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Post by hi6 on May 29, 2006 7:54:27 GMT -5
I hear the young people pray and speak about being a "right example" to those at school/work. What do they mean? Or does it sound good? I once prayed to be the right example because others were doing it as well. Too bad some see it in terms of clothing, entertainment, separate lifestyle and other legalism. It is often about showing "worldly people" that we are in "God's true way!"
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Post by lefty on May 29, 2006 9:42:54 GMT -5
Its largely those who left that ask such questions, as they didn't really know what it was all about before they left.
Now, even more puzzled, they try to get answers from a board inhabited by other exes (largely) who are equally in the dark.
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Post by amazed on May 29, 2006 12:07:20 GMT -5
Its largely those who left that ask such questions, as they didn't really know what it was all about before they left. Now, even more puzzled, they try to get answers from a board inhabited by other exes (largely) who are equally in the dark. Then please explain from your point of view and enlighten the rest of us poor souls who really don't know.
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BC
Senior Member
Posts: 852
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Post by BC on May 29, 2006 14:32:05 GMT -5
Hi, To me when I was at school it wasn't about clothes, looks etc but was about how I reacted to situations. I have a very short fuse and many at school would purposely wind me up, I always tried to leave them with a lasting impression that this was not a wise move as it could seriously impede their vision or breathing After professing to serve God I then strived to keep my fists in my pocket and use words of wisdom to defuse situations, very often I failed but with each success came a feeling of peace and achievement. I eventually became known as a religeous nut who wouldn't rise to a fight. This was only one area that I strived to keep self under control and set a good example. I am sure you know of many children and young adults in many different walks of life and fellowship that also seek to be an exemplery example before their peers. This is not unique for the F&W and therefore I don't believe it is hard to understand nor comprehend. Just because it is openly prayed for by them doesn't make it unique. [shadow=red,left,300]Regards BC[/shadow]
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eurp
Senior Member
Posts: 290
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Post by eurp on May 29, 2006 14:42:38 GMT -5
The original post seems to imply that being a right example is a wrong thing.
How is this wrong?
what is wrong with setting a right example.
Would you prefer NO EXAMPLES?
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Post by Tired old man on May 29, 2006 15:50:47 GMT -5
I've given up on trying to be the right example. I've lost my family and all my friends while trying to be the right example. "Do the right thing" That doesn't work.
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Post by as i c it on May 29, 2006 20:14:12 GMT -5
Ah BC, Loved your first paragraph! (And the fact that you--whether professing or not professing--really had (and still have) the ability to draw home a point!!! One of the examples that usually speaks most to me is: kindness. Especially when shown to those who are the weaker in any given situation. (And I'm sure there were many who--after your change--appreciated the kindness you shown them...in striving to keep your fists in your pockets....and out of their eyes and stomaches!!!)
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BC
Senior Member
Posts: 852
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Post by BC on May 29, 2006 23:27:26 GMT -5
as i c it,
Yes I'm sure some appreciated it, but there needed to be followup treatment for a runaway mouth after that, then there was further dissipline of the mind and then ...... oh dear I think I've always been a weak sinful human.
[shadow=red,left,300]Regards BC[/shadow]
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Post by Zorro on May 29, 2006 23:45:22 GMT -5
The original post seems to imply that being a right example is a wrong thing.
How is this wrong?
what is wrong with setting a right example.
The problem is "motive". If our "motive" is to "be an example" we run a very real danger of acting in our own strength to perform what we understand that example should be. After hearing this for years I changed my thinking to this - if my motive was to allow the Spirit to control my life I would then glorify God and be the example that God wanted me to be. I've since come to realize that there's really more to it than that....what it's really about is simply allowing God to glorify Himself through our lives. It's not just semantics - it is a profoundly different perspective of spiritual life.
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Post by appleblossum on May 29, 2006 23:55:25 GMT -5
problem with being an example
are you (by being a good example) saving another
are you (by being a bad example) damning another to hell
do we mere mortals have anything to do with one being saved or not (except by fervent prayer?)
let our example be out of a pure heart, with love to and of the Father........the light of HIM shine out of our lives..........will be a right example
let not our example be the falseness of a whited seplecure (full of dead man's bones).....
a pear-looks wonderful on the outside -- rots from the inside to the out.
