How Do You Cope??

[ByHisGrace]

Romans 12:18 (King James Version)
18. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

This is a verse I have often struggled with.
Can you tell me how do you do this, when dealing with people of faiths or strange doctrines I would like you to answer honestly, not in a pious or super spiritual way. Also how would you link that with:

Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

[Bloodbought]

You can put forward what the bible teaches without hitting people over the head with it.

[titus212]

Jesus speaks to this in Luke when He sends out his disciples to preach.

"If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave their town, as a testimony against them."
Luke 9:5

and,

"He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me."
Luke 10:16

If someone rejects your preaching of the Gospel of Christ, shake the dust off your feet, so to speak, and just let it go. Let them believe what they will, knowing that you have given them something to think about, and maybe God will grow the seed planted, or not. Then continue to pray for them, that God will give them understanding.

Varlen (The VMan)

[eddybear]

Pious answer?

I pray for God's forgiveness and blessing for them, and then I know the Lord's peace, and the strength from him to love them.


OK, now we've got that pretentious nonsense out of the way, you want an honest answer? OK, try this one for when I encounter Christians who fixedly hold to false doctrines ......

I get really frustrated, stew over it, imagine scenarios where I put them down, and crush their arguments, and they agree with me, or I send them packing, or I storm out on them...... and if Ali's about I might rant a bit to let of steam.....and then after a bit I start to pray, trying to pray for them, asking God to bless them and show them the truth, asking God would show me if actually I'm the one who's in the wrong; trying to remember just how much God has forgiven me, after all the things I have got wrong; asking forgiveness for my bad reaction; remembering that Christ died for them just as much as he did for me; that we are brothers/sisters in Christ; and then, yes, some peace comes to me. And I have to keep praying, and keep reminding myself that I am saved by grace, and bit by bit God's grace does work its way into my heart, and I do receive from Christ the consolation I need to cope.

There, it's not that pretty, is it? But it's realistic.

[Monique]

I have to agree with all of the above but what gets me through when I have to listen to someone like that is I say over and over in my head
Matt 7:6 Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces."
If the Lord wants me to say something He will give me the words, but if it comes from me before I wait for His advice I am always sorry that I opened my mouth. Maybe the opportunity is not at that moment but if He wants you to say something He may give the opportunity later on.
What we think we should say or what we think we should do is not always what God wants. And Satan is the prince of the air (Eph 2:2) always beaming into our minds things to say that will weaken our position and His target Christ

[canny]

I just remember to love them ,,,,

gosh that sounds dumb but tis how it is...

[Robert Cragg]

I like to say well your argument is not with me.
Argue with God, he wrote the book. Then I walk away and pray to Father God to show them the truth.

[Sweetrainbow]

This is about as honest as it is going to get.

First of all I am no know it all on the Bible to be preachinganything to anyone.

But what I do know when the time is right and if the situation calls for it
I will open my mouth until I lose my voice.

I'm sure God never wants us to quit and that he wants to have his WORD passed to all that don't it.

My family have rolled their eyes at me so many times.
I will admit that hurts me so much because I want them to have eternal salvation with our Lord.

But the biggest thing I have to remember is that they have free will to accept or not accept and that I tried my best and God knows it.

[Robert Cragg]

This is about as honest as it is going to get.

First of all I am no know it all on the Bible to be preachinganything to anyone.

But what I do know when the time is right and if the situation calls for it
I will open my mouth until I lose my voice.

I'm sure God never wants us to quit and that he wants to have his WORD passed to all that don't it.

My family have rolled their eyes at me so many times.
I will admit that hurts me so much because I want them to have eternal salvation with our Lord.

But the biggest thing I have to remember is that they have free will to accept or not accept and that I tried my best and God knows it.

I've gone through allot of the same with my family, and yes it does hurt, just keep on praying to the Lord and don't argue, I'm sorry I may not be making sense I'm not doing well and in a state of confusion.

[eddybear]

Yes, unsaved family is a hard one. I've seen God do some wonderful things among my wife's family, I'm still waiting for the same in my family.

Hmmmm, this post has reminded me how little I pray for my family (apart from for my parents). Not good