Focus, today, is on Christian use of Internet tools that block, delete, and refuse to acknowledge comments posted by atheists, critics, disbelievers, and scorners. While believers are to be forbearing, forgiving, respectful and supportive of those making inquiry into the things of life from GOD through Jesus Christ, believers are not correct to encourage the continuation of abuse, blasphemy, deceit, discord, “doubtful disputation,” slander, and spiritual confusion. It is an error to think that responding to mocking and unbelief are some form of sacrifice for the Lord, for we are instructed by Hosea 6: 6, King James Version, KJV): For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. We are to put on the whole armor of GOD as our defense in meeting thrusts from those who are antichrists by their commitments, conduct, desires, doctrine, knowledge, lusts, purposes, and spirit. The writer at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “Christmas Dashy” (Level 5 with 5,163 points, a member since December 03, 2015) posted the following:
Christians, would God approve of you blocking atheists?
for the mere fact that we challenge your belief?
I would think that God would want us atheists to be challenging you to, you know, test your faith
THE GOLDEN ARROW: From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. (James 4: 1-10, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Heirs of The Cross? (04/01/2016); By Faith, Not By Interpretation? (12/31/2015); Growing Up Again? (12/09/2015); Mercy Not Sacrifice? (08/10/2015); Temptations, Tests and Trials? (05/12/2015); Philosophical Questions? (04/17/2014); To Accomplish A Sacred Goal (04/18/2014); Arguing Against the Bible in Church? (02/18/2014); Snake Handling? (02/19/2014)
“Christmas Dashy”, as sinners who have been “born again”, Christian believers are encouraged to endure affliction, life challenges, “growing pains,” and suffering upon the earth as necessary aspects of becoming “ripe” for harvest at the appearing of Jesus Christ from heaven (we say, the Advent, the Rapture, the Second Coming). To be effective and fruitful as those born again, believers all must “grow up again” displaying growth within their spirit, their acquisition of sacred knowledge, and their developing to maturity as a “new creation” through the ministry provided by Christ and the Holy Spirit. Multiple operations carried out by divinity equip and supply his workers to accomplish the specific duties, tasks, and spiritual works that continue correct relationship with divinity. Included are clarifying, demonstrating and spreading the doctrines and teachings from Christ through their lifestyle and daily routines as well as praise, prayer, service, and worship. While dialog and interaction with others are necessary, the tools of argument, debate, and the methods of academic study tend to be useless. Such finite tools as intellect, logic, mathematics, science, and technology do not allow created beings and living creatures to recognize, resist or eliminate sin. Focus and priority must be upon the gifts from the Holy Spirit that enable a complete and correct embrace of divine prophecy, promise, sacred revelation, and the promptings by the imparted, indwelling Spirit. Believers are not to deceive, harass, intimidate, meddle with, oppress, and threaten disbelievers. Neither are believers to invite or welcome inappropriate compromises, conflicts, disputes, and quarrels with those entangled by secular knowledge, philosophy, and other systems that lack spirit substance from the makeup of the Creator. The believers are to be citizens of an eternal kingdom separate from those immersed in the affairs of the flesh and of the world (we say, things carnal, material, and social). Consider how some of this is stated using language from the Bible:
(1.) 2nd Timothy 2: 3-5, King James Version (KJV): 3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. 5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
(2.) 1st Timothy 6: 20-21, KJV: 20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: 21 Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.
(3.) Galatians 5: 16-23, KJV: 16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
(4.) Romans 8: 5-9, KJV: 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (5.) 1st Peter 4: 14-19, KJV: 14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. 16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. 17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
Washington, DC
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