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Post by Tabitha3319 on Aug 23, 2020 16:22:31 GMT -5
Over time, I feel like I have had too many experiences of rejection and misunderstanding to truly love people the way Christ did.
To be honest, I find myself not wanting to truly be patient and listen to people because I feel like I already know the outcome of me trying to reach them: being judged as hateful for having a strong conviction.
People judge me as being holier than thou for having standards and when I stand on the Word of God, I'm seen as being narrow and unloving.
It's very hurtful to me. If I didn't have any love, I wouldn't even try to reach people.
So for a while, I've been content to seek God alone and not try and make waves.
I know that my real enemy is Satan and not the people he deceives.
But I honestly want to throw my hands up be cause of people's absolute all out hatred of Christianity and the Bible--- even from people who are supposed to be Christian's.
I feel like if they are that hardheaded and unwilling to listen, maybe they don't deserve someone trying to reach them with the gospel or a Godly perspective.
I know this is not how Christ would have me think but Its like the coldness of this world has frozen my heart. I'd rather stay here on Narrow-Way where the things of God are still respected.
Still, I see this as a problem for me to overcome. I know Jesus reached out in love to us while we were yet sinners and wanted nothing to do with Him.
I don't want to retreat from the world. I want to shine a light. Even though I know my feelings won't reach people and I'll be misunderstood.
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Post by frienduff on Aug 23, 2020 21:24:04 GMT -5
No throwing those hands up , my loved sister . Continue in the love of Christ . and that love will remind any in error . for it desires them not to perish . GET FIRED UP SISTER . I got so many nick names , FOR MY LOVE of JESUS , might fill a small phone book . LET US Simply move onward IN JESUS SISTER . And let us remember the perfect ONE JESUS . WHO endured such a contradiction of sinners against His own self . MARCH ON SISTER . THE WORLD WONT LOVE US but because we love the peoples , we point them to the KING and we correct brethren who do err , with hopes they repent . BUT if they heed you not , SISTER , MOVE ON . we can pray for them , but move on You are loved my dear sister . IF you do want to THROW your hands up , WELL THEN JUST THROW THEM UP IN PRAISE TO JESUS . NOW THAT we can DO . THROW THOSE HANDS UP IN PRAISE TO JESUS . Forward march sister , WE GOT ALL HOPE , JESUS IS OUR HOPE . Now let us continue on IN THE KING .
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Post by frienduff on Aug 23, 2020 21:28:34 GMT -5
Sister this is like a mini place of rest for me too . Its good we found this place . Cause all i see in most places , vexes my soul with deep groanings for them . I get joyed up here , cause folks here LOVE THE LORD . THEN i go out and witness and the beatings come , BUT the JOY OF THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH . BUT You are correct , it can be highly sad and very depressing to see much of what goes on in so many places , by even many who profess to know JESUS . That is so vexing . BUT all we can do , IS MARCH ON SISTER . some will hear . I Even got really disheartened a few times . Remember . I said in all my years at worthy , i wonder if anyone ever heard me . BUT SOME DID SISTER . SOME DID . SO PRAISE THE KING . sometimes we just dont know who heard . and mostly we will be rejected . BUT YOU JUST LEAP UP , SING TO THE LORD , DANCE A PRAISE ROUND THAT HOUSE SISTER , FOR OUR LORD IS WITH US and WE HAVE ALL HOPE . PRAISE THE HOLY KING .
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Post by John on Aug 24, 2020 4:30:38 GMT -5
If you take the truth to someone, and they reject it, you have done your part and sounded the warning. You are free to move on and share the truth with someone else. You do not have to feel like you must keep arguing with the same people that rejected you. Also, if you are not feeling strong enough to deal with the backlash, perhaps you need to remain among those who are standing with you until you are stronger. When we are weak, people can wear us down, so we must be careful about that too. If the Lord leads you to go to a certain person to warn them, you need to obey Him, but sometimes, it is not God leading you into bad places. My feeling is that you might be feeling responsible for the results, and not just sounding the warning, and people have free will to make up their mind. You are not responsible for that. Be led of God, and obey Him, and that is all you can do.
