Re: An Old "Friend" Seeking to Line Me Up
 

Let's say an old friend looks you up. You share with him briefly concerning your conviction about house church. He asks to meet with you. Then you get a call from a mutual friend saying that this same guy called him and bad mouthed you and said he planned to straighten you out for defying God's authority in your life by not having a "covering".

How would you handle that differently than the original poster?

Re: An Old "Friend" Seeking to Line Me Up
 

Deacon,

I am going to be in Memphis on a short business trip sometime in the next three weeks and I am hoping to meet you to rebuke you and straighten you out! I really enjoyed the last time a year or two ago (I lose track of time).

Re: An Old "Friend" Seeking to Line Me Up
 

1. I seriously doubt I would be 'blind sided' by the 'old friend'. And if he did try to straighten me out, so called, I'd simply discuss with him the issues and we'd have a bible study and prayer together.

2. I doubt I'd be on the intardnets talking about him behind his back.

3. I would also have refused to just BELIEVE what was told me about the 'old friend'. I would instead hold judgment in reserve. The other guy may have misunderstood what the 'old friend' said. You know, 'charity hopeth all things' and those pesky old testament laws against taking up a reproafh against your neighbor or listening to tale-bearers. So I would instead decide that the one friend probably misunderstood what the 'old friend' was saying or doing, and would meet the old friend and keep an open mind and open heart.

IF the old friend was trying to straighten me out, I would cherish the fact I had a friend who was serious enough about God to at least be zealous for God and concerned about my spiritual well being. Who needs friends who could care less if you go to hell?

And if was trying to straighten me out on 'house church', either I'd convert him to the truth, or we'd at the least part amicably with our respective views in tact. And if he was gonna just be mean and nasty about it, then I would pray for him and move on with my life.

I hope I would NOT be on AFF posting about what I THOUGHT his motives were in the absence of anything but hearsay.

Hearsay is hearsay, regardless of who says it...

Re: An Old "Friend" Seeking to Line Me Up
 

If that mutual friend called to warn you someone was on their way to kill you, would that just be hearsay. How is it hearsay when the potential killer has made his plans known to the one who warned you?

Re: An Old "Friend" Seeking to Line Me Up
 

Your post is right on the money. Obviously the friend who called him had spoken to the guy wanting to meet him because he knew about the meeting, etc.

Some people are just hell bent on defending the indefensible.

There is a very good chance the friend intent on rebuking him has the best of intentions. I am sure the Pope does also.

:lol

smh

:thumbsup

Re: An Old "Friend" Seeking to Line Me Up
 

It's always interesting to study a group dynamic.

Deacon has been a part of AFF since its inception. He posted an interesting commentary about his fears, failures, relationships and journey.

Predictably, the responses fall under two categories: "He's no longer one of us so he's a lying gossip with an ax to grind" or "Gee, interesting story. Happy to hear you're doing well, Deacon."

Warnings from best friends don't happen frequently, in my experience. Only a fool ignores them.

Glad you're happy and well, Deacon.

Re: An Old "Friend" Seeking to Line Me Up
 

Yet here you are, furiously posting on the "intardnet" about another's human experience as if you fully understand his life and motives and as if you are the sole possessor of all wisdom.

Let me play your game...I'm fairly certain that you wouldn't have been nearly so kind as Deacon. Flipping the scenario, you most likely would never have met with a no-longer-Apostolic defector in the first place.

I feel I may safely surmise as much by the complete lack of grace you exhibit here on a daily basis.

Re: An Old "Friend" Seeking to Line Me Up
 

They say, that there are usually three stories. There's the story that he said happen, and the story that they say happened, And The true story of what really happened.

And it probably happened along these lines ..,,

1kings 22:8
And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat,

There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah,

by whom we may enquire of the Lord:

but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil.

:heeheehee