The Speciality, Generality, and Practicality of the Church Life

[Sons to Glory!]

Originally Posted by JJ

Great insights guys, and very liberating!

Contending for the faith together with faithful saints, like an athletic competition is much more enjoyable than stabbing, shooting, or hacking each other, and has no casualties... just some sore muscles, bumps, and bruises, and maybe a sprain or fracture And you want to come back and do it again, over, and over! Maybe that’s why we “hang out” here so much? It’s really fun?

So you liken it to a contact sport (like American football) rather than a non-contact sport (tennis, baseball, etc.)?

[JJ]

Originally Posted by Sons to Glory!

So you liken it to a contact sport (like American football) rather than a non-contact sport (tennis, baseball, etc.)?

Not necessarily. There are injuries in all sports. I was trying to be fair. Sometimes saints, however careful, thoughtful, and loving we are trying to be may unintentionally get hurt while contending for the faith. Look at how many times Paul took issue with fellow apostles (Barnabas, Peter, and James) yet they all were made better by it learned and carried on with their respective ministries without attacking each other because the enemy is not flesh and blood but the rulers, the authorities, the evil powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by JJ

Not necessarily. There are injuries in all sports. I was trying to be fair. Sometimes saints, however careful, thoughtful, and loving we are trying to be may unintentionally get hurt while contending for the faith. Look at how many times Paul took issue with fellow apostles (Barnabas, Peter, and James) yet they all were made better by it learned and carried on with their respective ministries without attacking each other because the enemy is not flesh and blood but the rulers, the authorities, the evil powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Exactly. Paul did correct others, but never to exert some deputy authority over them. Rather he was helping their faith, helping them to contend for nothing else but their faith, and especially not ancient Jewish traditions. Recovery rebukes, on the other hand, are designed to elevate the leader and diminish all others, thus defining the "way of the Gentiles."