The theology that a person holds often greatly impacts that person's view and actions in life, and this leads some people to feel a justification to always correct a person for any minor theological differences. They'll confront perfect strangers to, as they would say, stand for the truth. They view this as loving, because they think that if the person only holds that view then that person's life would be so much better.
But the great flaw in that is it rejects the fundamentals of how relationships work, or how to get to know and help people works--of how to be loving. If you tell a stranger, or someone you haven't truly tried to get to know or know their viewpoint well, that you think they are terribly wrong on something, what would you expect? All that is communicated there is that one person has wanted to skip the part of getting to know someone and has jumped into telling that person what to do.
Relationships shouldn't be about trying to correct another person or force them to be a certain way. It's about getting to know and appreciate them, and possibly at certain moments--very rare moments, most likely when they ask for advice--that's mostly when a relationship can include this aim to help another see and possibly adopt your viewpoint.
I wonder if some people think the whole world is an academic classroom. There truly should be a difference here and there. In debate class, you debate. In real life, you talk and get to know each other.
Another flaw is that it may be pride, and not love that motivates people. If you see that people don't often like to be corrected on every little detail that you may view as wrong, you'll know that the end result is often they will want to move farther away from you. So what was the whole point? In the end, it may be that the person wanting to correct the other just wants to be and feel right. That's pride and not love. Or at least pride was the main motivating factor, whether the person realizes it or not.
The Bible talks about matters of indifference. We really shouldn't let matters of indifference get in the way of enjoying being brothers and sisters in Christ. People are learning theology over time, and as long as they understand the very foundation of the Bible, the gospel and all it offers to us, then they will be fine. Don't rush, and wait for them to ask the questions.
As Christians, we should be known for our love. Not for a constant fighting spirit over theological differences.
Theology does affect people greatly. But we have to realize our limitations and how human relationships work, and that pride is all too present and common.
Showing posts with label love for others. Show all posts
Showing posts with label love for others. Show all posts
Thursday, October 1, 2015
Saturday, December 6, 2014
Listening as Love
One way to show love to others is to truly listen. Hearing is different than listening. To hear means you only hear the sound of words, but it doesn't mean any thought has been taken to truly understand and process what has been said.
People can tell if you've been listening to them and feel loved or respected if they know you're listening. They can tell by your questions and responses and if you remember what was said later.
It's not always easy to listen. Our brains are powerful and have the ability to process thoughts faster than words are spoken, so we have to purposely try to not have our thoughts go to the next thing or how to respond before the person is stating their complete thought when we should focus on what the person is saying.
And this principle also applies to listening to God's word. Listening to God's Word is one way to show love to God. We should think about his Words enough to truly understand. The same principles apply.
People can tell if you've been listening to them and feel loved or respected if they know you're listening. They can tell by your questions and responses and if you remember what was said later.
It's not always easy to listen. Our brains are powerful and have the ability to process thoughts faster than words are spoken, so we have to purposely try to not have our thoughts go to the next thing or how to respond before the person is stating their complete thought when we should focus on what the person is saying.
And this principle also applies to listening to God's word. Listening to God's Word is one way to show love to God. We should think about his Words enough to truly understand. The same principles apply.
Monday, October 27, 2014
Introverts
Christians should be accepting and respectful of traits of introverts. Christianity is one where love for others is very important, and loving others includes allowing others to pursue what they enjoy.
Often people in their excitement to get a group at church going expect everyone to come to large groups and enjoy it. An introvert might not. Being in a big group is usually not fun to introverts. It's often exhausting: It's too much information all at once—an introvert loves to think about each idea, and often feels exhausted after large group meetings and parties where hundreds of ideas are thrown out there.
Even worse is if a person looks down on someone, or if a person is hard on themself, for not constantly going to events and parties, when really it's very often a matter of indifference. There is more than one way to get to know people, and being in a large group doesn't have to be the only option.
A person might look down on an introvert assuming that introverts don't care about people. But that's not true. When introverts are not with people they still like to think deeply about people and life and things. Talking with close friends is something they love.
If a person doesn't go to your event, the reason most likely is not that they don't like you or people. They just might not prefer being in a large group setting at that time. You might love the topic of the event or love being around lots of people at once. And that is good and fine, but you can't expect others to have the same preferences as you. Introverts at times do want to venture into large groups—it's a great way to meet people who might become close friends, something introverts love—so it's worth inviting them. But expecting them always to come isn't good.
Often people in their excitement to get a group at church going expect everyone to come to large groups and enjoy it. An introvert might not. Being in a big group is usually not fun to introverts. It's often exhausting: It's too much information all at once—an introvert loves to think about each idea, and often feels exhausted after large group meetings and parties where hundreds of ideas are thrown out there.
Even worse is if a person looks down on someone, or if a person is hard on themself, for not constantly going to events and parties, when really it's very often a matter of indifference. There is more than one way to get to know people, and being in a large group doesn't have to be the only option.
