides you.

What awesome wisdom from The Lord’s Spirit. Thanks tons and tons.

Your wisdom shall long be in my memory as a stalwart beacon, milepost of His wisdom to me. Greatly appreciated.

For here and for now, my fellowship with Him indicates that I should follow after overtly obvious caring, love and Peace-ableness.

I had assumed it would be from here on out. But, God has changed routes and criteria from time to time. We shall see. And, some things may be more fitting for FREEPMAIL during such a period.

I just have an overriding and abiding sense that helping authentic Believers come together in Love and mutual purpose under the guidance of His Spirit is a growing priority to Him. And I certainly prefer to be in step with His current priorities.

I don’t know what that means in the general other FR forums and in my life in general vis a vis laying aside any such tools in my tool box.

I certainly have tried for a considerable time to facilitate authentic believers cooperating in prayer and worship to negligible results, most of the time, seemingly. Oh, there have been exceptions here and there but nothing very sweeping.

I think your Spirit led analysis of unbelievers and out of sync ‘believers’ is precisely right. I’ve certainly experienced such in my own life on both sides of things. And, there’s been tons of such from unbelievers and ‘believers’ evidently not in close fellowship with God. I think that’s one reason I’ve grown such a thick hide over it.

But, I’ve still sought to maintain a tender heart as well. So, the range of feelings can hit home forcefully. But, above all, I want to be in His will moment by moment and to bear fruit for His Kingdom regardless of shallow emotional sensitivities and various kinds of kicking and screaming.

A lot of us have been brought to a deeper/higher spiritual place with much kicking and screaming—though we may prefer the compliant or ‘while we sleep’ varieties of growth.

But it has increasingly felt like the FR religion forum was a stench in God’s nostrils and something that He, the RM and a LOT of us wanted changed. Further, that some of us more forceful, imperative types of communicators would do well to change our tones and manner first. So, I’m trying to obey that sense in my spirit.

I don’t know what that means vis a vis the rest of the venues on FR. Nor, for that matter, in the rest of my Christian life.

Have often tried to facilitate authentic believers worshipping and praising together; working for the poor together etc. There have been blips of progress. But I think The Lord is going to have to move in hearts in a big way for there to be more significant progress. Sadly, I think it will take great hardship before many believers realize the cry of God’s heart through necessity in their own lives.

I think your exhortation touches me so deeply because of the lifelong tension between being a tender hearted former scardy cat wimp vs some variation on Jeremiah’s personna. So many times, my spirit seems prompted to rise up saying something like: WHERE IS THE LORD GOD OF ELIJAH! LET GOD ARISE AND HIS ENEMIES BE SCATTERED! . . .

But, we wrestle not against flesh and blood and that must be kept constantly in mind—internally as well as externally.

BTW, any such wisdom infecting my flawed person has come through much travail and fiery furnaces. I assume such has been mostly true for you??? I realize some can come ‘in our sleep’ or by God just blessing us with it as a kind of free gift. But so much seems to ‘require’ great struggle.

In any case. I greatly appreciate it. Please exhort me several times a day if you ever have such an inclination! LOL.

God’s best to you and yours,

LUB,
BLPH,
Quix

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