Comments on: Focus on Freedom http://judifree.com/2008/05/05/focus-on-freedom/ A Guide to Everyday Wonderful Thu, 08 Jul 2010 18:52:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Here’s my point… « judi free! http://judifree.com/2008/05/05/focus-on-freedom/#comment-477 Here’s my point… « judi free! Mon, 19 May 2008 16:32:44 +0000 http://judifree.wordpress.com/?p=122#comment-477 [...] point on my blog post about how Christians will find anything to boycott goes to a new level…did you know that we [...] [...] point on my blog post about how Christians will find anything to boycott goes to a new level…did you know that we [...]

]]> By: Judi Free.com http://judifree.com/2008/05/05/focus-on-freedom/#comment-392 Judi Free.com Tue, 06 May 2008 18:08:27 +0000 http://judifree.wordpress.com/?p=122#comment-392 Hi Everyone! Thanks for joining in on the conversation. Kelly - I love you! I totally see your heart in this. I agree that we HAVE to stand for righteousness. My goal for this post is not to say that we must lay down our standards. We must stand out in this world. This world is full of hate and angst and we must show this world how to love. I'm not afraid to stand out - but I want to stand out for my love - not for what I'm boycotting this month. This world will always persecute me for what I believe -ALWAYS. I am not supposed to persecute the world for persecuting me...I'm supposed to turn the other cheek. Jesus made it harder for us in the New Testament - in the Old Testament, we could rise up an army and fight, but in the new testament, we must beat them and their wicked ways with love and mercy - THAT'S HARD! We must respond to all types of wickedness with love. What did Jesus do when the world was persecuting him - he just kept carrying the cross...even as they were spitting in his face. He didn't raise up an army of believers to boycott the government... Jesus said in John 12:47, "I did not come to judge the world, I came to save the world". We are supposed to be known by our fruits - the first fruit of the spirit is LOVE...joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control - we are put to the test on how we will respond to the world and the persecution. I will choose to respond with love and mercy. Hi Everyone! Thanks for joining in on the conversation. Kelly – I love you! I totally see your heart in this. I agree that we HAVE to stand for righteousness. My goal for this post is not to say that we must lay down our standards. We must stand out in this world. This world is full of hate and angst and we must show this world how to love. I’m not afraid to stand out – but I want to stand out for my love – not for what I’m boycotting this month.

This world will always persecute me for what I believe -ALWAYS. I am not supposed to persecute the world for persecuting me…I’m supposed to turn the other cheek. Jesus made it harder for us in the New Testament – in the Old Testament, we could rise up an army and fight, but in the new testament, we must beat them and their wicked ways with love and mercy – THAT’S HARD! We must respond to all types of wickedness with love. What did Jesus do when the world was persecuting him – he just kept carrying the cross…even as they were spitting in his face. He didn’t raise up an army of believers to boycott the government…

Jesus said in John 12:47, “I did not come to judge the world, I came to save the world”. We are supposed to be known by our fruits – the first fruit of the spirit is LOVE…joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control – we are put to the test on how we will respond to the world and the persecution. I will choose to respond with love and mercy.

]]> By: kelli http://judifree.com/2008/05/05/focus-on-freedom/#comment-391 kelli Tue, 06 May 2008 17:20:54 +0000 http://judifree.wordpress.com/?p=122#comment-391 Oh, I would never compare any modern day disaster to the wrath of God. That is not where I was going with my comment at all. I would never ever compare New Orleans with Sodom and Gommorah. I think its just a city that sits on the ocean in a hurricane prone area and natural disasters happen. It was horrible what happened down there. Discussing things on a blog or email type setting is always a tricky situation because there is a lot of room to read into emotions that are there or arent there. If we were face to face its easier to see and read peoples hearts in the situation. :) Thats all :) Oh, I would never compare any modern day disaster to the wrath of God. That is not where I was going with my comment at all. I would never ever compare New Orleans with Sodom and Gommorah. I think its just a city that sits on the ocean in a hurricane prone area and natural disasters happen. It was horrible what happened down there.
Discussing things on a blog or email type setting is always a tricky situation because there is a lot of room to read into emotions that are there or arent there. If we were face to face its easier to see and read peoples hearts in the situation. :)

Thats all :)

