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Post by ballistica on Jul 23, 2008 20:57:36 GMT 8
Hi guys, this is just based on my observation over the past weeks..
It's great that I see people encouraging one another, affirming one another from time to time, but sometimes, I really think that as ambassadors of Christ, we should constantly exercise and ponder about building people up instead of tearing them down?
If I'm not wrong... in one of the passages that we've had for devotion, last month, Ephesians 4:29 talks about how our words can make or break a person and that we should use our mouths to edify and encourage, rather than to do otherwise.
In the Amplified bible, it states:
29Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth, but only such [speech] as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God's favor) to those who hear it.
My personal belief is that we should constantly use words to speak life into people, and not to hamper or destruct. Yes, sometimes we might not be as tactful as we are, but words do have power.
Well, we have heard of blessings and how we bless people? Well, if blessings exist, so do curses, so if the next time you want to curse somebody, do think twice, as like I said, your words might actually come true.
Our God is a life giving God, and not a God to put death unto others, so since we are Christians and mirror images of God, let us breathe life into our friends, family and even our enemies.
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Post by eddinelious on Jul 28, 2008 22:47:13 GMT 8
what constitutes as words that can tear a person down?
but what if what i said was a joke and nothing more?
I think there is a gray area here that is not painted.
Intentionally or unintentionally Sometimes, we may say things which may be a joke to ourselves but may not be to others. Intentionally or unintentionally, as much as we'd come to expect people to understand our jokes always (due to globalization) unfortunately not everyone is as lucky to be where our humor is at.
Always safer to think TWICE Therefore I think it is also very important for us to know our audience especially well before we open our mouths (since we chose to say what we want to say). Even in according to the law, whatever you say may cause you to be charged, always safer to think twice.
A Dagger into the person's heart Hurters, these days are usually quiet hurters. They put on a facade and play along but deep inside we might have put a dagger into the person's heart. So you will never really know how much have you murder that person until its too late.
Jokes which carries spike is as much as rice is our staple Well very much is really down to you and you alone. No one can really blame you, because in this society we live in, jokes which carries spike is as much as rice is our staple. We either learn to say nicer ones or we have to stop.
However, I am also a criminal in terms of saying stuff with a lot of spikes, and I am learning to shut it everyday. In the latter part of NIV verse 31 says "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice."
So as long as my words intention or not carries a bit of spikes it should be rid of and it is an ongoing process I am learning to say goodbye to.
On the side note are the [ever], [speech] and (God's favour) in the passage something u added or is in the bible?
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Post by ballistica on Jul 30, 2008 22:32:15 GMT 8
Good add on Ed. Well I took it from the Amplified Bible, thus those in brackets are the amplification, or rather, a further break down? like grace, it's further broken down into "God's favour" and as for those words in [...] these, i think it's their insertion of own words for this version. It's an amplified bible anyways. yup, hence all these brackets.
An example would be, if you read on further...
31Let all bitterness and indignation and wrath (passion, rage, bad temper) and resentment (anger, animosity) and quarreling (brawling, clamor, contention) and slander (evil-speaking, abusive or blasphemous language) be banished from you, with all malice (spite, ill will, or baseness of any kind).
those words in (....) provides like synonyms or an amplification of what the sentence is intended to convey.
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