I need or at least would benefit from a check by a believing brother (or several, if it comes to that) on my own feelings.
I have been going to a Bible study for a few months, and am thus a 'newbe' there. In the time, I have noticed and been concerned about the general outlook in the group regarding 'others'. Others could mean other churches, other cultures or other religions.
In some cases I would be in general agreement with the fundamental basis of the sentiment expressed, in many others, I would refrain as a christian from coming to any judgement, even on a personal level. Some I would decidedly be in opposition to the expressed sentiment.
What these issues are is not the focus of my request here. There are always some who approach the issues of that day, or Christian life in general, from a different basis. What concerns me is a tendency to point fingers at those 'others', even when there is little to link it to whatever scripture we are discussing.
At other times we were watching a video presentation (I will not throw stones at it by naming it here) about evangelism. Nothing could be further from my understanding of a christian approach. Talked a lot about breaking the 10 commandments. Did not talk about much God's Love. Only mentioned Christ in passing. It also advocated a lot of deceptive devices to attract attention (e.g. biblical tracts printed on what looked like paper money). I did bring up my reservations with biblical examples, but to little avail.
In meditating about this for a while and would like to point out a few observations:
(1) Our Lord was always gentle in dealing with individuals. Whether is was the adulterer about to be stoned or the centurion who came on behalf of his servant, Jesus always treated individuals with courtesy. Even with Jewish leadership, He let His teaching speak for him rather than preach spiritual turmoil to the common people around Him
(2) Using Paul as an example, although he was always ready to admonish the various churches when needed, he did so in love, and did not hold the problems of one church to the ridicule of others. As an example, he told the Corinthians that they needed to show Christian Love and warned the Galatians about the Judiazers there rather than tell the Corinthian church how those in Galatia were placing themselves under the old law nor told Galatian church how self centered the Corinthians were.
One reason I looked for a study group was to hear how other brothers view the scriptures and broaden my understanding. There have been many times throughout my Christian life that studying with those with a fundamentally different approach has helped me either to strengthen my preexisting understanding, or to change it as new truths became evident. But I do not feel the growth of brotherhood or fellowship here. I do not know whether to continue (there are areas of agreement and learning).
Do I continue with this group, sometimes voicing my contrasting opinions, or do I find study and fellowship elsewhere?
I know that I will ultimately have to make my own decision as I feel the Lord's leading, but I would like to hear how others view this.
I have been going to a Bible study for a few months, and am thus a 'newbe' there. In the time, I have noticed and been concerned about the general outlook in the group regarding 'others'. Others could mean other churches, other cultures or other religions.
In some cases I would be in general agreement with the fundamental basis of the sentiment expressed, in many others, I would refrain as a christian from coming to any judgement, even on a personal level. Some I would decidedly be in opposition to the expressed sentiment.
What these issues are is not the focus of my request here. There are always some who approach the issues of that day, or Christian life in general, from a different basis. What concerns me is a tendency to point fingers at those 'others', even when there is little to link it to whatever scripture we are discussing.
At other times we were watching a video presentation (I will not throw stones at it by naming it here) about evangelism. Nothing could be further from my understanding of a christian approach. Talked a lot about breaking the 10 commandments. Did not talk about much God's Love. Only mentioned Christ in passing. It also advocated a lot of deceptive devices to attract attention (e.g. biblical tracts printed on what looked like paper money). I did bring up my reservations with biblical examples, but to little avail.
In meditating about this for a while and would like to point out a few observations:
(1) Our Lord was always gentle in dealing with individuals. Whether is was the adulterer about to be stoned or the centurion who came on behalf of his servant, Jesus always treated individuals with courtesy. Even with Jewish leadership, He let His teaching speak for him rather than preach spiritual turmoil to the common people around Him
(2) Using Paul as an example, although he was always ready to admonish the various churches when needed, he did so in love, and did not hold the problems of one church to the ridicule of others. As an example, he told the Corinthians that they needed to show Christian Love and warned the Galatians about the Judiazers there rather than tell the Corinthian church how those in Galatia were placing themselves under the old law nor told Galatian church how self centered the Corinthians were.
One reason I looked for a study group was to hear how other brothers view the scriptures and broaden my understanding. There have been many times throughout my Christian life that studying with those with a fundamentally different approach has helped me either to strengthen my preexisting understanding, or to change it as new truths became evident. But I do not feel the growth of brotherhood or fellowship here. I do not know whether to continue (there are areas of agreement and learning).
Do I continue with this group, sometimes voicing my contrasting opinions, or do I find study and fellowship elsewhere?
I know that I will ultimately have to make my own decision as I feel the Lord's leading, but I would like to hear how others view this.