Gino,

            Lately you seem to have been shocked & rocked by some of the responses by fellow Christians to letters that you had posted. They, like you, are very passionate about what they believe. You really should not take it so personally when someone strongly reproves what you wrote, or even when you are rebuked. After all, didn’t Paul admonish Timothy to do the same? So why are you so troubled when you are reproved or rebuked? Well, at least in your case, Gino, have you considered that you may be reading the responses in the flesh? If so, then it would be your old nature, and in particular your pride, that is stirred in that case, and that is when the temptation arises to be angry at your brothers & sisters. Also, Gino, you have done the exact same thing. You have written some things that have come across as a severe rebuke to others – e.g. when writing about voting, you had said something like, “this is madness and blasphemy” – well, sir, do you not see how that may be received as a dagger in the heart of one of your brothers and sisters? It would be wise to be slow to respond, and especially when you passionately disagree about something, ask the LORD, first, whether you may have not worded your response in an edifying manner, or that he would help you to put it a better way than you were intending.

             Anyway, both in your reading the responses of others, or in writing your responses to them, please take heed of the following:

 

Colossians 4:6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

 

Avoid the temptation to do it the other way around, i.e. having your speech to always be salt, but only seasoned with grace.

 

Jesus said that offenses would come, but strive to not be the one by whom the offense comes. Either you can easily cause your brother or sister to stumble by offending them, or a root of bitterness can enter into your heart when you take offense at their words towards you.

 

Gino, remember, there may be people reading FiveDoves who are not saved yet. How are they to know that we are Jesus’s disciples? Will it be by the strength of your arguments? How about by the sternness of your rebukes? Or perhaps by evidencing a grudge that you may have against another? Gino, Jesus said:

 

John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

 

So, Gino, take heart, continue to read and to write, yet remember your brothers and sisters in Christ.

                          Gino