Bible Discussion Thread

Our duty as Jesus Christ's servants is to preach His Gospel. Can we make judgments about anyone BEFORE we tell them the Gospel? I don't think so. However, once we have preached to someone, and they react to the news of Christ as a dog/swine(they reject it, mock it, insult it etc), their blood is on their own head. We are clean.

Acts 18:6 'And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, YOUR BLOOD BE UPON YOUR OWN HEADS; I AM CLEAN'

And again, Acts 20:26-27 "Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of ALL MEN. For I HAVE NOT SHUNNED TO DECLARE UNTO YOU ALL the counsel of God."

And again, Mark 6:11 "whosoever shall not receive you, NOR HEAR YOU, when ye depart thence, SHAKE OFF THE DUST UNDER YOUR FEET for a testimony AGAINST THEM. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city."

And again, Matthew "whosoever shall not receive you, NOR HEAR YOUR WORDS, when ye depart out of that house or city, SHAKE OFF THE DUST OF YOUR FEET."

Perhaps seeds were planted/watered by us and later that person will come to their senses, but the Bible tells us our duty is fulfilled. We depart from them and warn others.

Matthew 7:6 'GIVE NOT that which is holy UNTO THE DOGS, neither cast ye your pearls BEFORE SWINE, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.'

We see here, Christ Jesus never required us to babysit or go after the dogs or swine. Rather, he warns us to beware them.

Philippians 3:2 "BEWARE OF DOGS, beware of evil workers" Dogs are people who reject the Gospel of Christ. God compares them to evil workers.

And again, in Titus 3:10-11 "A man that is an heretick AFTER the first and second admonition REJECT; Knowing that HE THAT IS SUCH IS SUBVERTED, and SINNETH, BEING CONDEMNED OF HIMSELF.

And again, Luke 10:16 "He that HEARETH YOU HEARETH ME; and HE THAT DESPISETH YOU DESPISETH ME; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me."

What about witnessing to our family members? Family are perhaps the hardest people to preach to. Because they know us. "Oh that's just Joshua, I've known him since I was a kid. He used to pull my hair! What does he know?"

It's as Jesus said, "No prophet is accepted in his own country." Or by their own family! God tells us this: "And of some HAVE COMPASSION, MAKING A DISTINCTION: And others SAVE WITH FEAR, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh." Jude 22-23

But God even gave us the example of our own wives/husbands if they reject and leave us BECAUSE of the Gospel:

1 Corinthians 7:15 'But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace. 16 For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?'

If an unbelieving husband or wife leaves us, we are not under bondage to go after them. If we are not REQUIRED to go after our own spouses, why would we go after the dogs/swine? Recall again Matthew 7:6.