31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who had believed him, “If you continue in my word you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
33 They replied to him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have not been enslaved to anyone at any time. How do you say, ‘You will become free’?” 34 Jesus replied to them, “Truly, truly I say to you, that everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And the slave does not remain in the household ⌊forever⌋; the son remains ⌊forever⌋. 36 So if the son sets you free, you will be truly free. (John 8:31–36, LEB)
And just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, thus it is necessary that the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.”
16 For in this way God loved the world, so that he gave his one and only Son, in order that everyone who believes in him will not perish, but will have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world in order that he should judge the world, but in order that the world should be saved through him. (John 3:14–17, LEB)
What did they have to do?
And Yahweh sent among the people poisonous snakes; they bit the people, and many people from Israel died. 7 The people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned because we have spoken against Yahweh and against you. Pray to Yahweh and let him remove the snakes from among us.” So Moses prayed for the people. 8 And Yahweh said to Moses, “Make for yourself a snake and place it on a pole. When anyone is bitten and looks at it, that person will live.” 9 So Moses made a snake of bronze, and he placed it on the pole; whenever a snake bit someone, and that person looked at the snake of bronze, he lived. (Numbers 21:6–9, LEB)
Why make people fear, and turn away?
Repentance is turning toward GOD.
If some think someone is having too much fun, consider they need a friend to come along side. They might be terribly burdened.
They might have grown up hearing condemnation every night as I think one of my sons did! Either because someone thought he thought he was too good, or they were experimenting. Either way, not Christian!
If someone misinterprets scary stuff, will more criticism help them?
No, grace gets people to truth.
Romans 2:4
Or do you despise the wealth of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? (Romans 2:4, LEB)
John 12:47-48
And if anyone hears my words and does not observe them, I will not judge him. For I have not come to judge the world, but to save the world.
48 The one who rejects me and does not accept my words has one who judges him; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. (John 12:47–48, LEB)
Let’s be glad people pray, want to hear from God, and to grow in knowing He loves them.
Good question. I will say what you write applies well mainly to seekers and learners. Scripture is harsher towards errant teachers and leaders. Also, when entire congregations go off rails. See Galatians, 1st Corinthians, 2nd John, Jude, some of Christ's letters to the churches in Revelation 2-3 among other Scriptures.
I might write or podcast a fuller answer sometime.
There was a Patheos Blog about Christians who had off-kilter rare beliefs. These were people most recognized as orthodox. So maybe we ought to be patient and prayerful, when we do not like someone’s interpretation, so they do not walk away. Does not John 8:31-32 describes a process not an arrival.
I used to call him David Heartily Bent when he was simply an irritant. At this point I can't take him that lightly. How is he not apostate?
Why focus on “bad” or unusual beliefs?
Why not focus on Christ:
Then He can work.
31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who had believed him, “If you continue in my word you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
33 They replied to him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have not been enslaved to anyone at any time. How do you say, ‘You will become free’?” 34 Jesus replied to them, “Truly, truly I say to you, that everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And the slave does not remain in the household ⌊forever⌋; the son remains ⌊forever⌋. 36 So if the son sets you free, you will be truly free. (John 8:31–36, LEB)
And just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, thus it is necessary that the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.”
16 For in this way God loved the world, so that he gave his one and only Son, in order that everyone who believes in him will not perish, but will have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world in order that he should judge the world, but in order that the world should be saved through him. (John 3:14–17, LEB)
What did they have to do?
And Yahweh sent among the people poisonous snakes; they bit the people, and many people from Israel died. 7 The people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned because we have spoken against Yahweh and against you. Pray to Yahweh and let him remove the snakes from among us.” So Moses prayed for the people. 8 And Yahweh said to Moses, “Make for yourself a snake and place it on a pole. When anyone is bitten and looks at it, that person will live.” 9 So Moses made a snake of bronze, and he placed it on the pole; whenever a snake bit someone, and that person looked at the snake of bronze, he lived. (Numbers 21:6–9, LEB)
Why make people fear, and turn away?
Repentance is turning toward GOD.
If some think someone is having too much fun, consider they need a friend to come along side. They might be terribly burdened.
They might have grown up hearing condemnation every night as I think one of my sons did! Either because someone thought he thought he was too good, or they were experimenting. Either way, not Christian!
If someone misinterprets scary stuff, will more criticism help them?
No, grace gets people to truth.
Romans 2:4
Or do you despise the wealth of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? (Romans 2:4, LEB)
John 12:47-48
And if anyone hears my words and does not observe them, I will not judge him. For I have not come to judge the world, but to save the world.
48 The one who rejects me and does not accept my words has one who judges him; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. (John 12:47–48, LEB)
Let’s be glad people pray, want to hear from God, and to grow in knowing He loves them.
Hosea 6:1-6
Good question. I will say what you write applies well mainly to seekers and learners. Scripture is harsher towards errant teachers and leaders. Also, when entire congregations go off rails. See Galatians, 1st Corinthians, 2nd John, Jude, some of Christ's letters to the churches in Revelation 2-3 among other Scriptures.
I might write or podcast a fuller answer sometime.
And now I have. Thanks again for the good question, Deborah.
https://markmarshall.substack.com/p/why-is-combatting-error-in-the-church
There was a Patheos Blog about Christians who had off-kilter rare beliefs. These were people most recognized as orthodox. So maybe we ought to be patient and prayerful, when we do not like someone’s interpretation, so they do not walk away. Does not John 8:31-32 describes a process not an arrival.