Finding Support In The Bible

[Guest Sashel Trace]

Yes, I know…I speak far too much. But I’m a girl and girls are verbal…

Too often I see Christians trying to explain things with fear and not with love. For instance, I read in a forum a question that a girl posed about suffering. She asked if it was absolutely necessary to go through suffering to have a close relationship with god. Everyone said that it was, but all of them gave reasons that were based on fear. One person brought up Acts 14:2 -- "We must through much tribulation enter the Kingdom of God.”

All but one. Here is what one person said.

Think of it like this. A child may be told not to touch a stove because it will hurt, but until the child does so, they will not understand at a truly deep level what it means to be burned. When the burn is gone and the hurt passes, the child becomes wiser in their decisions. They will not touch the stove again when its one because it hurts, and that is not a good thing. The book of Job has something to say on this.

Job 28:28

He said to human beings,

'Have respect for me. That will prove you are wise.

Avoid evil. That will show you have understanding.'

This isn’t an explanation based on fear. Rather it explains that we go through trials to gain wisdom. The quote from Acts basically says that you suffer in life so that you can go to heaven when you die which might be when your 120. It reminds me of the saying ‘Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will eat forever.’ It seems to me that if we just suffer without any other purpose than for something when we die, it leaves for a very hopeless existence. But if we suffer and come away better people for it in life, then it has meaning.

So what does any of this have to do with anything?

You here who are Christian have undoubtedly undergone prejudice of your own because of who you are. One comment I once received was, “aren’t you afraid of going to hell?”

That was not a comment made in love as Jesus taught.

So I challenge you: find verses that are supportive, that carry a message of love. These can be about faith or about your path in life.

Mine is this:

Matthew 6:14 – Forgive people when they sin against you. If you do, your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you.

And Luke 6:37-38

37 "If you do not judge others, then you will not be judged. If you do not find others guilty, then you will not be found guilty. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good amount will be poured into your lap. It will be pressed down, shaken together, and running over. The same amount you give will be measured out to you."

So what are your versus in love and support?

[Guest April63]

I agree with you. I think many churches have gone off the path by just a bit. I think it is because many of their leaders do not truly understand some portions of the Bible. Of course, isn't that the reason why there are a million different denominations?

I think Acts 14:2 is not trying to give us fear, but it explains that we must work to get to the Kingdom. We will be presented with trials to make us stronger, and to show our love, respect, and devotion to the Lord as in Job 28:28.

Matthew 6:14 is a good one. Matthew 22:37-40:

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment.

39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt alove thy neighbour as thyself.

40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

April