By Ron Adams
JOHN ...
- Called some people “liars.”
- P.C.: He should have given them the benefit of the doubt.
- Warned the disciples about not having fellowship with false teachers.
- P.C.: He should have been more understanding –realizing that such ostracizing is painful to the one shut out.
- Told Gaius that he’d deal with the bad behavior of Diotrephes “when I come.”
- P.C.: He should have been forgiving, and should have instructed Gaius to be more tolerant.
- Warned that some members were in danger of “falling from grace” and being “severed from Christ.”
- P.C.: He should have stressed the loving and forgiving spirit of God.
- Taught that the goddess Diana (Artamus) was nothing, upsetting the Ephesians.
- P.C.: He should have been more understanding of their long held veneration of Diana. He should have been aware that beliefs are a personal matter and are sacred to the individual.
- Preached that the Greek’s wisdom was foolishness in contrast to the wisdom of God, upsetting the Greeks.
- P.C.: He should have praised the Greeks for their ability to think and reason. He had little regard for their self-esteem.
- Confronted Peter face-to-face before all, after Peter had acted improperly.
- P.C.: He should have avoided confrontation and been more understanding and forgiving.
- Condemned those who were “preaching another gospel.”
- P.C.: He should have allowed for some diversity. Not all people think alike.
- Believed he had an obligation to preach the “whole counsel of God.”
- P.C.: He should have known that such preaching would not be well-received, and turn some followers away.
- Preached that the Jews were responsible for demanding an innocent Jesus be put to death.
- P.C.: He should have left off “blame.” No one likes to be blamed. It makes one feel bad and sad.
- Declared that he (and the other apostles) ought to obey God, not man, upsetting the rulers.
- P.C.: He should have tried to find some “common ground” through compromise.
- Charged men to speak “as the oracles of God.”
- P.C.: He should have made allowances for personal interpretation of Scriptures.
- Chastised those who said but didn’t do.
- P.C.: He should have understood that many have good intentions and probably have good reasons for not doing.
- Charged some members with “spiritual adultery.”
- P.C.: He should never have used such strong terminology. He should have been more positive, not negative.
- The most flagrant abuser of political correctness. Healed on the Sabbath and upset the Jews.
- P.C.: He should have done it on another day and avoided the confrontation.
- Called the scribes and Pharisees “hypocrites,”condemning their false piety.
- P.C.: He should have refrained from such condemnation: no one likes to be called names. It hurts one’s feelings.
- Condemned the scribes and chief priests.
- P.C.: He should have had more respect for the spiritual leaders, even if they were less than perfect.
- Criticized the Pharisees and Sadducees, calling them an evil and adulterous generation.
- P.C.: He should have known that such a combative spirit only turns off those you are trying to reach.
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