Please help me find the right scripture...

[Arkrider]

I would like to get the proper perspective on this comment, made by someone I know. I feel this person is wrongly enduring teachings in a church they don't agree with.

Here is the person's issue:

"I was offended by Wright's damning of America. Just as I have been repeatedly offended by those preachers, my own included, who say that those who oppose this war are traitors. I don't attend my church much anymore because of it. I am wrong. Like Obama I should continue to attend and separate the chaff from the wheat, taking into myself only that which helps me become a better person and a better Christian. The rest is just blowing in the wind."

Is there a scripture I can use to discuss this, or do I have it wrong? As Christians we are to be continually fed to maintain spiritual growth, and I don't think that having to separate the wheat from the chaff in our own understanding is going to strengthen one's walk.

Many thanks. I just can't come up with the references that I need.

[truthseeker815]

I would like to get the proper perspective on this comment, made by someone I know. I feel this person is wrongly enduring teachings in a church they don't agree with.

Here is the person's issue:

"I was offended by Wright's damning of America. Just as I have been repeatedly offended by those preachers, my own included, who say that those who oppose this war are traitors. I don't attend my church much anymore because of it. I am wrong. Like Obama I should continue to attend and separate the chaff from the wheat, taking into myself only that which helps me become a better person and a better Christian. The rest is just blowing in the wind."

Is there a scripture I can use to discuss this, or do I have it wrong? As Christians we are to be continually fed to maintain spiritual growth, and I don't think that having to separate the wheat from the chaff in our own understanding is going to strengthen one's walk.

Many thanks. I just can't come up with the references that I need.

First of all,a pastor should NEVER call anyone in their congregation a "traitor" and here's a very applicable scripture you can tell your friend :Romans 8:1:There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus,who walk not after the flesh,but after the Spirit.

[Wally]

I remember Joshua aproaching the Man with the drawn Sword (some believe it was Jesus) and asked: Are you for us? or for our adversaries?

No!
God doesn't take sides. He has a holy plan and His sovereign will is done.


We may have good reasons, but are we really advancing the Lord's plan or satan's. Deep question. I can't but guess, however, even if we are doing the devil's work, God's sovereign will is being done.

And we know His will for us is to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Anything less is against His will, and He is the one we are to serve.

[Arkrider]

Thank you truthseeker and Wally, that's a great help, and I shall relay it accordingly. Many thanks!

[Miss Molly]

First of all, we are not supposed to be addressing political matters in church. Remember the "render to Ceasar the things that are Cesear's..." quote? (Matt. 22:21)

Secondly, the parable referenced with the wheat/chaff comment is found in Luke chapter 3. It was spoken by John the Baptist in Reference to the Christ. In other words, Christ is the one who does the separating - not us. (Luke 3:16,17)

As to judging others, read Col. 2:16 and Rom. 14:13.

Hope that helps! :)

[Arkrider]

Thanks, Miss Molly, your references will also be of help. Much appreciated.

[HeIsEnough]

Another aspect to this is that the Lord's will is the Lord's will, who can argue with Him?

Matthew 16

21From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

22Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!"


23Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."

The Lord had in mind exactly what He stated. I would venture to think we would all respond as Peter did here......again, the Lord's plans are not our plans, so we need to be careful to be in tune with His plans, not what seems right to us. Kinda sobering actually..

[Paidfor]

First of all, we are not supposed to be addressing political matters in church. Remember the "render to Ceasar the things that are Cesear's..." quote? (Matt. 22:21)

Secondly, the parable referenced with the wheat/chaff comment is found in Luke chapter 3. It was spoken by John the Baptist in Reference to the Christ. In other words, Christ is the one who does the separating - not us. (Luke 3:16,17)

As to judging others, read Col. 2:16 and Rom. 14:13.

Hope that helps! :)

I heard a short comment on this not long ago. I can't remember where. I might even have been on this board.

Jesus showed the coin and asked whose image is on it. The answer is, of course Caesar's, so the coin is Caesar's. Now of course the logical question to ask is 'Whose image is on you?'.

I just love that!:)

[Paidfor]

I would like to get the proper perspective on this comment, made by someone I know. I feel this person is wrongly enduring teachings in a church they don't agree with.

Here is the person's issue:

"I was offended by Wright's damning of America. Just as I have been repeatedly offended by those preachers, my own included, who say that those who oppose this war are traitors. I don't attend my church much anymore because of it. I am wrong. Like Obama I should continue to attend and separate the chaff from the wheat, taking into myself only that which helps me become a better person and a better Christian. The rest is just blowing in the wind."

Is there a scripture I can use to discuss this, or do I have it wrong? As Christians we are to be continually fed to maintain spiritual growth, and I don't think that having to separate the wheat from the chaff in our own understanding is going to strengthen one's walk.

Many thanks. I just can't come up with the references that I need.

Everyone has an opinion on political and cultural issues and they can be fun and productive to talk about. But like others have already stated, that is not where our focus should be. Here is some scripture that shows where our focus should be.

Phi 3:18 For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.
Phi 3:19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.
Phi 3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,

Jam 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

2Co 6:14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
2Co 6:15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?
2Co 6:16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people."
2Co 6:17 "Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you."
2Co 6:18 "I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."


I don't really like telling someone to leave a particular congregation but you do reach a limit where it becomes the best choice. Being in a local body is a lot more than just a 30 minute sermon every week. It's about being among like-minded people for fellowship, growth, worship and many other things. But the leaders of a church set the tone and direction for the whole body. If they are going in the wrong direction, the whole congregation is going in the wrong direction.

[Arkrider]

Thanks to all who responded.