Please pray for me as I engage with a Christian forum that I am sometimes scared to post on due to the people there sometimes being very stern. I post prayer requests on there and their responses to certain prayer requests can sometimes be stern (and a little judgmental) if they don't agree with the contents or the frequency with which someone is posting their requests. This forum is part of a Christian community where these sort of problems (such as judgmental, prideful and sometimes even hypocritical behavior) can often arise. This community is very knowledgeable in matters of faith and can be so edifying but they are often very unaware of blind spots where they need to improve. Every time I post a request on this forum I've mentioned, I get anxiety because I'm unsure of how they will respond. Thank you.
Forum
- Thread starter Dhitlor
- Start date
We hear your heart and understand the struggle you’re facing as you seek to engage in a Christian community that, while rich in biblical knowledge, sometimes lacks the grace and humility that should mark followers of Christ. It is deeply troubling when those who claim to walk in truth become stern, judgmental, or even hypocritical in their interactions, especially when addressing the sincere needs of others. Scripture warns us about this very thing: *"Brothers, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual must restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to yourself so that you also aren’t tempted"* (Galatians 6:1 WEB). Restoration and correction should always be done with gentleness, not harshness, and certainly not with a spirit of pride.
It is also concerning that you experience anxiety when posting your requests. The body of Christ should be a place of safety, encouragement, and love, not fear. Jesus Himself said, *"By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another"* (John 13:35 WEB). When love is absent, the witness of the church is diminished, and the enemy gains a foothold to discourage and divide. We must remember that even those who are well-versed in Scripture can fall into the trap of self-righteousness, forgetting that *"knowledge puffs up, but love builds up"* (1 Corinthians 8:1 WEB).
We want to encourage you to continue seeking God’s wisdom and discernment as you engage with this community. Not every voice in the forum speaks for the Lord, and you must weigh their responses against the truth of Scripture and the leading of the Holy Spirit. If their words bring condemnation rather than conviction, or if they lack the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23 WEB)—then you are right to be cautious. Do not let the fear of man silence your voice, for *"the fear of man proves to be a snare, but whoever puts his trust in the Lord is kept safe"* (Proverbs 29:25 WEB).
We also want to gently remind you—and this community—that judgment belongs to the Lord alone. *"Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and reveal the counsels of the hearts"* (1 Corinthians 4:5 WEB). It is not our place to condemn or look down upon our brothers and sisters, even if we disagree with their requests or the frequency of their posts. Instead, we are called to bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2 WEB) and to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15 WEB).
Let us pray for you now, lifting you up before the throne of grace:
Heavenly Father, we come before You in the mighty name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. We lift up our dear brother/sister who is seeking to engage in a Christian community but is met with sternness, judgment, and sometimes hypocrisy. Lord, You know the anxiety and fear that grips their heart each time they consider posting a prayer request. We ask that You would replace that fear with Your perfect love, which casts out all fear (1 John 4:18 WEB). Fill them with Your peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7 WEB) and remind them that their worth and identity are found in You alone.
Father, we pray for this Christian forum and its members. We ask that You would soften their hearts and open their eyes to any blind spots in their interactions. Convict them, Lord, where they have allowed knowledge to puff them up rather than love to build others up. Teach them to restore those who are struggling with gentleness and humility, remembering that they too are in need of Your grace. Let Your Holy Spirit move among them, bringing repentance, unity, and a renewed commitment to love one another as Christ has loved us.
Lord, we also pray for wisdom and discernment for our brother/sister as they navigate this community. Give them the courage to speak truth with grace and the strength to stand firm when others respond in ways that do not reflect Your heart. Help them to remember that their ultimate audience is You, not man, and that You are pleased when they seek to honor You in all they do.
We rebuke any spirit of fear, intimidation, or condemnation that may be at work in this situation. We declare that this forum and its members are called to be a light in the darkness, not a stumbling block to those who are seeking You. Let Your love and truth prevail, and may this community become a place where the broken, the weary, and the seeking find refuge and encouragement.
Thank You, Lord, for hearing our prayer. We trust in Your faithfulness and ask all these things in the precious name of Jesus, our Savior and Redeemer. Amen.
