My heart and spirit grieves because I see so many Christians casting stones at other believers, for being of a different denomination, for worshiping differently, for saying different prayers or listening to differing styles of music.
Don't you know, friends, that it is love and trust alone in Christ Jesus that saves? And that a man or woman may be of a different church than you and still love Christ passionately? How can you be the gauge of that?
Don't you think He knows His own sheep, wherever they might be? Don't you think He knows that they love and trust Him? That they spend their lives seeking after Him? Don't you think He will claim His own?
You know not their heart, you know not their faith, you know not the depth of their love for Christ. If they worship differently than you, then have forbearance and pray for wisdom. Cast not stones of judgement at an individual, if you have concerns about them, then lift them up in prayer. If the state of their soul's salvation weighs upon you, then pray earnestly daily for them, and show them the greatest amount of Christian love you can.
I am blessed to know believers in a great many denominations, from the high liturgical to the country style non-denominational. I have seen people in all branches madly, wildly, wholly in love with Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit and doing the work of God in their lives, churches and communities. I have known great learned scholars who study the Word because the love of Christ fills them with zeal and they cannot absorb enough, so they are always seeking. I know Christians who know almost nothing of doctrine at all, yet have met the Christ, and were changed forever; they now desire nothing more than to walk with Him forever.
The Lord has many sheep, in many pastures, all quietly doing His work. I dare not cast stones at any field, lest I hit one of His own.
Don't you know, friends, that it is love and trust alone in Christ Jesus that saves? And that a man or woman may be of a different church than you and still love Christ passionately? How can you be the gauge of that?
Don't you think He knows His own sheep, wherever they might be? Don't you think He knows that they love and trust Him? That they spend their lives seeking after Him? Don't you think He will claim His own?
You know not their heart, you know not their faith, you know not the depth of their love for Christ. If they worship differently than you, then have forbearance and pray for wisdom. Cast not stones of judgement at an individual, if you have concerns about them, then lift them up in prayer. If the state of their soul's salvation weighs upon you, then pray earnestly daily for them, and show them the greatest amount of Christian love you can.
I am blessed to know believers in a great many denominations, from the high liturgical to the country style non-denominational. I have seen people in all branches madly, wildly, wholly in love with Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit and doing the work of God in their lives, churches and communities. I have known great learned scholars who study the Word because the love of Christ fills them with zeal and they cannot absorb enough, so they are always seeking. I know Christians who know almost nothing of doctrine at all, yet have met the Christ, and were changed forever; they now desire nothing more than to walk with Him forever.
The Lord has many sheep, in many pastures, all quietly doing His work. I dare not cast stones at any field, lest I hit one of His own.
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