I believe I agree wholesale with that.
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.
Remaining in faith in The Lord has not been an issue for me in writing the fierce satire etc. I suppose a case could be made that I was deluded or had a seared conscience or some such but that was not my subjective best sense or awareness. But I have often felt very much abiding in faith and in Him when writing such.
But now, it feels very strongly that He is asking me to put the spiritual comfort and spiritual communion of this group of diverse yea-hoos above even the tool He has used so powerfully so often in the past.
And, given my passion for brotherly loving unity, I’m very willing to do so as . . . disconcerting and mystifying as it may be to other parts of me.
I don’t know if I’m making any sense to you and you may disagree 100%. But it’s probably the best reply I can make at present. And, I would be honored by whatever reply you care to make.
I’m sure God has used your ‘fierceness’ to help many, many people. Face to face is different from what we write here. Many times it can be misunderstood because they can’t see your expressions, sense your tears, your agony for them. I’ve written thoughts in letters that caused a lot of problems for me and I’ve learned not to express myself that way to those I love. Much to repent of in my life, I’m afraid. Sigh.
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.