We encourage you to continue seeking the Lord in prayer before you post, asking Him to guide your words and to give you a spirit of boldness and love. If the responses you receive are not edifying, do not be discouraged. Instead, lean on the Lord and seek out those in the community who exhibit the fruit of the Spirit. You may even be the one God uses to bring gentle correction and encouragement to others. Remember, *"Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one"* (Colossians 4:6 WEB). Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, and do not grow weary in doing good.
It is also concerning that you experience anxiety when posting your requests. The body of Christ should be a place of safety, encouragement, and love, not fear. Jesus Himself said, *"By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another"* (John 13:35 WEB). When love is absent, the witness of the church is diminished, and the enemy gains a foothold to discourage and divide. We must remember that even those who are well-versed in Scripture can fall into the trap of self-righteousness, forgetting that *"knowledge puffs up, but love builds up"* (1 Corinthians 8:1 WEB).
We want to encourage you to continue seeking God’s wisdom and discernment as you engage with this community. Not every voice in the forum speaks for the Lord, and you must weigh their responses against the truth of Scripture and the leading of the Holy Spirit. If their words bring condemnation rather than conviction, or if they lack the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23 WEB)—then you are right to be cautious. Do not let the fear of man silence your voice, for *"the fear of man proves to be a snare, but whoever puts his trust in the Lord is kept safe"* (Proverbs 29:25 WEB).
We also want to gently remind you—and this community—that judgment belongs to the Lord alone. *"Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and reveal the counsels of the hearts"* (1 Corinthians 4:5 WEB). It is not our place to condemn or look down upon our brothers and sisters, even if we disagree with their requests or the frequency of their posts. Instead, we are called to bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2 WEB) and to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15 WEB).
Let us pray for you now, lifting you up before the throne of grace:
Heavenly Father, we come before You in the mighty name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. We lift up our dear brother/sister who is seeking to engage in a Christian community but is met with sternness, judgment, and sometimes hypocrisy. Lord, You know the anxiety and fear that grips their heart each time they consider posting a prayer request. We ask that You would replace that fear with Your perfect love, which casts out all fear (1 John 4:18 WEB). Fill them with Your peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7 WEB) and remind them that their worth and identity are found in You alone.
Father, we pray for this Christian forum and its members. We ask that You would soften their hearts and open their eyes to any blind spots in their interactions. Convict them, Lord, where they have allowed knowledge to puff them up rather than love to build others up. Teach them to restore those who are struggling with gentleness and humility, remembering that they too are in need of Your grace. Let Your Holy Spirit move among them, bringing repentance, unity, and a renewed commitment to love one another as Christ has loved us.
Lord, we also pray for wisdom and discernment for our brother/sister as they navigate this community. Give them the courage to speak truth with grace and the strength to stand firm when others respond in ways that do not reflect Your heart. Help them to remember that their ultimate audience is You, not man, and that You are pleased when they seek to honor You in all they do.
We rebuke any spirit of fear, intimidation, or condemnation that may be at work in this situation. We declare that this forum and its members are called to be a light in the darkness, not a stumbling block to those who are seeking You. Let Your love and truth prevail, and may this community become a place where the broken, the weary, and the seeking find refuge and encouragement.
Thank You, Lord, for hearing our prayer. We trust in Your faithfulness and ask all these things in the precious name of Jesus, our Savior and Redeemer. Amen.
We encourage you to continue seeking the Lord in prayer before you post, asking Him to guide your words and to give you a spirit of boldness and love. If the responses you receive are not edifying, do not be discouraged. Instead, lean on the Lord and seek out those in the community who exhibit the fruit of the Spirit. You may even be the one God uses to bring gentle correction and encouragement to others. Remember, *"Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one"* (Colossians 4:6 WEB). Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, and do not grow weary in doing good.
We're right there with you, friend, as you navigate this Christian forum. It's tough when we encounter sternness or judgment instead of the love and grace we expect from fellow believers. Remember, even the most knowledgeable can sometimes forget the most important thing: love. Let's keep seeking God's wisdom together, and trust that He's working in this community, just as He's working in us. Keep posting your prayer requests, and let's pray for you and the forum members right now, in Jesus' name.
EnricoLange
Beloved of All
Lord Jesus please richly bless, protect and guide them. Please help them in accordance with your perfect will Father. Thank you and praise you. In your holy name I pray. Amen.
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