Avoid discord

Why is it that things or hurts like this happens?

There are times when we, either intentionally or most likely unintentionally, hurt somebody even in church.

Why does the person doing the hurting do it?

Why does the person being hurt allow that to destroy his or her attitude of worship?

This reminds me of a true story when from a distance I noticed to of our church ladies talking to each other. One turned away and left, but not before I noticed a strange expression on her face. I immediately told the other lady that I think she may have said something that hurt or offended the other lady. She went to the other lady. She later came to me and said that I was correct in that she unknowingly said something that hurt the other lady to which she had quickly apologized which avoided who knows what. I praise the Lord that I happened to be looking in their direction at the time of the incident.

This goes to show how we can unknowingly hurt somebody by our words as well as by our actions.

May we truly love one another as He truly loves us!

In all practicality, how do we avoid discord?

How do we avoid unintentionally hurting somebody we love in the faith?

I would surely love to know how not to unintentionally hurt someone i love as a Brother or Sister.

Recently i'd made plans to take a friend to meet the closest Sister to me here in Japan and have a Bible study. When i called to tell her we were on our way, she said she'd had a car accident that morning. My 10yen coin was about to run out, so i said we'd meet again sometime. I was thinking she'd have lots of police reports etc. to fill out, and i would just be in the way. Besides, i had this other friend to think about too.

Well, this Sister was really cool to me for over a week, and finally she blurted out one nite on the phone that she thot i'd left her high and dry when she needed me most!!!

What to do?

Anyway, we made up, but how could i have helped prevent this in the first place? She is quite emotional, and not to strong in the rational areas. As i'm the opposite, i can see God's hand clearly in leading us together to work for the spreading of the 3rd Angel's Message here in Japan.

If we must err, I guess it is always better to err on the side of offering to do something, or asking how can I be of assistance, no matter what it is.

If they decline, at least they can't say you didn't offer, and an unintentional hurt is avoided.

In all practicality, how do we avoid discord?

How do we avoid unintentionally hurting somebody we love in the faith?

In all practicality I do not think that it is humanly possible to totally avoid discord.

Because of our humanness and life’s experiences we all carry baggage and are egocentric. Our hurt reactions come from our bruised egos. One way we can try to prevent these reactions is to crucify our ego. With the help of God, a person may be able to achieve this to some degree. However, if the person who is unintentionally offended has not done the work, they will still be offended. I hope this makes sense.

Here is something that God showed me when I asked Him what he meant by “die to self”

SELF IS EGO
Ego is impatient,
Ego is unkind.
It is envious,
It is boastful,
It is proud.
It is rude,
It is self seeking,
It is easily angered,
It keeps a record of wrongs.
Ego delights in evil
And hates the truth.
It does not protect,
Trust, or hope.
It easily gives up.
Ego is a loser.

I guess if we all die to self there will be no discord.

If only it were that simple. Old habits die hard.

Shelley

The flip side of 1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter -- interesting way to look at it!

The carnal selfish unregenerate nature is the very opposite of the spiritual love that can be infused into the character of man by God, 'tis true.

-This is a great topic, and I have been blessed as I have read these posts:
-One point that we need to seriously look at, is the fact that no matter what we say or do, sometimes we will offend (unintentionally) someone. AND sometimes we also could be offended.
-TO ERR IS HUMAN, TO FORGIVE IS DEVINE.
-In my life I have made it a part of me to FORGIVE even when the party has not asked for forgivness. Again it goes back to scripture, that we shall be judged in the like manner of which we judge others.

-Blessings to all that are here at MSDAonline, and remember that what we perceve as "stumbling blocks" may be just points used as an excuse by ourselves and or others. Keep our eyes on Christ, and the things of this world (outward appearence) will grow strangly dim! The physical of this world will pass away, and we shall be changed (not just a little bit).