Michael Harrison
Advanced Member
Member # 6801
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posted
The truth cannot be forced on anyone. In fact, the hearer often cannot even hear because their mind and heart is 'stubbornly' made up, such that they are not seeking, but are defensively establishing their, "You can't touch this" boundaries, in which they make their case, even if it opposes God! And such is the case in an open forum usually. But God allows all of us to choose for or against what is said. But how to do so without slings and arrows?
And the attempt to make the case for Christ can, and is often distorted from what the speaker is truly saying, to what the hearer willing hears, or denies, in spite of best efforts the speaker to the contrary. Yet all one can do is offer, or to make the case. But...
Well, it is one thing to assert. It is another to accuse. It is one thing to point something out and suggest a different understanding, particularly with sound scripture to back it up, whether it is heard as it is delivered, received, or not. It is another to vehemently accuse, which is protecting ones own boundaries. Needless to say once again, if one does not want to hear, another cannot make them, and the effort to, comes inevitably to be thought of as treachery, despite one's not meaning to be so. It is a trap easy to fall into, especially when accusers hinder the conversation and seize every opportunity.
To be able to discuss is golden (and 'thanks' to the captain of this forum). But if another who is addressed is not receptive to consider, it can go downhill, particularly if there is accusing. It is hard to resist further defending one's statements, which is then interpreted as ill mannered, and spiteful. Go figure!
However, asserting, illustrating and so on, which is not accusing, 'is' the very thing that Jesus did, as we can easily read in the gospels, and those hearing, instead of receiving HIS words, for the record, sought to kill HIM because HE disagreed with 'their' understanding. They heard it as 'accusing'. They accused in return, but it was false. It will happen. But as Charles Trumbull said, the truly Victorious Christian person can learn from almost anyone if they are humble to receive, even from time to time, from the unsaved. That is our posture if we are yielded and are honest about it. And that is how God created us to be, as opposed to some who Lord it over others, and have to accuse in order to establish their foothold.
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Posts: 3273 | From: Charlotte N.C. | Registered: Sep 2007
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