]]> By: Elizabeth Hardin http://judifree.com/2008/05/05/focus-on-freedom/#comment-390 Elizabeth Hardin Tue, 06 May 2008 17:09:15 +0000 http://judifree.wordpress.com/?p=122#comment-390 I'm not the type of person that yells at non-Christians for sinning. I understand that they don't try to live there lives by the same standards. I also don't think that a lot of the Boycotting works. But here is my one issue, Standards. I believe in the love of Jesus Christ but I still have standards that I believe and stand on. I don't believe standing up for what I believe is hating!! I also think that the "world" needs to see that we are different. If you Boycott something have good reasons why not just because you received a chain e-mail about it. Sometimes I think in this PC world we are so afraid that someone will be mad at us for taking a stand. By trying to be "cool" in the worlds eyes we may actually miss an opportunity. Don't you think a lot of the people you may know in your offices that are out getting drunk off their @$##@ every weekend are looking for something real and different. Just some thoughts. We can only control our own actions and not those of the whole Christian community. I’m not the type of person that yells at non-Christians for sinning. I understand that they don’t try to live there lives by the same standards. I also don’t think that a lot of the Boycotting works. But here is my one issue, Standards. I believe in the love of Jesus Christ but I still have standards that I believe and stand on. I don’t believe standing up for what I believe is hating!! I also think that the “world” needs to see that we are different. If you Boycott something have good reasons why not just because you received a chain e-mail about it. Sometimes I think in this PC world we are so afraid that someone will be mad at us for taking a stand. By trying to be “cool” in the worlds eyes we may actually miss an opportunity. Don’t you think a lot of the people you may know in your offices that are out getting drunk off their @$##@ every weekend are looking for something real and different.
Just some thoughts. We can only control our own actions and not those of the whole Christian community.

]]> By: joshmickelson http://judifree.com/2008/05/05/focus-on-freedom/#comment-389 joshmickelson Tue, 06 May 2008 17:05:35 +0000 http://judifree.wordpress.com/?p=122#comment-389 Agreed, we both want to see Jesus’ love manifest in our day-to-day lives, and that is the main thing that matters. I don’t think I have come to the same conclusion as you in regards to the OT and the NT, but I totally respect your viewpoints. My heart breaks when things like the disaster in New Orleans happen and people compare it to Sodom and Gommorah. For me, that is not the God I serve. Agreed, we both want to see Jesus’ love manifest in our day-to-day lives, and that is the main thing that matters.

I don’t think I have come to the same conclusion as you in regards to the OT and the NT, but I totally respect your viewpoints. My heart breaks when things like the disaster in New Orleans happen and people compare it to Sodom and Gommorah. For me, that is not the God I serve.

]]> By: kelli http://judifree.com/2008/05/05/focus-on-freedom/#comment-388 kelli Tue, 06 May 2008 16:22:00 +0000 http://judifree.wordpress.com/?p=122#comment-388 I dont think you come off as mean at all..... :) What I am trying to say is that God hasnt changed from the old testament to the new testament. Its just a lot easier to get to him now that Jesus shed his blood for us. I dont know what God will do, I dont know if he still would distroy a city like he did Soddom and Gommorah. My point was he doesnt put up with sin for long and he is not ok with people acting in definance to how he created them. Jesus said that he did not come to distroy the law or the prophets, but to fulfill them. Things became tougher when Jesus came because he said that the old testament said you should not committ adultry , but Jesus said if you look upon a woman to lust for her, you have committed adultry with her in your heart - Now we dont just follow the "rules", Jesus is looking at our heart. So God hasnt changed, he in essence made things harder and easier all in the same breath. We could probably go on and on about this subject so I wont say anymore. I know that all of us want to reach a lost a dying world and I think its awesome :) I dont think you come off as mean at all….. :) What I am trying to say is that God hasnt changed from the old testament to the new testament. Its just a lot easier to get to him now that Jesus shed his blood for us.
I dont know what God will do, I dont know if he still would distroy a city like he did Soddom and Gommorah. My point was he doesnt put up with sin for long and he is not ok with people acting in definance to how he created them.
Jesus said that he did not come to distroy the law or the prophets, but to fulfill them. Things became tougher when Jesus came because he said that the old testament said you should not committ adultry , but Jesus said if you look upon a woman to lust for her, you have committed adultry with her in your heart – Now we dont just follow the “rules”, Jesus is looking at our heart. So God hasnt changed, he in essence made things harder and easier all in the same breath.

We could probably go on and on about this subject so I wont say anymore. I know that all of us want to reach a lost a dying world and I think its awesome :)

]]> By: joshmickelson http://judifree.com/2008/05/05/focus-on-freedom/#comment-387 joshmickelson Tue, 06 May 2008 16:09:19 +0000 http://judifree.wordpress.com/?p=122#comment-387 I totally agree, Kelli, it’s great that we can talk about this stuff openly. Everyone’s opinion is valid and needs to be heard. There is a little break down in the debate, Judi is talking about where our focus should be and you are talking about the action as a whole. I don’t think Judi or the original writers were saying its wrong to stand against things you think are evil, it’s just that our focus should be on the action of love. It’s kind of like that old saying “The best defense is a good offense”. I find your view on the Old Testament (Sodom and Gomorrah) interesting. The reconciliation of God’s character in the OT vs. God’s character in the NT is one of my biggest roadblocks. So do you think that God could still do something like Sodom and Gomorrah? Which was in essence genocide. Same with the flood, or the majority of the Old Testament. In my opinion, the Old Testament is the way it is because it was preparing the way for Jesus. After Jesus came to complete the law, God’s character was revealed in a new way. Does that make the OT null and void? No! There are still many valuable lessons to be learned from it. However, things definitely changed when Jesus entered the picture. Let me know if I am coming off as mean, I don’t want it to be that way at all. I think this dialog is healthy, especially for people like us who go to the same church. I totally agree, Kelli, it’s great that we can talk about this stuff openly. Everyone’s opinion is valid and needs to be heard.

