"That's not Christian!"

Christian ethics and theology with an Anabaptist perspective
steve-in-kville

"That's not Christian!"

Post by steve-in-kville »

"He/she isn't living for the Lord!"

"He/she had a failure."

"He/she is living in sin."

... and other such comments that can be hurtful to someone who is genuinely trying.

Do we as mature (experienced?) Christians tend to come down too harsh on those perhaps fit a different mold? Are we too quick to pass judgement without actually getting to know the other person?

I have no agenda here. Just some random thoughts that have followed me around the past few days 8-)
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Soloist

Re: "That's not Christian!"

Post by Soloist »

steve-in-kville wrote: ↑Fri Jul 01, 2022 5:32 am "He/she isn't living for the Lord!"

"He/she had a failure."

"He/she is living in sin."

... and other such comments that can be hurtful to someone who is genuinely trying.

Do we as mature (experienced?) Christians tend to come down too harsh on those perhaps fit a different mold? Are we too quick to pass judgement without actually getting to know the other person?

I have no agenda here. Just some random thoughts that have followed me around the past few days 8-)
I would hazard a guess that someone who is mature would know the difference between someone who is trying and someone who is not.

At some point though... how many years of being an alcoholic and "trying" before they are not living for the Lord but living after the flesh?
I understand its addictive, but so is living for the flesh.
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AnthonyMartin
Posts: 1240
Joined: Thu Jun 13, 2019 8:52 pm
Affiliation: LMC

Re: "That's not Christian!"

Post by AnthonyMartin »

steve-in-kville wrote: ↑Fri Jul 01, 2022 5:32 am "He/she isn't living for the Lord!"

"He/she had a failure."

"He/she is living in sin."

... and other such comments that can be hurtful to someone who is genuinely trying.

Do we as mature (experienced?) Christians tend to come down too harsh on those perhaps fit a different mold? Are we too quick to pass judgement without actually getting to know the other person?

I have no agenda here. Just some random thoughts that have followed me around the past few days 8-)
Lot of performance based value in those statements, isn’t there?
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steve-in-kville

Re: "That's not Christian!"

Post by steve-in-kville »

I'll give an example: someone who believes that anything but traditional hymns is the only right way, any other Christian music "isn't Christian" (i.e. contemporary).

I once listened to a Pilgrim minister go into great lengths that the mesh cap headcovering was far superior than the hanging veil which was starting to get popular (late 90's?). And therefore, women who chose that headcover was considered "back sliding".
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Soloist

Re: "That's not Christian!"

Post by Soloist »

steve-in-kville wrote: ↑Fri Jul 01, 2022 7:15 am I'll give an example: someone who believes that anything but traditional hymns is the only right way, any other Christian music "isn't Christian" (i.e. contemporary).

I once listened to a Pilgrim minister go into great lengths that the mesh cap headcovering was far superior than the hanging veil which was starting to get popular (late 90's?). And therefore, women who chose that headcover was considered "back sliding".
There was one talk at the Anabaptist identity conference that was pretty funny over the cap style covering. A seeker asked if having their daughter dressed in the same fabric as a cap was modest and appropriately covered :mrgreen:
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steve-in-kville

Re: "That's not Christian!"

Post by steve-in-kville »

Soloist wrote: ↑Fri Jul 01, 2022 7:38 am
There was one talk at the Anabaptist identity conference that was pretty funny over the cap style covering. A seeker asked if having their daughter dressed in the same fabric as a cap was modest and appropriately covered :mrgreen:
When I was still at home, the local amish women had to where an apron made of headcovering material to church services.
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MaxPC

Re: "That's not Christian!"

Post by MaxPC »

I think there are better ways to verbalize concern for a brother or sister in sin. In the Bible Jesus does endorse correction in charity (Matthew 18). As with anything, it takes a genuine skill and maturity for doing so. Not everyone possesses such skills.
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steve-in-kville

Re: "That's not Christian!"

Post by steve-in-kville »

MaxPC wrote: ↑Fri Jul 01, 2022 8:33 am I think there are better ways to verbalize concern for a brother or sister in sin. In the Bible Jesus does endorse correction in charity (Matthew 18). As with anything, it takes a genuine skill and maturity for doing so. Not everyone possesses such skills.
Jesus himself, to my immediate recollection, never accused anyone of not being a true follower. His disciples may have, but not Jesus.
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ken_sylvania

Re: "That's not Christian!"

Post by ken_sylvania »

steve-in-kville wrote: ↑Fri Jul 01, 2022 11:48 am
MaxPC wrote: ↑Fri Jul 01, 2022 8:33 am I think there are better ways to verbalize concern for a brother or sister in sin. In the Bible Jesus does endorse correction in charity (Matthew 18). As with anything, it takes a genuine skill and maturity for doing so. Not everyone possesses such skills.
Jesus himself, to my immediate recollection, never accused anyone of not being a true follower. His disciples may have, but not Jesus.
How about John 8? Or Matthew 16:23?
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steve-in-kville

Re: "That's not Christian!"

Post by steve-in-kville »

ken_sylvania wrote: ↑Fri Jul 01, 2022 12:40 pm
steve-in-kville wrote: ↑Fri Jul 01, 2022 11:48 am
MaxPC wrote: ↑Fri Jul 01, 2022 8:33 am I think there are better ways to verbalize concern for a brother or sister in sin. In the Bible Jesus does endorse correction in charity (Matthew 18). As with anything, it takes a genuine skill and maturity for doing so. Not everyone possesses such skills.
Jesus himself, to my immediate recollection, never accused anyone of not being a true follower. His disciples may have, but not Jesus.
How about John 8? Or Matthew 16:23?
I'll have to look into that :mrgreen:
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