Wednesday, June 5, 2019

(06/05/2019) Tested By Secular People

A depiction of the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican


Today, reply is on spiritual authority, humility, and responding to the challenges, criticism, and condemnation of Christian believers by secular people in America. The class of “secular people” is understood as a broad social segment that may include agnostics, atheists, complainers, disbelievers, idolaters, mockers, murmurers, scorners, and those who routinely judge others. Without discernment that develops gradually through practice, even mature Christian believers can not correctly and consistently identify those who are the true vessels of spirit substance imparted from the makeup of GOD. Sinners who become “born again” are not immediately flawless or perfected; and all are cautioned against judging one another. Aspects of ones inborn spirit (e.g., pride; selfishness; stubbornness) may continue to oppose the fresh endowment from GOD indefinitely. The born again also must “grow up again;” and become mature/ripe for harvest at the coming of Jesus. While gradually growing as developing believers, there will be many times they will come under chastisement from GOD. Thus, it is written: Psalms 19: 12-14, King James Version, KJV: 12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. 13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. 14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. A writer in the “Yahoo! Answers” Religion and Spirituality public forum who uses the ID “JSG” (Level 1 with 4 points, a member since March 28, 2019) posted the following:



Christians: Why do secular think they have a right to tell Christians how to act and what to do?

Hi. I am a Christian and I don't get it. I am an American and Americans have freedom of religion and freedom of expression. When secular people express their views and opinions that seems to be fine, but when a Christian does the same thing, especially when it's about something he doesn't like, it seems like sometimes secular people are quick to vilify him?

Why?

Some secular people are quick to tell Christians what the Bible says. I wonder where they get their nerve from.

If you're not Saved and you're trying to tell me what the Bible says, I'm not interested in what you have to say. That's not a secular person's place to try to tell me what the Word says, or to tell me to adhere to the Word.

Please help- thank you.
Update: Christians: Why do secular people think they have a right to tell Christians how to act and what to do? - FIXED.



THE GOLDEN ARROW: Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee? Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts? And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered. Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not. (Malachi 3: 13-18, King James Version, KJV)



THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Suffering Among the Saved (03/12/2019); Divine Fruit From Suffering? (12/19/2018); Serving In Christian Relationships (08/31/2018); Recognizing True Christian Prophets (02/26/2018); To Bear Wrongs Patiently? (02/13/2018); Rebirth, Growth and Transformation (09/29/2017); Driving Away the Enemy? (09/15/2017); Testing and Divine Process (06/12/2017); The Gift of Humility (02/19/2017)



JSG”, among Christian believers correction, edification, and even healing come by the holy writings; you may find the following is helpful:

1. Proverbs 9: 6-10, King James Version (KJV): 6 Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding. 7 He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. 8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. 9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. 10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

2. James 1: 22-26, KJV: 22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. 26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this mans religion is vain.

3. Hebrews 12: 1-8, KJV: 1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. 5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

There is far more that should be said, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, 4. Luke 18: 9-14, KJV: 9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.


Image downloaded 4:36 PM, June 04, 2019 @ https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht2-phEN0bD1I2c2Ij_3oBr2G9_zJwC7FFAuc_T6J19txPm-G4OJnWjZVmmIxyluv3KQcYAp3M1yZl7CZA3YxTK6vci_x1pm57aon8d6urm5sxw0M3x-F5liymTn3dbK1J4nwrm67gDn-Y/s1600/pharisee2.jpg



THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

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