http://www.christianadc.org Fri, 10 Sep 2010 16:04:23 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.christianadc.org/news-and-articles/418?task=view#josc284 When people are offended by the preaching of the gospel, is because of one or both of 2 reasons. (1) The preacher as a \"minister of condemnation\" was preaching hatefully against sin (as Levites and prophets did in the Old Testament), emphasizing what the Bible says is wrong with various forms of sin and stating God’s eternal punishment for sin, without explaining how to be saved from it; thus making the sinner feel afraid and angry. These have a legitimate right to honestly blame the preacher for their bad feelings. And this is what “hate crime legislation” can protect us from. (2) The preacher as a minister of the Gospel was preaching against sin with a loving and concerned attitude, but the guilt and fear of future judgment in the sinner\'s conscience made him feel bad; and hating his own bad feelings he dishonestly blamed the preacher. I believe the best approach is the New Testament “ministry of grace.” First, please read Eph 4:15, 25, 29; for what I call “the 5-fold Ephesian speech filter.” Speak the truth in love, speak good things that edify (build hope, faith, confidence, character, reputation, good relationships) and “minister grace” to the hearer. What is “grace?” Please read the Greek dictionary definition of “grace” – “the divine influence of God upon the heart and its reflection in life, a free gift, a favor.” Then read the Bible context meaning of “grace” that matches the dictionary definition in Titus 2:11-13. “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, [here is the divine influence in the heart] Teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, [here is the reflection in life] we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” I believe a “minister of grace” should specialize in encouragement and long term planning, presenting God’s promises and warnings in a very tender, encouraging and loving way. This is how a climber’s guide to a mountain describes the route to the top, with some warnings of dangers to avoid along the way. Climbers don’t feel angry at the warnings nor at the realization they are at a low elevation. Motivated by hope (desire + expectation) they just start climbing higher and avoid the dangers, because their long term plan is to get safely to the top. When any emotion or behavior mentioned in the Bible is labeled as “sin,” and we look in the mirror and see ourselves as sinners, in spite of the discomfort of guilt in our hearts because of God’s severe warning of future judgment, we should feel good about it. Because anything labeled as “sin” is something God loves to save us from. When we receive His “divine influence” by believing the gospel and by faith obeying the complete new birth procedure “of water and of the Spirit” (John 3:5 and Acts 2:38), God washes away all the past guilt and all sinful emotions in our hearts that lead to future sinful actions. While there are many OT and NT Scriptures stating how God hates homosexuality and will punish it, that should be presented as good news for sinners. For it is written in God’s Word that in Rome and Corinth He loved homosexuals enough to save them from homosexuality (Rom 1:16-17 and 1 Cor 6:11). In other words, looking at the big picture, God hates sin and loves all sinners, and He really rejoices to save us and cleanse our hearts from all guilt and worldly sinful influences that will prevent us from living with Him in eternity. Chuck Sproull, Springville IN Charles Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:21:24 +0100 http://www.christianadc.org/news-and-articles/418?task=view#josc285 We will not give up the fight. We have always been the persecuted ones for our beliefs. Even though I have read many articles lately regarding Obama\'s blatant actions against Christians, nobody has had the inclination to print the thought that he just might be the anti-Christ our beloved bible speaks about. He scared me before he was amazingly voted into office, and now, with all the power he has been misusing to change our God-fearing nation so that he may support the sinners of our nation and silence the only ones left to save them, us Christians of whom he obviously hates with a p***ion, all I can do is be a prayer warrior. (I am currently unemployed, with no hope in site, except for the POWER OF PRAYER) At least THAT cannot be taken from me. GOD BLESS AMERICA djholmes555 Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:28:09 +0100