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Cletus
Senior Member
Posts: 2,517
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Post by Cletus on Aug 24, 2020 22:17:47 GMT -5
Over time, I feel like I have had too many experiences of rejection and misunderstanding to truly love people the way Christ did. To be honest, I find myself not wanting to truly be patient and listen to people because I feel like I already know the outcome of me trying to reach them: being judged as hateful for having a strong conviction. People judge me as being holier than thou for having standards and when I stand on the Word of God, I'm seen as being narrow and unloving. It's very hurtful to me. If I didn't have any love, I wouldn't even try to reach people. So for a while, I've been content to seek God alone and not try and make waves. I know that my real enemy is Satan and not the people he deceives. But I honestly want to throw my hands up be cause of people's absolute all out hatred of Christianity and the Bible--- even from people who are supposed to be Christian's. I feel like if they are that hardheaded and unwilling to listen, maybe they don't deserve someone trying to reach them with the gospel or a Godly perspective. I know this is not how Christ would have me think but Its like the coldness of this world has frozen my heart. I'd rather stay here on Narrow-Way where the things of God are still respected. Still, I see this as a problem for me to overcome. I know Jesus reached out in love to us while we were yet sinners and wanted nothing to do with Him. I don't want to retreat from the world. I want to shine a light. Even though I know my feelings won't reach people and I'll be misunderstood.
Mat 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Mat 23:38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. Mat 23:39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
the truth is... you maybe cant love them... but He can in and thru you. and keep in mind, they really are not rejecting you... but your LORD.
and dont think God dont see when you are rejected. when anything happens to you thats negative because of His name... you will be rewarded. its precious to Him and He dont forget it.
having said all that i also second what John said about maybe it wasnt God and it was you jumping out there. I dont know that for certain, but consider the seven sons of sceva story in acts. consider how David sought Gods blessing to go to battle before going. If what John said is the case you are banging your head on the wall.
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Post by Tabitha3319 on Aug 25, 2020 11:54:25 GMT -5
I don't understand why God wouldn't want me to try and reach difficult people.
We have Gods blessing to go and make disciples, teaching them to obey the Lord.
I get wanting to be in God's will but then where is our sense of urgency for the lost?
We do realize that people are going to hell, right?
God told me to reach out to a very liberal and anti Christian person and she didn't respond well. But that doesn't mean I was wrong for trying.
There are a lot of people who get by waiting for evangelistic opportunities to present themselves.
I am not one of those people. I have to be intentional about speaking God's truth to people. Otherwise I stay completely silent and don't say anything at all.
Of course I love when everything just flows and people fall under the conviction of God. But Jesus said wed be hated and that's where I'm at.
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Post by John on Aug 25, 2020 12:01:04 GMT -5
I don't understand why God wouldn't want me to try and reach difficult people. We have Gods blessing to go and make disciples, teaching them to obey the Lord. I get wanting to be in God's will but then where is our sense of urgency for the lost? We do realize that people are going to hell, right? God told me to reach out to a very liberal and anti Christian person and she didn't respond well. But that doesn't mean I was wrong for trying. There are a lot of people who get by waiting for evangelistic opportunities to present themselves. I am not one of those people. I have to be intentional about speaking God's truth to people. Otherwise I stay completely silent and don't say anything at all. Of course I love when everything just flows and people fall under the conviction of God. But Jesus said wed be hated and that's where I'm at. If you are spiritually strong enough to do that without it pulling you down and breaking your spirit, that is great. Just do not let the rejection destroy you in the process.
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Post by John on Aug 25, 2020 12:11:57 GMT -5
Satan likes to use a feeling of rejection against people to get them over to his side for acceptance. If you are strong enough, nothing will cause you to conform to their image, but at a weak point in your life, feelings of rejection and being an outcast is powerful. Just be careful.
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Post by Tabitha3319 on Aug 25, 2020 13:33:03 GMT -5
Satan likes to use a feeling of rejection against people to get them over to his side for acceptance. If you are strong enough, nothing will cause you to conform to their image, but at a weak point in your life, feelings of rejection and being an outcast is powerful. Just be careful. Most of my major sins and failures have come from wanting acceptance. I understand.
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ohhello
Senior Member
Global Moderator
Let us rejoice in the Lord Jesus!
