What are

"" non attack defensive manures""

I googled it and came up with nada!

I am not very good at turning the other cheek , and I do believe it is good to do this in some cases. However, there are times when we must stand our ground. Bully's don't back down if someone doesn't stand up to them.

Even in the Bible days the Israelites went into war against there enemy.

Verbal Persecution/Abuse & the Christian

How should a Christian react to verbal abuse, mockery, cursing, and radical hatred expressed toward God, the bible, Jesus Christ, himself, or other Christians? What do we do when the abuse is extreme, angry, or even dangerous and threatening? What does the bible tell us to do and how to act to handle this? How should we feel about it? What does the natural man feel? What would Jesus do and how would He handle these things?

Do Christians have to simply endure abusive behavior? What’s your opinion?



I don’t think Christians have to endure abusive behavior. Certainly the bible tells us a variety of things in the New Testament that appear to celebrate persecution, but this is an overall attitude one is to take about being persecuted, in my opinion. It’s a way of perceiving the overall abuse so that it doesn’t destroy us.

We cannot allow persecution to steal our beliefs, strength, happiness in Christ, or shut us down. We have to recognize that our leader, Jesus Christ, was persecuted for the very things He preached and believed, so why would we be treated any differently? Our beliefs convict others of their own sins and they don’t like the conviction. If we’re vocal about the bible and express these beliefs in any depth, if we’re unwilling to go along with the world’s perspective, we’re going to be the “odd balls.” It’s likely to be fairly unpopular.

Persecution becomes a serious problem when it turns emotionally and physically damaging or abusive. We can turn the other cheek initially, but at some point, we have to speak out and stand up for ourselves. It may not do any good and we may continue to suffer mistreatment or be treated in an unjust, biased manner, but at least we tried to do something about it instead of keeping quiet and doing nothing.

Doing nothing allows the abuser to think that they have free reign to continue to abuse us and others. No bully was ever adequately dealt with this way. And that is exactly what being persecuted for one’s faith is all about. It’s about someone who is extremely fearful, who is a bully, taking out their fear and rage on us. It is a sick way of attempting to deal with their fear and ignorance in a dysfunctional, unhealthy, inappropriate manner. It has to be corrected or it continues.

Christians should be firm in expressing themselves in their beliefs and opinions, but should endeavor not to get down onto the same level of the people who are persecuting them. It’s really better to walk away or disengage then to roll in the mud with the mudslinger and become as dirty as they are. By standing up for what we believe in an appropriate, polite, respectful manner, we’re doing God’s will, no matter how it’s received. Sometimes though, no matter how appropriate we are, people just aren’t going to like what we’re saying or presenting and they may become down right abusive about it.

One of the more difficult things is to love those who hurt us, who abuse us, who hate us, whose behavior is sick and shameful in regard to us. I think this kind of loving only comes with serious prayer and a seriously mature faith. It takes time to reach this point in one’s Christian walk and I admire those who have arrived and are able to truly love those who persecute them. I’m still learning, in this regard, and am more successful some times than other times.

Verbal Persecution/Abuse & the Christian

How should a Christian react to verbal abuse, mockery, cursing, and radical hatred expressed toward God, the bible, Jesus Christ, himself, or other Christians? What do we do when the abuse is extreme, angry, or even dangerous and threatening? What does the bible tell us to do and how to act to handle this? How should we feel about it? What does the natural man feel? What would Jesus do and how would He handle these things?

Do Christians have to simply endure abusive behavior? What’s your opinion?



I don’t think Christians have to endure abusive behavior. Certainly the bible tells us a variety of things in the New Testament that appear to celebrate persecution, but this is an overall attitude one is to take about being persecuted, in my opinion. It’s a way of perceiving the overall abuse so that it doesn’t destroy us.

We cannot allow persecution to steal our beliefs, strength, happiness in Christ, or shut us down. We have to recognize that our leader, Jesus Christ, was persecuted for the very things He preached and believed, so why would we be treated any differently? Our beliefs convict others of their own sins and they don’t like the conviction. If we’re vocal about the bible and express these beliefs in any depth, if we’re unwilling to go along with the world’s perspective, we’re going to be the “odd balls.” It’s likely to be fairly unpopular.

