The ofishal zone devotional thread!

[GordonC]

Matthew

Matthew 6:1-4

6 “Take care not to practice your righteousness in the sight of people, to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.

2 “So when you [a]give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, so that they will be praised by people. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.

3 But when you [b]give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

4 so that your charitable giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

For many years, I have bounced around the idea that if there is something in exchange for "charitable giving" (e.g., a tax writeoff), is it really "giving" in the first place?

 

[BigO95]

2nd Timothy 3:1¶This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

4Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

5Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

6For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

7Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

8Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

 

[Behr]

2nd Timothy 3:1¶This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

4Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

5Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

6For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

7Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

8Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

Such a hypocrite. Do you read the scripture you post? Do you not understand it? Evidently not.

Besides the fact that you're included in some of it, verse 5 says turn away from it. Matthew 10:4 says "And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet."

Why are you still badgering everyone?

 

[VolNExile]

I don’t understand the version of Christianity that obsesses about hell and YAY MEEEEEE I’M SAAAAAAVED LOOK AT MEEEE WOOHOO, and never ever speaks about just quietly helping the poor, the hungry, the frightened, the sick, the injured, the lonely, the abandoned, the imprisoned, the neglected and ignored of this world. You know, like Christ actually told us to do. And like Christ actually did.

Quietly helping means way more than endless “witnessing.”

 

[Behr]

For many years, I have bounced around the idea that if there is something in exchange for "charitable giving" (e.g., a tax writeoff), is it really "giving" in the first place?

Luke 6:38..."38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

 

[BigO95]

Matthew 24:36¶But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

37But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

38For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

39And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

 

[joevol33]

For many years, I have bounced around the idea that if there is something in exchange for "charitable giving" (e.g., a tax writeoff), is it really "giving" in the first place?

I know many who get a tax thing from their church, and can write off their giving. I've never done it, and not saying it's wrong, but it was just a personal conviction that me and Tiffany both shared. That said, like Behr posted, I've never out given God. I can't even describe the goodness that we've been given by people, not necessarily money, that I truly believe God led them to do. I have no issues with anyone who does, but myself, I love seeing God do what he does in our lives for what little we do. I've given to people, money, food, etc, and each time it's been a feeling that he wanted us to. We've been blessed more than I deserve.

 

[Behr]

For many years, I have bounced around the idea that if there is something in exchange for "charitable giving" (e.g., a tax writeoff), is it really "giving" in the first place?

I got distracted and hit send prematurely.

I'm not saying that's the answer, just saying it could be part of an answer.

 

[GordonC]

I got distracted and hit send prematurely.

I'm not saying that's the answer, just saying it could be part of an answer.

no problem, I understood, and I liked the choice of verse because it made me think some more...it made me think even more about it, along the lines of if I only give according to benefit received, then should I be in a position to need the same, would others only give according to a benefit they would receive

 

[WestTennesseeFox]

@WestTennesseeFox

 

[GordonC]

View attachment 482300

your other half was in here last night lobbin rocks and tryna break winders

 

[Iam4utalways]

I don’t understand the version of Christianity that obsesses about hell and YAY MEEEEEE I’M SAAAAAAVED LOOK AT MEEEE WOOHOO, and never ever speaks about just quietly helping the poor, the hungry, the frightened, the sick, the injured, the lonely, the abandoned, the imprisoned, the neglected and ignored of this world. You know, like Christ actually told us to do. And like Christ actually did.

Quietly helping means way more than endless “witnessing.”

Most people think about themselves first, when the topic is helping others.

 

[BigO95]

Look to Jesus Christ, he's the one that you need!
John14:6¶Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

 

[GordonC]

 

[Volsome_Sauce]

Deuteronomy 1:17 suggests that judgment belongs only to God. It is stated several times in the Bible that we should not judge others. Rather than being judgmental, the Bible instructs people to have compassion and empathy for others (Ephesians 4:32).

 

[BigO95]

Joshua 24:14¶Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.

15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

 

[Iam4utalways]

Deuteronomy 1:17 suggests that judgment belongs only to God. It is stated several times in the Bible that we should not judge others. Rather than being judgmental, the Bible instructs people to have compassion and empathy for others (Ephesians 4:32).

Since the LORD has spoken concerning many activities and has established some activities as sin, when one of those activities occurs out in the open for all to see, is it judging others to point out their sin in a loving manner with the intent to help that person turn from sin?