There is a little break down in the debate, Judi is talking about where our focus should be and you are talking about the action as a whole. I don’t think Judi or the original writers were saying its wrong to stand against things you think are evil, it’s just that our focus should be on the action of love. It’s kind of like that old saying “The best defense is a good offense”.

I find your view on the Old Testament (Sodom and Gomorrah) interesting. The reconciliation of God’s character in the OT vs. God’s character in the NT is one of my biggest roadblocks. So do you think that God could still do something like Sodom and Gomorrah? Which was in essence genocide. Same with the flood, or the majority of the Old Testament.

In my opinion, the Old Testament is the way it is because it was preparing the way for Jesus. After Jesus came to complete the law, God’s character was revealed in a new way. Does that make the OT null and void? No! There are still many valuable lessons to be learned from it. However, things definitely changed when Jesus entered the picture.

Let me know if I am coming off as mean, I don’t want it to be that way at all. I think this dialog is healthy, especially for people like us who go to the same church.

]]> By: kelli http://judifree.com/2008/05/05/focus-on-freedom/#comment-386 kelli Tue, 06 May 2008 15:41:40 +0000 http://judifree.wordpress.com/?p=122#comment-386 Oh, and I am not knocking anything that Judi said. Stuff like this challenges me to think through things. Definately makes me stop and ask myself am I more in to boycotting than loving people. I think debates like this are awesome and I dont think less of anybody whos opinion is different from mine. I just love Gods truth and so I like to debate through things to see where everyone stands and see where I can be challenged. Judi, I think your awesome! Oh, and I am not knocking anything that Judi said. Stuff like this challenges me to think through things. Definately makes me stop and ask myself am I more in to boycotting than loving people. I think debates like this are awesome and I dont think less of anybody whos opinion is different from mine. I just love Gods truth and so I like to debate through things to see where everyone stands and see where I can be challenged.
Judi, I think your awesome!

]]> By: kelli http://judifree.com/2008/05/05/focus-on-freedom/#comment-385 kelli Tue, 06 May 2008 15:36:00 +0000 http://judifree.wordpress.com/?p=122#comment-385 I guess I just dont see anyone tearing down the wicked and treating them badly. I see a lot of really good things going on with Christians and them reaching out to the "wicked". Our church does a lot of good things for the needy and usaved. Boycotting Oprah isnt being mean to the world. Remeber Sodom and Gommorah? God distroyed that city. Jesus didnt come to undo the old testament, he came to fulfill it. You cannot have one without the other. Sometimes I feel like this generation and younger generation is hell bent on ripping on christians and making fun of them. They stop at nothing to point out what they think is wrong with the church. Remember, the church, no matter how unperfect it is, is still Jesus Bride and he is coming back for us. Jesus harshest criticisim was toward religious leaders who on the outside looked godly but on the inside were hateful and without love. Just because you stand against something doesnt mean you hate them. I guess I just dont see anyone tearing down the wicked and treating them badly. I see a lot of really good things going on with Christians and them reaching out to the “wicked”. Our church does a lot of good things for the needy and usaved. Boycotting Oprah isnt being mean to the world.
Remeber Sodom and Gommorah? God distroyed that city. Jesus didnt come to undo the old testament, he came to fulfill it. You cannot have one without the other.
Sometimes I feel like this generation and younger generation is hell bent on ripping on christians and making fun of them. They stop at nothing to point out what they think is wrong with the church. Remember, the church, no matter how unperfect it is, is still Jesus Bride and he is coming back for us.
Jesus harshest criticisim was toward religious leaders who on the outside looked godly but on the inside were hateful and without love. Just because you stand against something doesnt mean you hate them.

]]> By: joshmickelson http://judifree.com/2008/05/05/focus-on-freedom/#comment-384 joshmickelson Tue, 06 May 2008 14:50:08 +0000 http://judifree.wordpress.com/?p=122#comment-384 We are on some touchy ground, and I think I am just going to bite my tongue on this one. I will say one thing though: Jesus’ harshest criticism was pointed toward the religious leaders of the time, not the sin that was being committed. I don’t really understand why the modern church views love and kindness as non-revolutionary. We are on some touchy ground, and I think I am just going to bite my tongue on this one. I will say one thing though: Jesus’ harshest criticism was pointed toward the religious leaders of the time, not the sin that was being committed. I don’t really understand why the modern church views love and kindness as non-revolutionary.

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