A person might look down on an introvert assuming that introverts don't care about people. But that's not true. When introverts are not with people they still like to think deeply about people and life and things. Talking with close friends is something they love.
If a person doesn't go to your event, the reason most likely is not that they don't like you or people. They just might not prefer being in a large group setting at that time. You might love the topic of the event or love being around lots of people at once. And that is good and fine, but you can't expect others to have the same preferences as you. Introverts at times do want to venture into large groups—it's a great way to meet people who might become close friends, something introverts love—so it's worth inviting them. But expecting them always to come isn't good.
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
6 Posts on Loving Others
Post by
Michelle Dowell, Contributor
The topic of loving others includes some of the most important things in life: family, friends, and evangelism. Here are six posts describing what loving others looks like:
1. Love Is Active. Love compels us to act.
2. Love for Others. "Love for others includes caring about what they care about."
3. How To Help a Friend in Need. I write about the best way to show love to others when they are in a time of need.
4. Love as the Apologetic. "One of the few truly interesting apologetics Christians have is love. Love in the Christian sense is interesting because it is so counter cultural to the world."
5. True Love is Unconditional. "True love is unconditional. Often we find in the world and church love which has a condition."
6. Liberty in the Christian Life. "... Love also does not insist on its own way. We might prefer certain things in the the church be this way or that way, but we cannot insist on preference or infringe upon the liberty of others because certain things displease us."
Watch for more posts on this topic in the future.
Michelle Dowell, Contributor
The topic of loving others includes some of the most important things in life: family, friends, and evangelism. Here are six posts describing what loving others looks like:
1. Love Is Active. Love compels us to act.
2. Love for Others. "Love for others includes caring about what they care about."
3. How To Help a Friend in Need. I write about the best way to show love to others when they are in a time of need.
4. Love as the Apologetic. "One of the few truly interesting apologetics Christians have is love. Love in the Christian sense is interesting because it is so counter cultural to the world."
5. True Love is Unconditional. "True love is unconditional. Often we find in the world and church love which has a condition."
6. Liberty in the Christian Life. "... Love also does not insist on its own way. We might prefer certain things in the the church be this way or that way, but we cannot insist on preference or infringe upon the liberty of others because certain things displease us."
Watch for more posts on this topic in the future.
Saturday, March 8, 2014
Love for Others
Loving others includes caring about what they care about. We need not care about what others care about in the same way they care about things but we should care.
We often see divisions in people for the most strange reasons. You see divisions because people refuse to respect others' hobbies, others' preference in style, others' views on sports or views and interests on many things with no moral aspects.
Interests many times are simply preferences. In many contexts preferences are non-moral in nature. It is human nature to frequently place moral aspects on things which have no moral value.
In the ideal sense what interests others should interest ourselves. Obviously this is very difficult. There is a great diversity of human interest.
Specifically we should at minimum not put down or disrespect what others like. You will see very frequently people dismiss things which they do not care about as boring or stupid.
This is of great disrespect to people. You see fellowship is very difficult when people act as if others are odd for what they like.
You see many people enjoy things which we find quite dull. But it is respect to not view them as odd or unusual for those interests.
It is the nature of the sinful nature of the human heart to judge for the wrong reasons. It is very strange the things people judge others for.
God calls us to judge rightly. And to see things as he does. You see Jesus judge people very differently than the world.
Many people viewed as beyond hope Jesus saw hope in. Many people judged as righteous Jesus saw as mired in sin.
You see righteousness is a response to Jesus as the son of God who entered the world to defeat sin. We need to learn to view the world though faith and see things as God sees them.
We often see divisions in people for the most strange reasons. You see divisions because people refuse to respect others' hobbies, others' preference in style, others' views on sports or views and interests on many things with no moral aspects.
Interests many times are simply preferences. In many contexts preferences are non-moral in nature. It is human nature to frequently place moral aspects on things which have no moral value.
In the ideal sense what interests others should interest ourselves. Obviously this is very difficult. There is a great diversity of human interest.
Specifically we should at minimum not put down or disrespect what others like. You will see very frequently people dismiss things which they do not care about as boring or stupid.
This is of great disrespect to people. You see fellowship is very difficult when people act as if others are odd for what they like.
You see many people enjoy things which we find quite dull. But it is respect to not view them as odd or unusual for those interests.
It is the nature of the sinful nature of the human heart to judge for the wrong reasons. It is very strange the things people judge others for.
God calls us to judge rightly. And to see things as he does. You see Jesus judge people very differently than the world.
Many people viewed as beyond hope Jesus saw hope in. Many people judged as righteous Jesus saw as mired in sin.
You see righteousness is a response to Jesus as the son of God who entered the world to defeat sin. We need to learn to view the world though faith and see things as God sees them.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)