tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5148302049074470404.post5518255685561159474..comments2023-04-25T22:15:10.174-07:00Comments on How GOOD is God?: To Speak or NOT To SpeakChuck Weinberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13931447856070392954noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5148302049074470404.post-67531470734230255292009-12-15T11:19:43.364-08:002009-12-15T11:19:43.364-08:00I think the answer is a yes, but when the rubber m...I think the answer is a yes, but when the rubber meets the road it usally doesn't happen as much as it should. <br /><br />Maybe because the response from the person being confronted is not a godly one. We should humble ourselves and think over the things that are brought up. We should be quick to hear, slow to speak. Pride will always get in the way of us holding each other accountable. <br /><br />I think taking ownership of your small group should include being an active member that helps build each other up, hold each other accountable for our actions, and to pray for each other and that is even with our small group leaders.<br /><br />It would also depend on what your calling into focus. Somethings should not be made a bigger issue then others. We should all have patience and long-suffering with each other and our wrongs. Pray and let the Holy Spirit do its work in the heart of others. I do believe many try to be the Holy Spirit, rather then pray and be patient and see what God would do. <br /><br />We will miss out on the blessing of seeing God work when we are always so quick to call another persons wrong into account. It just depends on what that issue is. May the Lord give wisdom and discretion to our hearts and minds when dealing with others.Ryan Hallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07293917999655758376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5148302049074470404.post-61100215309138975322009-12-15T08:57:32.084-08:002009-12-15T08:57:32.084-08:00What if that person is "higher on the food ch...What if that person is "higher on the food chain" than you are?<br /><br />Can one of my small group guys say hard things to me?Chuck Weinberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13931447856070392954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5148302049074470404.post-49092985402497617972009-12-15T07:07:50.555-08:002009-12-15T07:07:50.555-08:00I am right with you Chuck. That is a hard thing. J...I am right with you Chuck. That is a hard thing. Jolie and I have talked about it before. "Do I say something or do I not say anything?", "Am I out of place to speak on that", etc....<br /><br />I can't help but think of Ephesians 4:25-32 when it comes to speaking to others.<br /><br />"Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."<br /><br />The one thing I do know is that I want to speak the true in love. Maybe to pray and meditate on a passage like this might help our own hearts. Normally I feel as if I say the wrong thing at the wrong time. And even at times things said my me have offended others. And you know what I thought about that: If they are offended because I speak the truth then I am ok with that. I can't be a people pleaser. <br /><br />If I am going to honor and love Christ with my relationships then I will have to speak the hard things. May the Lord grant discretion. Because I do feel there is a way to say hard things. All that we say should be "good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."<br /><br />I think the best way to gain an ear to listen is when we have been active in others lives. That is when others will either come to us for direction , or counsel on life issues and matters. I think it is easier to speak the truth when others come to us and ask the hard questions. What seems to be real hard for me is speaking the truth when I am not being asked. But wouldn't you think not stepping in and saying the hard things is not loving them? <br /><br />I think the best thing is to just roll up our sleeves in 2010 and get dirty with the relationships that God has placed in our lives. As we die daily, pour out ourselves for others and depend on God for strength, wisdom and discernment we can become a salt & light to those around us. All the while taking up our cross and striving after Christ in all. <br /><br />Most of the time I have just been lazy or scared in my relationships to stand up and speak the truth in love for Christ! Reading 1 Peter yesterday, I can't help but think that if we respond with others with gentleness and respect our speaking would go much further then if not done this way. I think regardless of if someone is asking us for the hope that is in us or if we are just sharing the truth....speaking it with gentleness and respect while all done in love is going to make a huge difference.<br /><br />Think about Luke 14:25-27 which says, "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple."<br />If we are not speaking the truth to others, then wouldn't that mean that we are putting human relastionships before our relationship with God? I mean if we are more worried about our relationship with a spouse, child, co-worker, parent, sibling, etc then to speak the truth in love to them, then I would have to think that our actions are saying we value that relationship more then our relationship with Christ!Ryan Hallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07293917999655758376noreply@blogger.com