How is that Christ-like?
There is no fighting allowed in this forums, and please don't misunderstand the forum rules about that.
chad, i haven't misunderstood the forum rules at all. And i figure that if the apostle paul took steps to correct those who had tried to misquote or misrepresent him then so can i. that
is known as debate and argumentation. i would do no different if i were setting in the same room across a table from you or anyone else and, frankly, so would you as i'm sure you have before.
to shipwrecksoul: if i misunderstood your intent, as you say, then i apologize to you and repent of my error. to be honest though, you gave me nothing more to go on concerning your intent than a single question.
straight up boys, i contend that it is perfectly possible to have or continue friendships with the opposite sex even while married. any relationship is acceptable as long as it operates within the confines of HOLY manners and character. if at any time the relationship wanders from those boundaries then sin will come in and the devil will have a heyday. And forget the talk of temptation cause we all have had temptations about those whom we did not know at all but simply passed by. do i then simply divorce myself from ever stepping out of my house to go grocery shopping or pay bills? God forbid!!!
as one dear brother put it so well, "if i remember that the one of the opposite sex is a creation of God and His child and love them His way then the enemy is stopped in his tracks on tempting me." besides i can not be tempted with what i do not desire. i hate cream of wheat. i eat it and just want to regurgitate. what possible temptation could it be to me? none! such is the case here. but if a brother is weak in that area then as i said in my previous post 'don't do it'. that would be the greatest wisdom for you and for that i salute you in being honest with yourself. i also hope, though, that you would eventually mature in your walk and faith so that would no longer be the case. if you know you're weak then strengthen yourself in the Lord. i know it won't happen overnight but by faith in His Name it can happen.
And just to put a smile on all your faces again i promise that this will be the last time i post on this thread. believe it or not (your choice) i do bless you and love you. it truly has not been my intent to offend just for offend's sake. any one can do that. i have simply upheld the notion of co-gendered friendships and i would not restrain another from it because i know the beauty of it. my sister and friend is a wonderful treasure to me and i honor her before the Lord. she and my wife get along beautifully and i have encouraged that since i want them to be best friends as well.
may Father bless you all with the abundance of His Grace!
