Can we really know people we never met in real life , on the internet only ?
My experience has been no we can not fully know them .
Certainly not enough to call them brother , words need to be backed up by actions etc.
We cannot know their daily life having not seeing it .
In the New Testament they gave letters of recommendations, apostle Paul often did this in his letters . That was even in real life , not just an internet life of words only . Telephone is much better than internet or video than just words .
Be careful and prove people out before excepting them in seen .
My experience is they are not the same in real life as on the internet.
This scripture pretty much sums up how God wants us to treat our brothers and sisters.
Matthew 5:43-48
43Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Genesis 24 is a LOVE STORY. Abraham's Servant is a view of the Holy Spirits work. Read the story and capture the details between Abraham and the Servant; and the Bride to be and the Servant. Isaac had to practice patience.
You have to pray much for the servant and the bride. Trust me, internet connections rarely connect.
Instead he had to put all his faith and trust in the servant. He was rewarded with a wonderful wife whom he loved all of his days. See verse 67 :D
This tells me that our relationship with the Holy Spirit should be close. He knows where your future wife is. Prayer and communication with Holy Spirit is important. You want to be equally yoked. I especially like verse 65. She sees Isaac the first time__as in Wowie!!
You're not being a traitor to your church if you visit singles groups in other similar churches.
Dear Sony, I agree that we really need to be able to greet one another and fellowship in person to know how things really are. But we can by faith and goodwill reach out to others by writing our thoughts and reading other's thoughts. Regarding the use of the word "brother" for me it is ok to use the title if one likes by giving confidence that we are in the same race. However, to really know a brother in the faith our lives must be proven together. Where we examine together whether be in the faith once delivered. When a smaller body of believers believes together that they have searched their lives together and believe they have peace with God and man, then they can be of a communion spirit. Hereby we can truly remember Jesus as our Savior and share the cup and the bread in unison. This healthy body can prove together new members born again testimonies, they can sing praises more clearly, they can both literally and spiritually wash each other's feet. I am not at all offended in the words used in a salutation if they are kind. I like your thoughts. It is very difficult but sometimes rewarding to move forward as brothers of peace in Christ Jesus on a website where we can trust that we are on the road to Emmaus conversing together while Jesus draws nigh unto us. Finally it is a short walk, truly only Jesus knows our hearts. Do we know Him, does he know us? Love to all brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus.
To me a friend or brother are close to the same thing , even a wife .
The bible says a friend loves at all times . My experience tells me that it's easy to just love online , and not have any real commitments to those on line .
On line is a good way to meet people but that's only 1 step in the process of finding people .
It can be too easily shallow , words are powerful and I think it's wise to be reserved on who we meet online . Until proven .
You're Welcome Sony. I am very privileged to actually know and have had warm conversations with well over a thousand brethren. My wife (my best friend) knows way more personally. So online is more about quietly taking some time off and seeing what others are thinking and experiencing in their Christian lives. We live in No Ca near the Oroville dam.
My experience has been no we can not fully know them .
Certainly not enough to call them brother , words need to be backed up by actions etc.
We cannot know their daily life having not seeing it .
In the New Testament they gave letters of recommendations, apostle Paul often did this in his letters . That was even in real life , not just an internet life of words only . Telephone is much better than internet or video than just words .
Be careful and prove people out before excepting them in seen .
My experience is they are not the same in real life as on the internet.
This scripture pretty much sums up how God wants us to treat our brothers and sisters.
Matthew 5:43-48
43Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
God Bless.
To receive some one as a brother is more intimate.
Like taking a wife as well .
It says in proverbs , except two be agreed they can not walk together.
So the level is much higher for a brother , can we walk together? Having not seen their walk ?
I tried online dating years ago and because of distance , it never worked out , even though I loved them on line . Pictures phone called etc .
You have to pray much for the servant and the bride. Trust me, internet connections rarely connect.
Instead he had to put all his faith and trust in the servant. He was rewarded with a wonderful wife whom he loved all of his days. See verse 67 :D
This tells me that our relationship with the Holy Spirit should be close. He knows where your future wife is. Prayer and communication with Holy Spirit is important. You want to be equally yoked. I especially like verse 65. She sees Isaac the first time__as in Wowie!!
You're not being a traitor to your church if you visit singles groups in other similar churches.
Think on these things
No love letters ...
Are we not all children of God?
If yes, then are we not all brothers and sisters?
Is Jesus Christ everyone's brother? Did Christ say he came to save the unrighteous?
Can someone be unrighteous today, but repent and become righteous tomorrow?
We should judge not, lest we be judged.
We are supposed to Love All, and let Jesus/God be the judge!
God Bless.
To me a friend or brother are close to the same thing , even a wife .
The bible says a friend loves at all times . My experience tells me that it's easy to just love online , and not have any real commitments to those on line .
On line is a good way to meet people but that's only 1 step in the process of finding people .
It can be too easily shallow , words are powerful and I think it's wise to be reserved on who we meet online . Until proven .
Thanks
:)
Thanks for the dialog , I have been to Northern California a number of times , it's a beautiful state .
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