 

[Behr]

Since the LORD has spoken concerning many activities and has established some activities as sin, when one of those activities occurs out in the open for all to see, is it judging others to point out their sin in a loving manner with the intent to help that person turn from sin?

Okay, you both have said your peace. I speak for myself only.

Thank you, you have changed my life and pointed out my sins in a loving caring manner. You didn't go on and on and on and on and on and on after you said you're peace like most annoying hypocrites that need to worry about themselves and their sins before they badger the holy hell out of everyone, and I thank you for that.

 

[Iam4utalways]

Okay, you both have said your peace. I speak for myself only.

Thank you, you have changed my life and pointed out my sins in a loving caring manner. You didn't go on and on and on and on and on and on after you said you're peace like most annoying hypocrites that need to worry about themselves and their sins before they badger the holy hell out of everyone, and I thank you for that.

You’re welcome. Not all hypocrites are the same. We all have our own sin that we deal, sometimes the perspective of others can help.

I knew someone that joined a support group to help them with a particular issue that was causing person problems. While participating in the support group this person was successful in staying away from the issue that was causing the problems. When they stopped going to the support group, they would fall back into the same bad habits that caused the personal problems.

A person just never knows how the LORD will send the help they ask for.

 

[GordonC]

"Judge" and "discern" are not synonyms. Adults who engage in these conversations should know the difference between the two.

 

[GordonC]

Okay, you both have said your peace. I speak for myself only.

Thank you, you have changed my life and pointed out my sins in a loving caring manner. You didn't go on and on and on and on and on and on after you said you're peace like most annoying hypocrites that need to worry about themselves and their sins before they badger the holy hell out of everyone, and I thank you for that.

I like it. But I would say it needs a few more "and on"s. I am a little more cantankerous today than I usually am, though.

 

[BigO95]

1st Kings 18:21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

What a wonderful question!

 

[Behr]

I like it. But I would say it needs a few more "and on"s. I am a little more cantankerous today than I usually am, though.

Being honest I'm as bad as he is. My gripe now is if he was here to do what he said he was doing he'd say what he wanted or felt inspired to say then shut up. I should do the same and I haven't. My first mistake was thinking "you don't get to be an arrogant condescending hypocrite" in the Zone without being called out for it.

It is what it is. I'm not saying it's a bad thing, just saying in my opinion this is the kind of thing you get when you start getting too personal on a message board like this, especially back here in the Zone. I'm guilty too. Start getting comfortable and giving out a little more personal info than you probably should and here we are. Again, I'm not saying it's bad..and maybe I'm just wrong. But either way, I could have handled myself better, like souce, TFG, Bill, the real 95 and all the others that just kept quiet and gone on about my business like Imma try to do starting now.

 

[VolNExile]

Being honest I'm as bad as he is. My gripe now is if he was here to do what he said he was doing he'd say what he wanted or felt inspired to say then shut up. I should do the same and I haven't. My first mistake was thinking "you don't get to be an arrogant condescending hypocrite" in the Zone without being called out for it.

It is what it is. I'm not saying it's a bad thing, just saying in my opinion this is the kind of thing you get when you start getting too personal on a message board like this, especially back here in the Zone. I'm guilty too. Start getting comfortable and giving out a little more personal info than you probably should and here we are. Again, I'm not saying it's bad..and maybe I'm just wrong. But either way, I could have handled myself better, like souce, TFG, Bill, the real 95 and all the others that just kept quiet and gone on about my business like Imma try to do starting now.

It can be so hard not to take the bait, tho.

https://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/duty_calls.png

 

[vol445]

Being honest I'm as bad as he is. My gripe now is if he was here to do what he said he was doing he'd say what he wanted or felt inspired to say then shut up. I should do the same and I haven't. My first mistake was thinking "you don't get to be an arrogant condescending hypocrite" in the Zone without being called out for it.

It is what it is. I'm not saying it's a bad thing, just saying in my opinion this is the kind of thing you get when you start getting too personal on a message board like this, especially back here in the Zone. I'm guilty too. Start getting comfortable and giving out a little more personal info than you probably should and here we are. Again, I'm not saying it's bad..and maybe I'm just wrong. But either way, I could have handled myself better, like souce, TFG, Bill, the real 95 and all the others that just kept quiet and gone on about my business like Imma try to do starting now.

Hard for me too. . Had to step away because of it to be honest. Reread some of my post and found I didn’t like myself at times.