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Post by keita on Sept 7, 2005 23:05:59 GMT -5
I found this quote in my notes and I'm not sure who said it, but I thought it was a really appropriate and timely reminder for this forum:
"Controversy only leads to division and the attacking of one another among the immature.
With the mature, controversy leads to deeper seeking, the challenging of entrenched thinking that needs to be challenged, and communication, all of which can help lead us to answers."
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Post by krazeeboi on Sept 8, 2005 2:14:07 GMT -5
Great quote.
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Post by stillfocused1 on Sept 8, 2005 2:26:33 GMT -5
sThat's real good...and very timely !!
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Post by keita on Jul 31, 2006 14:16:08 GMT -5
Just bringing a "Blast from the past"... " Controversy only leads to division and the attacking of one another among the immature.
With the mature, controversy leads to deeper seeking, the challenging of entrenched thinking that needs to be challenged, and communication, all of which can help lead us to answers." |
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Post by And Such Were Some Of You on Jul 31, 2006 15:04:22 GMT -5
nice "BUMP"
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Post by Beulah5 on Aug 3, 2006 20:32:56 GMT -5
I just want to fight.
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Post by And Such Were Some Of You on Aug 3, 2006 20:39:51 GMT -5
ROFL, Oh how I miss you B5!  |
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Post by krazeeboi on Aug 9, 2006 1:00:39 GMT -5
You got your Vaseline? ;D |
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Post by keita on Aug 27, 2006 18:41:23 GMT -5
Well PRAISE GOD! That's a wonderful thing for anyone who is called to "fight the good fight of faith."  |
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Post by Jasmine on Aug 28, 2006 10:40:51 GMT -5
Come on, you know she meant "fight". LOL
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Post by keita on Feb 5, 2007 11:43:18 GMT -5
"Be civil to all; sociable to many; familiar with few; friend to one; enemy to none."
Benjamin Franklin
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Post by keita on Mar 29, 2007 11:21:43 GMT -5
"It takes real Spirit-empowered wisdom and virtue to respond wisely to criticism. All criticism calls us to prayerful self-examination. Unfair criticism additionally presents us with real temptations as we respond - temptations which are also opportunities to grow in Christ-likeness. Will we respond it kind, returning insult for insult? Will we violate the teachings of our Lord by launching counterattacks? Will we become discouraged or disgusted and just walk away from the whole thing? Will we be psychologically or emotionally or spiritually damaged? Will we become afraid and lose our confidence and courage, and trim our sails to avoid more attacks in the future? Will we become defensive and tense? Will we become hardened and unwilling to receive legitimate criticism because of the volume of unfair criticism? Will we let the critics set the agenda by feeling obligated to try to legitimize ourselves to them? Will we become preoccupied with matters that simply aren't that important, what Paul calls "foolish quarrels"? Those are all temptations we face in this situation, and those aren't easy temptations. But they are great opportunities to go deeper into Christ and to practice his way of dealing with these sorts of things...
Even if I'm 100% as wrong and bad as my worst critics think I am, it's not good for them to be mean-spirited or inaccurate or judgmental in the way they address my flaws. What good would it be to discredit someone who is truly wrong, but in the process to discredit yourself in the way you do so?
Throughout the Gospels the Pharisees seem incapable of questioning their system, of even considering the possibility that Jesus is right. So they try to trap him and twist his words so he can be discredited. When he doesn't fall for their tricks, they get even more upset and finally they simply start to plot his death. Once they've decided to destroy him, it's not such a big deal to lie. So they bear false witness and twist or exaggerate his words so they can get him crucified. I notice that there are two things Jesus doesn't do. First, he doesn't counter-attack using their methods. And second, he doesn't roll over and play dead, or run away, or retreat in depression or fear or hurt feelings. He draws strength from his Father, and he stands firm and continues to tell the truth, trusting that God will vindicate the truth in the end.
I've drawn two lessons from this. First, unlike the Pharisees, we need to always be open to the possibility that we are wrong. God might speak to us at any moment through anybody - including an unlettered Galilean who hangs out with sinners and tax collectors, and including the wildest and most unfair of our critics. And second, like Jesus, we must choose that third way ... not reacting or counterattacking, and not retreating either, but seeking God and drawing strength from God day by day..."
Brian McLaren
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