One Another (Christian Caucus/Devotion) [For loving mutual edification, building up, encouragement]

Knitting a Conundrum: We are coming together in love, and to share the love of Christ, and therefore, even if we disagree, we need to remember to avoid things that are not said kindly and in love. Each of us holds our beliefs because we do it for the love of Christ, and even if you don’t accept the conclusion of a person, honor it by not saying harsh or hurtful things because it’s done to honor Christ.

Kind and respectful discourse. Avoid words that you know will cause a kneejerk reaction. If a person uses terminology that seems wrong to you, ask them to define it the way they use it, and accept the fact that it might be used differently than you use it. Together we can work on ways of discussing our love of Christ in a language we all understand.

We construe that to mean—ABSOLUTELY NOTHING PERSONALLY NEGATIVE will be posted to another FREEPER Christian.

Generic Biblical points, MINOR, essential comments about flaws of generic groups of Christians MIGHT--with hopefully rare exception--MIGHT be allowed but are NOT to be the focus or emphasis of this thread.

We seek the awesome possibility that this thread could be an overwhelmingly positive example of:

We call and challenge ourselves and other BELIEVERS IN CHRIST AS THEIR LORD AND SAVIOR to respond to each ONE ANOTHER as posted for that day as though delivered from the hand or mouth of our Lord and Savior directly that day at the moment of first reading it.

Ask The Lord where in one’s life HE would like to see that expressed more fully, earnestly, Spirit-led-ly, routinely.

Ask The Lord where in the FR Religion Forum network of RELATIONSHIPS it might be better expressed more faithfully as unto The Lord.

< If The Lord reminds one of where one has done well with that ONE ANOTHER to good effect in an individual’s life for The Kingdom and their relationship with God—sharing that in a humble, edifying way could be helpful.

Perhaps most redemptive would be a walking out of that ONE ANOTHER in a growthful, amplified way ON THE THREAD WITH ANOTHER FREEPER BELIEVER(S) with whom one has been less than ideally Christian in threads past.

Above all, let this thread more than any other prior— BE A VIVID EXAMPLE OF THE WORLD KNOWING WE ARE CHRISTIANS BY OUR LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER!

1. Anything which arises out of our flesh nature—especially with a gritch, jab, tweak attached—particularly one designed to leave the other person one down and us one up.

2. Anything designed to/out of any motivation to shove our presumed saintliness and saintly perspective down anyone else’s, everyone else’s throat.

3. Anything which would detract from, sabotage the goal of a mutually supportive; mutually loving, mutually edifying CHRISTIAN CAUCUS thread. Anything UNloving.

1. Show ourselves and the world that we ARE CHRISTIANS by our LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER. If the flesh is weak, ASK GOD for more umph in the love department before finishing typing and hitting POST.

2. Build other posters up; edify; encourage; clarify; support; affirm; BE KIND; be gentle; . . . be CHRISTLIKE in word, tone, deed.

3. Word things as you might during your most fervent courtship--to a young gal/man you were hoping to marry—i.e. attractively, winsomely, invitingly, maturely, responsibly--LOVINGLY.

Romans 15:7
Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.

CERTAINLY.

Lord, God of Israel and all that is . . .

We confess that as Paul says, we have the mind of Christ by His Spirit. And we claim that for our beloved ?sister? Kimmie7.

We ask, Lord that you enable Kimmie to get aside at least some moments and focus peacefully, confidently, receptively on YOU. Help her lay aside all other considerations for some moments.

At a fitting moment, gently, by Your Spirit raise within her an image, a principle, a truth, a phrase, a video . . . an association . . . which will highlight your HIGHEST for her in this regard.

You alone, Lord, know all the priorities and situations ahead. You alone know where her best interests lie amongst these 3 choices. If there's a 4th better waiting in the wings, make that clear.

Whatever is Your Highest for her and her family, Lord, make abundantly clear to her such that she can walk CONFIDENTLY forward with you into that new job and not look back.

Help her to know and FOLLOW AFTER YOUR PEACE IN HER HEART, MIND AND SPIRIT about YOUR CHOICE. Let her know by your PEACE which choice that is and then to walk in that Peace about that job; in that job.

