The TheologyOnline.com TOPIC OF THE DAY for September 2nd, 2011 09:24 AM
| toldailytopic: Open rebuke is better Than love carefully concealed. - Proverbs 27:5. What does that mean to you? |
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Within my family love is my primary motivator. BUT! They know that I will point out what appear to be lapses in word or deed. Mostly a well timed and carefully crafted question will get a good result. Sometimes one must bluntly challenge a word or deed because trouble looms if it is continued.
In my church I ask questions during meetings, but mostly I am involved in Bible study, choir or outreach. I have not witnessed anything so far that required challenging.
Here on TOL I have come to know some people quite well through cyberspace. In fact, the sharing here has been richly rewarding for me. I have questioned, challenged, flat out disagreed as well as apologized, learned and thanked people on this web site.
For those persons whose posts are far out on the fringes of my credulity I try to get a sense of their motivation and goal in making their assertions. Then, as the case may be, I either use a careful approach to see if there is room for growth (on my part also) or I let 'em have it!
When I am rebuked, no matter what, I do pay attention. Sometimes, a rebuke has been in order and I have had to rethink my words and beliefs. It is easier to examine my own behavior when a rebuke is given gently.
Sooooo, I figure most people aren't so different from me. If I can continue to learn and stay open to good instruction, others who regularly post here probably have a like mind set.
I have noticed though, that noobies who come on here with outrageous statements are soon taken to task by a cadre of old-timers. The goal being to set them on the straight and narrow right quick!
Some of them stay and grow. Others leave in a huff.
I don't like to argue with those person's on here that I have come to regard as friends. Of course, I have, I do and likely shall continue to do because you all are worth it to me. And in the process I always learn something of value to me.
