Fruits of the Spirit...

[Stan]

Have trouble locating Sin-Sniffers as one of the fruits of the Spirit,

and

having a person's heart turn to stone...

maybe it is in another translation.

[Gail]

Amen to that! Add to that the perfectionists, who use any of your news as an opportunity to prove that they are better...

They deflate me.

[bonnie]

Have trouble locating Sin-Sniffers as one of the fruits of the Spirit,

and

having a person's heart turn to stone...

maybe it is in another translation.

My dad would be surprised to see his "sin sniffers" used

It goes with the game of "I Spy Sin"

[Woody]

Have trouble locating Sin-Sniffers as one of the fruits of the Spirit,

and

having a person's heart turn to stone...

maybe it is in another translation.

Amen. Thank you so much for saying this.

The only one I would add to this list would be gossip. It is what they do after sniffing out that supposed sin.

[Twilight]

Have trouble locating Sin-Sniffers as one of the fruits of the Spirit,

and

having a person's heart turn to stone...

maybe it is in another translation.

Do we not have to be careful before labelling a group of people or an activity?

How does one judge another a "sin sniffer".

It seems a derogatory term...

Mark

[Twilight]

There is this idea that is becoming prevalent in the Adventist Church that it is somehow wrong to point out sin.

That is not biblical.

[Twilight]

Whilst I am in no way encouraging the carnal slaying of one another...

Let us consider these verses:

Ecc 7:5 [it is] better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.

Luk 17:3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him

1Ti 5:20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

2Ti 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

Tts 1:13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;

Tts 2:15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

Rev 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Now if I was to rebuke a brother in love, would I be a "sin sniffer", or if a brother rebukes me in love does that make them a "sin sniffer"?

God bless,

Mark

[Gail]

It is one thing to approach someone about something they see, although it seems to me that few are able to do this in a winning manner, as to win over the brother/sister.

It's quite another to be subjected to someone who talks about OTHER people's (perceived) foibles, such as their way of living, their gaudy make-up, their jewelry, etc- you fill in the blanks. I find when I am in the presence of a couple of people I get downed out because of all the bad news reported to me, things that I may or may not notice but that don't bother me enough to need to talk about it.

I need help with these friends of mine, because this gossip has affected our friendship. I am looking for a way to mention it but I am not very good at confronting others. But I am looking for a window of opportunity here. Either that or this will destroy these friendships.

[GreatLakesGramma]

Gail, why do you want to keep friends like that? Doesn't it ever make you wonder what they say behind your back? I avoid people like that like the plague. Or else I tell them off, and then they avoid me like the plague.

[Bravus]

Maybe, rather than discussing this particular 'not-fruit', we could discuss the actual fruit of the Spirit? How does that old song go? 'Accentuate, the po-os-itive'.

[GreatLakesGramma]

Or else I tell them off, and then they avoid me like the plague.

Actually, I was just kidding. I can't remember actually ever telling off a gossip. I just defend the person they're putting down. No matter what critical thing they say, I offer a more favorable alternative interpretation of the other person's acts or words. This really annoys the gossip, because they want you to agree with them. After awhile, they will quit telling you their gossip, because you're no fun to gossip with. If they live for gossip, they won't be speaking with you at all any more, but that's no great loss.

Or, when the gossip pauses to let you speak, you might try saying, "So, what do you say about me behind my back?" or, if other people talk about this person's gossiping, how careful you have to be of what you say to him, etc., you might be doing him a favor to say, "would you like to know what other people say about you behind your back?" Then tell him that people don't trust him, and they warn each other to be careful of what they say to him. Don't name any names. If the gossip doesn't know who is talking about her behind her back, she might be very reluctant to try to gossip to anyone.

[aldona]

Quote:

Or, when the gossip pauses to let you speak, you might try saying, "So, what do you say about me behind my back?" or, if other people talk about this person's gossiping, how careful you have to be of what you say to him, etc., you might be doing him a favor to say, "would you like to know what other people say about you behind your back?" Then tell him that people don't trust him, and they warn each other to be careful of what they say to him. Don't name any names. If the gossip doesn't know who is talking about her behind her back, she might be very reluctant to try to gossip to anyone.

That's really good. I'll have to try that.

aldona

[Woody]

In regards to sin-sniffers ...

It should be remembered that God's judgement is perfect. Our sin-sniffers STINK. They stink because WE stink and can't smell accurately the other person ... through our OWN stink.

[Gail]

Thanks, GLG, for the words of advice. I don't know exactly how I will do it, but I want to say SOMETHING. I feel just how you've described it, like who knows what these people are saying outside of my hearing range about me.

Also it kinda makes me feel small because I hate it when these people find out information about my own family before I do. I once mentioned that... I said, That sucks! When the person asked why, I said, Because you know before I was able to!

But I know I need to be more direct than that, as one of these people are in my workplace. I've been just avoiding that person, but that is not effective for either of us. It's just isolated me.

[GreatLakesGramma]

Gail, prayer helps. If you are going to confront someone, always, always pray first, and keep praying until you know you are doing it in the right spirit. If you do not feel a genuine love and concern toward that person, you aren't ready to confront them. And pray for their response as well.

When someone has done something against me, or against my children when they were young, I have always confronted them in writing, because I am not an auditory/verbal person. Thank God for computers! I have re-written those letters again and again for as much as 2 weeks until I knew my own heart was right, and the letter was truly ready.

And in one case, after 2 weeks of writing and re-writing my letter, as I had it printed and ready to go, then got on my knees to pray over it one last time, God rebuked me because I didn't believe that the person it was meant for would apologize or change. I was judging her, and denying God's ability to work in her heart. So I had to throw out the letter and start all over again. After another week, when both I and the letter were right and I sent it to her, she apologized in tears.

I have never failed to get an apology when I have done this. And besides that, in every case my relationship with the individual has been preserved.

[jasd]

>>Gail, prayer helps.<<

Exactly! 'cept that you take hold of the 'gossiper' and suggest praying for the subject of the gossip. After a few times having to pray with you - the 'gossiper' will avoid 'sharing' those juicy tidbits... well, that is, unless the 'gossiper' just loves to be led in prayer - but then, one may always

just go on, and on, and on..., yes? and mebbe, his/her knees will simply give out

[Planey]

Sounds like that would work, jasd.

Just in passing, I note that the term sin-sniffer seems to refer to sniffing other people's sins. When I first saw the term I figured it referred to sniffing out sins in one's own life. And I thought that was a good thing.

I know Robert would not agree that would be a good thing (because sussing out your own sins smacks of legalism) but I would actually prefer to attempt to eradicate (with the help of the Holy Spirit) any sins in my life that I could.

Graeme

[GreatLakesGramma]

Me too, Planey. Sin hurts the sinner and those around him. I don't like being hurt by sin, my own or other people's.