In your Precious Name, Jesus, Amen.

Something I found:

Some of us have deliberatly rejected kindness. When it comes to a showdown over some petty issue, kindness doesn’t strike us as forceful enough to hold our ground. It seems effeminate, weak, indulgent, even lenient. We appear to get more mileage from counter-attack, parry and thrust. So the fruit of the Spirit drops to the ground, victim to more “useful” tactics.

Our Father exhibits His eternal kindness toward us by a purposeful forbearance. We can keep our anger from canceling kindness. Not easily, but with a firm grasp on Christ’s power. New Testament kindness is not the laxness of an indulgent grandfather. Kindness is strength. “Better . . . a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city” (Prov. 16:32). We require the full strength of the Holy Spirit to control anger. Three Biblical strategies enables us to remain kind, even when angry.

Kind Confrontation

Kindness doesn’t rule out plain speech, confrontation, or rebuke. These are acts of Christian kindness. Jesus directs us to confront squarely a brother who sins (Lk. 17:3). Paul was anything but namby-pamby. He faced issues head on (Gal. 2:11ff; cf. 2 Tim. 4:2; Tit. 2:15). Yet his words of rebuke never aimed to injure, but to set right and heal (cf. 2 Cor. 2:2-4). For Paul, rebuke went hand in hand with “patience and kindness . . . weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left” (2 Cor. 6:6, 7).

Long-term kindness between imperfect family members is possible only through confrontation. To remain emotionally healthy we must acknowledge our anger, but we don’t have to give it free reign. Loving rebuke, when appropriate, keeps rising anger from turning ugly and blocking kindness altogether. “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another” (Eph. 4:31-32).

Active Forgiveness

Genuine forgiveness faces sin squarely, without either trying to excuse the sin or minimize the hurt. At the cross, God didn’t stretch the truth to lessen the pain. Christ bore the sin fully so He might forgive it completely. Forgiveness is the raw material of God’s kindness. His forbearance in the face of provocation is inconceivable without “forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin” (Ex. 34:7). Real forgiveness is neither an excuse or a brave front. It is a deliberate faith choice, a refusal to hold this sin against him, against her. “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Eph. 4:32). Excusing or trying to rationalize Hank’s cruel words can’t defuse anger. True forgiveness can.

Courtesy

Christian courtesy is vital kindness in tense times. Listening without interrupting. Refraining from namecalling. Allowing the other person to speak his piece. Common courtesy. The Bible challenges us “to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all men” (Tit. 2:2, RSV). If courtesy is required in public, how much more in our own families? Living by a rule of courtesy enables us to keep inevitable anger from overflowing into rage.

Kindness in the Face of Provocation

Anyone can return kindness with kindness. But kindness in the face of provocation, kindness in return for hostility—that is the Biblical fruit of the Spirit at its peak of ripeness. A word study of “kindness” in the New Testament yields a amazing discovery: where “kindness” is mentioned in hostile situations, God Himself is nearly always the author.

He personally demonstrates before His children this raw, unvarnished kindness—love in return for hostility. Paul lists a catalog of man at his worst: “foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved . . . We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.” Then comes the good news. “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us . . .” (Tit. 3:3-5).

God’s greatness is seen in His restraint. Even when fools “show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience”—count it as softness—yet He persists (Rom. 2:4).

Before a God who substitutes kindness for retaliation, our excuses evaporate. Provocation does not justify rudeness, “because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked” (Lk. 6:35). If our God can show kindness in the extremity of utter rebellion, how much more should we show kindness to our own families. With God’s example in sharp focus, we see that Christian kindness is no fair-weather option. Kindness is not based on merit of the recipient but on the character of the author. Kindness isn’t for weaklings. It is the guts and gears of the gospel in action. The ooey-gooey of a honeymoon couple is charming but less than convincing to a cynical world. The really compelling witness before our tragically fragmented culture is this: a Christian marriage which demonstrates kindness in spite of conflict. “All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another” (Jn. 13:35).

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