| Welcome to Godlimations. We hope you enjoy your visit. You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free. Join our community! If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features: |
| Are you really carrying the Cross? | |
|---|---|
| Tweet Topic Started: 11 Sep 2011, 09:13 AM (448 Views) | |
| Babaylan | 11 Sep 2011, 09:13 AM Post #1 |
|
Horned Rogue
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Jesus had been teaching us that we must learn how to endure suffering and carry our cross to be worthy of him. However, how do you know if you really are carrying the cross or you are a Masochist or a coward? Its a well known fact whenever we are being abused, Silence is not the Answer, however there are some Christians who says this instead: "Leave the judgement to the Lord" or perhaps "Give the fool enough rope and he will hang himself". Is this a form of carrying the cross? Is this being a coward? Is this being a masochist? Correct me if im wrong, but: If we would say that this Christian who chooses to be abused in silence due to his fears of the consequences for standing up then excuse himself that God is behind him is a coward, then would this make Jesus himself as a bad model for a strong man? If we would say that the same sample above is carrying the cross (which obviously not!) then would this mean that God doesnt deserve to be called as one? So the question is: "How do you know that you are carrying the cross?" Edited by Babaylan, 11 Sep 2011, 10:48 AM.
|
|
All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by frost. | |
![]() |
|
| Babaylan | 13 Sep 2011, 11:57 PM Post #2 |
|
Horned Rogue
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Has everyone left godlimations?
Edited by Babaylan, 13 Sep 2011, 11:58 PM.
|
|
All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by frost. | |
![]() |
|
| Concolor | 14 Sep 2011, 11:52 AM Post #3 |
|
Barabbas
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
I'm still here, but not exactly carrying a cross ![]() I thought I'd leave this one for some cross-carriers. As for me the answer to this, and many similar questions, is quite easy. |
|
Life is beautiful, love heals, people come through. Reason, compassion and love comes first. Everything else is secondary. Except for Skittles. - And emperor Cheezy!
| |
![]() |
|
Luemas
|
14 Sep 2011, 08:36 PM Post #4 |
![]()
DELICIOUS!
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
I didn't answer this... probably because I'm lazy. However, your question seems to be, if it's good to suffer, then look at these Christians. Is that a Christianly way to act? No1 Jesus tells us to love our enemies, and count our losses as gain. So when someone slaps you, turn the other cheek, not because you like the pain, but because, violence isn't the answer. However, you must love them. That is the hard part. Love the bully. Can you do it? |
|
I think I'm Crazzzy. I think your crazy. I think your crazzzy... probably. | |
![]() |
|
| Babaylan | 20 Sep 2011, 01:34 AM Post #5 |
|
Horned Rogue
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Loving your oppressors is insanity or masochism The best and right action would be to stand for your rights and allow others to dicipline him. Pretty contradictory to what Jesus said aint it? |
|
All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by frost. | |
![]() |
|
Luemas
|
20 Sep 2011, 06:16 PM Post #6 |
![]()
DELICIOUS!
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Yes. That is contradictory. And wrong, because Jesus is right. Wow. Way to use 5 year old logic Lue. Anyways, it's insanity to the world, but that makes it no less important. If you love those who love you, even the sinners do that. Christians are about being different than the world. While I admit that a bully needs to learn that his actions are wrong, whenever Paul spoke of reprobating, he never, never, let anger be involved. You are to approach them calmly as a person, to try and show them their sin, and hopefully mend their ways. If that doesn't work, you take a couple of people, and try to help them. Remember, your main goal is to help them, not yourself. Why fear him who can hurt the body, fear the lord who controls the soul. The final step is to approach them in front of your community. If that doesn't work, then they are to be cast out of the community. In the Christian community atleast. At your local high school... perhaps just the silent treatment will have to do. |
|
I think I'm Crazzzy. I think your crazy. I think your crazzzy... probably. | |
![]() |
|
| Babaylan | 20 Sep 2011, 10:31 PM Post #7 |
|
Horned Rogue
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Then I guess its like the saying "If you love your children, you will spank them" And therefore we can conclude that Silence isnt the Answer neighter is speaking with anger
|
|
All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by frost. | |
![]() |
|
| Afalstein | 20 Sep 2011, 10:42 PM Post #8 |
|
Mountain Gnome
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
"We preach a mystery, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness." Loving oppressors is very, VERY difficult, and counter to human nature, but not necessarily insane. In fact, it's a lesson preached by many modern liberal thinkers--love all humanity, even the rotten ones. The modern idea is that you can transform a bad person by loving them and turning them to good. This idea is a big part of pacifism, and is especially popular in Japanese culture. The character Ender Wiggin in the Ender's Game series states that "you have to know your enemy so well that you love them." "Standing up for your rights" is actually a more modern and humanistic notion, most people in the Dark Ages would have been rather astonished at the idea. The Christian ideal is that your oppressors are sinners just as you are. God has placed them over you, and so far as their law does not conflict with God's you are to accept that. "Render unto Ceasar the things which are Ceaser's, and to God the things which are God's." More, you are to love them as fellow men and seek for their redemption. Which is... kinda similar to the modern liberal ideal in a lot of ways. The Bible tells slaves to love their masters and wives to be subservient to their husbands. It ALSO tells husbands to be kind to their wives and for masters to treat their servants well, but the first is not contingent on the second. The early Christians more or less sat back and just endured persecution, they didn't try to overthrow Nero or insist on their rights in the Imperial Senate. And, all things considered, it worked out pretty well for them (apart from the ones that died). Enduring suffering for the sake of Christ is not necessarily masochism. Granted, there may be some masochists who take cover under the idea of 'suffering for Christ,' but that doesn't mean that all Christians who suffer are masochists. If you honestly enjoyed pain, I'm not certain that'd be considered 'suffering' for Christ. You don't seek martyrdom, or at least you're not supposed to. Nor are you especially called to BE oppressed or to suffer, its just that if you find yourself in that position, you're not to shirk from it. As for the technical details of HOW one loves ones oppressors... well, that's a whole struggle in and of itself. The best answer I've heard is that you are to pray for them repeatedly, and ask God to HELP you love them. |
|
"Evil Triumphs when Good men do nothing." -Edmund Burke | |
![]() |
|
Luemas
|
21 Sep 2011, 06:01 PM Post #9 |
![]()
DELICIOUS!
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Afalstein, can I just have you answer all of the questions on debate/theology, because you say it so much better than I do. Kthxbye. |
|
I think I'm Crazzzy. I think your crazy. I think your crazzzy... probably. | |
![]() |
|
| Babaylan | 21 Sep 2011, 09:45 PM Post #10 |
|
Horned Rogue
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
|
|
All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by frost. | |
![]() |
|
| Afalstein | 21 Sep 2011, 11:23 PM Post #11 |
|
Mountain Gnome
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
@Babylan I don't know about LEAST. Certainly that's something I'd hesitate to say until I'd actually faced death myself. I might live a perfectly good life and turn coward at the last minute. Chances are, if you DID live an awful life, you're not going to be too keen about facing God having done so. Unless, of course, you experience an on-the-cross conversion. Having said that, I do see your point. Dying for God is all well and good, but living for God takes longer and can very well be more difficult. And, for that matter, can be more productive. Again, one doesn't seek Martyrdom. |
|
"Evil Triumphs when Good men do nothing." -Edmund Burke | |
![]() |
|
![]() Our users say it best: "Zetaboards is the best forum service I have ever used." |
|
| « Previous Topic · Debate · Next Topic » |




![]](http://z4.ifrm.com/static/1/pip_r.png)





.gif)

6:40 PM Jul 10