“Whenever any of our words or actions causes anyone to recoil in anger, hatred or fear from the Word of God we take on a shared responsibility for their sin because, as Christians, we know better. I pray that you remember this when declaring your own Salvation.”
Simply speaking the truth of Jesus causes many to react out of anger for their darkness does not like the light. So while your words are wise as far as they go; sometimes the person speaking the truth, no matter how softly and gently he speaks them or as boldly forthright as in the case of Paul, that person is going to be accused of being angry, out of touch, worthy to be a censured and killed enemy. So we must be cautious as Christians in the censuring of one another in the speaking of truth...the world itself will always be offended by us; but Christians must remain in control at least in the offending of one another! Remember scripture:John 13:34“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Forget about Protestant and Catholic “ideas’ about what “church” is...the days are darkening and Christians in all churches everywhere...Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Jewish Messianic are about to have imposed on them what Christ’s idea of what his church should be...persecution may make of all of us very strange bedfellows. Some of the posters on this thread are right...we are all of us going to be very surprised as to what Christ really considers his TRUE church to be! Our minds would be blown away if we could really understand what Christ intends for us; our imaginations could never conceive what is coming!
>>So we must be cautious as Christians in the censuring of one another in the speaking of truth...<<
Here is the absolute truth, it’s freakin rude to have someone say, “I’ll pray for you.” and not say “Thank you.” This is simple Barney stuff taught to preschoolers. (”Please don’t forget to say ‘please’, thank you for saying ‘Thank you’ etc.) And you can go off on your interpretation of scripture to your hearts content (because the Word of God is absolute but one’s interpretation of it is up for debate) however it has NOTHING to do with a person who has such a closed heart that she can’t graciously accept a prayer given in kindness.
Jesus spoke the truth and being Jesus, he always did it in love. How could He not. And yet, look at some of the ways He expressed that. The woes and the clearing of the Temple.
In the end, they crucified Him, simply because He spoke the truth. The enemy does not like being exposed and will always react to the truth.
Before someone goes around accusing others of being *unloving* and that's why they're being taken wrongly, they need to make sure they're not simply blame shifting because they're being offended by the truth.