When They Refuse

[zionlion]

As anyone who has tried to promote observance on "Christian" boards knows, one gets a lot of flak. You can show them verse after verse and it makes no difference. Even after sometimes years of showing them the truth, they simply will not see. So how should we treat these people? If one truly has the Spirit within them, that person will be open to because that's why It is given. Should we view these people as unbelievers because, after all, they are following a "Jesus" of their own creation. Should we dis-fellowship them? Of course, I know we are to keep praying for them, but can we fellowship with people who insist on walking in Lawlessness?

[alon]

Dec 24, 2017 17:07:40 GMT -8 zionlion said:

As anyone who has tried to promote observance on "Christian" boards knows, one gets a lot of flak. You can show them verse after verse and it makes no difference. Even after sometimes years of showing them the truth, they simply will not see. So how should we treat these people? If one truly has the Spirit within them, that person will be open to because that's why It is given. Should we view these people as unbelievers because, after all, they are following a "Jesus" of their own creation. Should we dis-fellowship them? Of course, I know we are to keep praying for them, but can we fellowship with people who insist on walking in Lawlessness?

I've been in a lengthy discussion with an Eastern Orthodox person via internet. His friends all made rude comments and left. I treat them like anonymous jerks behind a keyboard somewhere I don't even know and forget about them. Him I keep talking to because he is still engaged. But you are right, he is so brainwashed I show him the same things time and again in different ways, because he keeps finding different ways to ask me the same things time and again. It's frustrating. But we are fighting years of dogma and indoctrination talking to these people.

Whether or not they are believers following the false teachings of the church after being told the truth I can't say. "Believers" implies salvation, and that is between them and God. All I know is I am responsible to speak what I know to whoever Elohim puts in front of me and wants to hear.

To be "in fellowship" implies a closeness and shared beliefs. Until someone accepts the truth and starts the process toward Observant Messianic Judaism, then no, we should not be in fellowship with them. However just the term fellowship can mean on friendly terms. And that is ok. If we set ourselves up in an adversarial relationship with them we'll never convince anyone. So treat them as friends and do not deny their salvation. But make it very clear that the farther they are from , the more danger they are in of missing the mark. But true fellowship is reserved for we Meshiachim. We are each others support network. We hold each other up when it all seems to be too much or just not worthwhile. And they will pull you away, back into their heresies given the chance. We will help each other hold onto the truth.

This is a particular problem for most of us because we are scattered. But they still have their "church family" on the ground wherever we are. This is a tremendous edge when it comes to the tug-of-war for your heart and mind. They not only have the home field advantage, but they are fielding a team while many of us are out there alone. So friendly but cautious. Always be aware of who is pulling who towards their side. 

I find that the more I know, the less tolerant I am towards the complete idiocy you get in churches. And the more I say the more they resent it in general. So I talk to individuals, but avoid groups where I either have to bite my lip until it bleeds or anger some or all of them by crying "Bull!"

Dan C

[jimmie]

I end fellowship or discussion when the other person tells me they know the bible instructs thus, but they instead will do something else. Examples:

A Baptist preacher once told me he could not Biblically support total abstention from intoxicating drink, but was going to preach total abstention anyway.

Another Baptist preacher told me he knew the Bible taught eating pork was wrong, but he was going to eat pork anyway.


It is one thing to be wrong about doctrine and not know it. I have been there. It is quite another to know your doctrine is wrong and hold to it anyway. You can't reason with such a person.