Re: [asa] Fear and Loathing on this list

On Tue, Feb 17, 2009 at 12:57 PM, Merv Bitikofer <mrb22667@kansas.net>
wrote: (inter alia)
   But at some
> point, we are called to "gently restore our brother", and I agree with you
> fully that "gently" means without sarcasm or biting vitriol --- though it
> would seem Jesus & other previous prophets pushed the envelope on that a
> bit. (and we are called to be like Christ, so we can't just dismissively
> say, "well that was Him" nevertheless I agree with you that Paul's
> exhortations still stand also.)

Actually I think you can legitimately say "that was him", in this
case. It is clear (to me at any rate) that the "voice" being used in
the passage is a prophetic one, and sounds like many passages from the
Old Testament prophets. Calling down woes on people is a clear
prophetic warning of future judgement from God.

But Jesus calls upon US not to judge - it is for God to judge and not
for us. Indeed, if we judge, we'll be judged for the same faults - we
will be the ones accused of hypocrisy.

So I think it is a lame excuse indeed to use the "nasty" tone of
Matthew 23 to justify being thoroughly obnoxious to folks like YEC's,
unless those who do so are claiming they are "charismatic" Christians
with the gift of prophecy, and were called upon by the Holy Spirit to
use vitriol and sarcasm.

Surely a better model is how Jesus treated the woman taken in
adultery. Did he condemn her? No. Did he call her a "braying
jackass"? No. Did he say she was a slut and a whore? No. He didn't
condemn her. But he DID say that she mustn't sin any more.

So if your YEC friend comes out with a piece of "scientific
explanation" that is a clear falsehood - you shouldn't go in all guns
blazing and tell them they're a filthy liar. You should reason; point
out that the so-called "science" they are using is utterly flawed and
false, and that they mustn't use it again. If that person then
continues to use that fallacious argument - that's their
responsibility, not yours. But if you go in and tell them they're a
filthy liar, then you will be called in judgement for all the times
you've been less than 100% truthful, (Matthew 7:1-2), and which of us
can hold our hands up and say that wouldn't happen to us?

Iain

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Received on Tue Feb 17 14:59:37 2009