we don't want to be a pear-looking like a nice example and rotting on the inside
better to not desire to be an example, better desire to be lead, controlled, guided and filled by Holy Spirit and let Him decide what to do with your life
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BC
Senior Member
Posts: 852
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Post by BC on May 30, 2006 0:24:52 GMT -5
problem with being an example are you (by being a good example) saving another are you (by being a bad example) damning another to hell do we mere mortals have anything to do with one being saved or not (except by fervent prayer?) let our example be out of a pure heart, with love to and of the Father........the light of HIM shine out of our lives..........will be a right example let not our example be the falseness of a whited seplecure (full of dead man's bones)..... a pear-looks wonderful on the outside -- rots from the inside to the out. we don't want to be a pear-looking like a nice example and rotting on the inside better to not desire to be an example, better desire to be lead, controlled, guided and filled by Holy Spirit and let Him decide what to do with your life Hi, It doesn't matter whether you want to be or not you are ALWAYS GOING TO BE AN EXAMPLE what ever you do in life is an example to someone else. Now what we do have control over is, whether we are a good or a bad example, everything we do, say and are, is an example. There is no way around it you are an example. Even in how we die we are an example, how we leave our affairs on earth when we die is an example. So do we desire to be a good example or a bad example? I don't know about others but I hope and pray that I live my life so that it is a good example to others, especially for my two little boys so that one day they can say that they where able to take my life as an example of how they could live before men and before God in a christian manner. Therefore I aplaud those that have a desire to live a life pleasing to God that it is a lamp or example to others and see no reason why others would feel the need to look down on those wanting to exemplify the marks of a christian before others. Sure it comes from within that is the beauty of it, that is what makes a true example. You ask 'Can we save someone by our example or damn another to hell?" I say no but you can influence someone. I always remember as a child looking up to an uncle and saying that oneday I was going to grow up and be an electrician because he loved it so and was so happy being one that he would show me all sorts of things and encouraged me to look into it an learn. I am now a qualified Electrician, Instrumentation tectnician, qualified High voltage protection technichian, have certificates in High voltage testing and even Thermographic imaging. All because there was an example in my life. Yes I pray that I can be a good example to others and am eternally thankful to those who have led lives that have caused me to look to Jesus because of the work I have seen him do in there lives. [shadow=red,left,300]Regards BC[/shadow]
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Post by prue on May 30, 2006 0:51:19 GMT -5
To 'tired old man' What do you mean by having lost your friends and family?
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eurp
Senior Member
Posts: 290
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Post by eurp on May 30, 2006 1:37:24 GMT -5
So now we're into judging peoples motives as well as their example?
Yes motive is important, but who is anyone to judge the motives of another, or even to properly discern them.
Take this board, and its inhabitants. Can you judge the motives of:
Prue in raising a website? Clay in having his website? (assuming Clay is male) Nate in continually coming back for a further beating? Selah, Rob, BC and so on....
What are their motives? Who knows, not I for sure. So without knowing, how can we judge them? But some here will attempt to describe and judge the motives of others.
So, we come back to behaviour. Thats what we can see, thats what we can judge. We can't see motive so we can't judge that.
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Post by T2M on May 30, 2006 3:31:14 GMT -5
I just want to be a better example in the days that lie ahead so that I can be a brighter light in this dark world.
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Post by hi6 on May 30, 2006 7:41:31 GMT -5
Problem is that professing folks want to be the right example (silly legalism) to the worldly Christians-many who are as Christlike as they are or even more so! There are religious people in the world that the friends could follow! They aren't hung up in clothing. But they love their God!
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Post by amazed on May 30, 2006 10:24:01 GMT -5
I agree hi6. I have seen more credit given to God for so many things from "wordly Christians" that I ever did in the f&w. Yes, the f&w are kind, sincere, wonderful people, but they hardly ever speak about Christ outside of meetings. I agree that we should all, no matter what church we attend "set an example" because it definately can influence others but I don't think that's the end of the story. I've stated in another thread that this is something I want to do better.... be able to openly state my love for Jesus, his work in my life, his blood shed for me. Being b&r it was looked down upon when "wordly Christians" talked about God and it's hard for me to get past that. If anyone who wasn't in the f&w spoke about God it was looked upon with disdain and ridicule that they even thought they had a relationship with God. It's one of the hardest things I have to deal with now. That and being able to talk to any in the f&w about it too.
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Post by Zorro on May 30, 2006 10:34:38 GMT -5
To Eurp Since I'm the one that mentioned motives, I'm assuming your comment was directed to me. Nowhere in my post did I judge other's motives. My statement was: If our "motive" is to "be an example" we run a very real danger of acting in our own strength to perform what we understand that example should be. That's not a judgement. It's a statement that I'd think most objective people would agree with. Am I saying that we shouldn't be an example? No. I'm saying that if we focus on Christ and being controlled by his Spirit we'll then be the example we should be. What part of that do you disagree with?
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