Persecution becomes a serious problem when it turns emotionally and physically damaging or abusive. We can turn the other cheek initially, but at some point, we have to speak out and stand up for ourselves. It may not do any good and we may continue to suffer mistreatment or be treated in an unjust, biased manner, but at least we tried to do something about it instead of keeping quiet and doing nothing.

Doing nothing allows the abuser to think that they have free reign to continue to abuse us and others. No bully was ever adequately dealt with this way. And that is exactly what being persecuted for one’s faith is all about. It’s about someone who is extremely fearful, who is a bully, taking out their fear and rage on us. It is a sick way of attempting to deal with their fear and ignorance in a dysfunctional, unhealthy, inappropriate manner. It has to be corrected or it continues.

Christians should be firm in expressing themselves in their beliefs and opinions, but should endeavor not to get down onto the same level of the people who are persecuting them. It’s really better to walk away or disengage then to roll in the mud with the mudslinger and become as dirty as they are. By standing up for what we believe in an appropriate, polite, respectful manner, we’re doing God’s will, no matter how it’s received. Sometimes though, no matter how appropriate we are, people just aren’t going to like what we’re saying or presenting and they may become down right abusive about it.

One of the more difficult things is to love those who hurt us, who abuse us, who hate us, whose behavior is sick and shameful in regard to us. I think this kind of loving only comes with serious prayer and a seriously mature faith. It takes time to reach this point in one’s Christian walk and I admire those who have arrived and are able to truly love those who persecute them. I’m still learning, in this regard, and am more successful some times than other times.

Today’s Devotional: Our Words Are Powerful


Our words are powerful. The old saying “sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me,” couldn’t be further from the truth in my mind. Despite our ability to forgive and forget, a well-timed hateful string of words can emotionally damage a person for years to come.

Our Daily Bread gives us welcome reminder of the pain that our tongues can cause:


The writer of Proverbs describes an unwise person as “one who speaks like the piercings of a sword” (12:18). Our tongues can be like a multi-bladed Swiss Army knife when it comes to the variety of ways that we cut and destroy each other.

Unhealthy attitudes of anger, irritation, frustration, and impatience—even disappointment, stress, guilt, and insecurity—all contribute to our damaging speech. And as we cut with our words, we wound and divide friendships and relationships. It’s no wonder that the infamous list of seven things that are an abomination to the Lord includes anyone who “sows discord among brethren” (Prov. 6:16-19).

How do we stay off that list? For starters, we need to watch what we say. Gossip and slander are out, and words that hurt instead of heal are not welcome. Boasting, lying, and all the rest of the ways we use words to hurt and divide need to be gone as well. In their place, words that extend love and the healing power of forgiveness, mercy, and truth should rule our words and relationships. After all, where would we be if Jesus hadn’t spoken words of forgiving love and grace to us?

Sunny...

Have I told you lately I Love You!

Thank you for everything that you have done!

I am not very good at turning the other cheek , and I do believe it is good to do this in some cases. However, there are times when we must stand our ground. Bully's don't back down if someone doesn't stand up to them.

Even in the Bible days the Israelites went into war against there enemy.

Sunny

Youve got to wonder why some Christians are on here for days and weeks and months and years and all they do is shell out abuse to others. On top of that the doctrine they preach isnt rightly divided, and some of it is outright false!

Yet some people make friends with these types and join in the fun and games.

oh well the lord knows who are is,

2Ti 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.


2Ti 2:20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.


2Ti 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, [and] prepared unto every good work.


Obviously some have no conscience in bringing dishonor To God.

Thank you all my brothers and sisters. God bless you!



Father, overthrow the plans of the troublemakers, scorners, scoffers, mockers, persecutors, and character assassins.

Grant unto me divine strategies and tactics to identify, resist, and overcome plots and plans established for my demise. In Jesus Name - Amen!!!

Something Good Is Going To Happen!!!


Stacy Lueken

Jmlou,

Hi, yes Sunny started this thread sometime back after the other group on here was verbally abusing us and bullying us and we decided enough was enough.

I seek guidence and pick my threads very carefully. Not sure I totally agree with you, but know that if some get really abusive against fellow Christians, I do not care if they are Pentecostal or Baptist, I will be on the side who is being abused. And a couple of times I have jumped in. And when it comes to some of the people like the J.W.'s, I will continue to give arguments against their false beliefs, and when they get nasty, I will treat that as such too.