Posts: 6,304
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Post by ohhello on Aug 25, 2020 13:33:07 GMT -5
Satan likes to use a feeling of rejection against people to get them over to his side for acceptance. If you are strong enough, nothing will cause you to conform to their image, but at a weak point in your life, feelings of rejection and being an outcast is powerful. Just be careful. Wise words. I’m in that place, so I’m much more of a prayer warrior and gem dropper than an on the field witnesser. I daily pray for everyone on Narrow Way and others as well. My endurance to deal with hostile people right now is not there. I am already getting attacked regularly by just daily living, such as a man going for me a few weeks ago because Izzy was stood on the wrong patch of grass. Yesterday I was attacked by the receptionist at the doctors, who cancelled everything that the doctor had just spoken to me about on the phone. I was to have blood tests done and a referral to rheumatology at the hospital. The receptionist cancelled the whole lot because I’m unable to wear a mask. She said I cannot enter the doctors surgery, or the hospital, without a mask. So none of what the doctor said to me will be done. So for now, I feel the Lord has placed me as the prayerer and the gem dropper.
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Post by Tabitha3319 on Aug 25, 2020 13:36:20 GMT -5
Satan likes to use a feeling of rejection against people to get them over to his side for acceptance. If you are strong enough, nothing will cause you to conform to their image, but at a weak point in your life, feelings of rejection and being an outcast is powerful. Just be careful. Wise words. I’m in that place, so I’m much more of a prayer warrior and gem dropper than an on the field witnesser. I daily pray for everyone on Narrow Way and others as well. My endurance to deal with hostile people right now is not there. I am already getting attacked regularly by just daily living, such as a man going for me a few weeks ago because Izzy was stood on the wrong patch of grass. Yesterday I was attacked by the receptionist at the doctors, who cancelled everything that the doctor had just spoken to me about on the phone. I was to have blood tests done and a referral to rheumatology at the hospital. The receptionist cancelled the whole lot because I’m unable to wear a mask. She said I cannot enter the doctors surgery, or the hospital, without a mask. So none of what the doctor said to me will be done. So for now, I feel the Lord has placed me as the prayerer and the gem dropper. Thanks for sharing this. I think prayer is a great and much needed contribution to God's Kingdom. I understand what it's like to not want to deal with people. They can be very hurtful and outcasting.
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Post by Tabitha3319 on Aug 25, 2020 15:23:24 GMT -5
I was just reflecting on some things that still hurt me to this day.
My prayer is that I take these things to the Lord and let him heal me.
I've always sort of felt like the friend that other people relied on, but I could never rely on them.
It's rare to find people who reciprocate the care and attention you might put into the friendship.
That's why I'm glad I got married at an early age. I relate to my husband a lot better than some of my young female female friends who allowed jealousy and bitterness to ruin their support of me.
These are things I still find hard to understand. All of the blessings in my life are blessings I'd be happy for others to have.
Id share in that happiness with them. But sometimes people see it like some sort of competition or they resent your blessing even though they don't see what position you took to receive it.
A lot of the blessings in my life, like my committed husband, my relationship with my parents, and my general sense of peace, are the direct result of my relationship with the Lord.
But because I chose friends that rejected the Lord, they began to envy my blessings but wouldn't listen to me when I said they could be just as blessed if they would just submit to the Lord.
I'd watch their lives go through the same disastrous cycles as they refuse to surrender to God.
This causes me a lot of pain to this day and is why I'm a lot more guarded with my friendship.
No matter how much you love people, you can't save them from the painful consequences of not submitting to God and these become the very things they envy you for.
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Post by Tabitha3319 on Aug 25, 2020 15:31:00 GMT -5
That being said, I've had to learn the hard way that true friendship is not based on similar seasons of life like high school or college, or race, or gender, but on being like minded in values.
If I chose friends that aren't renewing their minds with the Word of God, I'll experience their ultimate rejection over and over again.
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Post by John on Aug 25, 2020 15:36:52 GMT -5
I am glad you are blessed Tabitha3319, and I hope you and your husband are blessed beyond anything you can hope for or imagine, in this life and in the world to come.
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Post by John on Aug 25, 2020 15:39:06 GMT -5
That being said, I've had to learn the hard way that true friendship is not based on similar seasons of life like high school or college, or race, or gender, but on being like minded in values.
If I chose friends that aren't renewing their minds with the Word of God, I'll experience their ultimate rejection over and over again.
There is a lot of truth to that.
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