we need to be more united

[paulnoel]

when you are at church on sunday give some one a hug and tell them you love them because Jesus loves you

And may God, the source of patience and encouragement, enable you to have the same point of view among yourselves by following the example of Christ Jesus, so that all of you together may praise with one voice the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. :amen:

GOOD NEWS BIBLE (ROMANS 15V5-6)

[Andy Broadley]

:eek: It's just not Army!!!;) :D :D

[paulnoel]

:eek: It's just not Army!!!;) :D :D

Let's pray for christian unity in the world

LORD let us all be united as one in Jesus Christ :amen:

[something from the fridge]

i'll hug my mum, will that do.

unity isn't about hugging. it is about working together for the common cause. a hug is a tokenistic thing that acheives very little. setting aside differences and saving souls is much more significant in my opinion.

[Andy Broadley]

i'll hug my mum, will that do.

unity isn't about hugging. it is about working together for the common cause. a hug is a tokenistic thing that acheives very little. setting aside differences and saving souls is much more significant in my opinion.

Amen brother

[elm0]

For some people a hug can mean quite a lot, but I think I understand what you're saying, hugging people isn't going to cause unity by itself.

[paulnoel]

i'll hug my mum, will that do.

unity isn't about hugging. it is about working together for the common cause. a hug is a tokenistic thing that acheives very little. setting aside differences and saving souls is much more significant in my opinion.

I may be able to speak the languages of human beings and even of angels, but if I have no love, my speech is no more than a noisy gong or a clanging bell. I may have the gift of inspired preaching; I may have all knowledge and understanding all secrets; I may have all the faith needed to move mountains-but if I have no love, I am nothing. I may give away everthing I have and even give up my body to be burnt-but if I have no love this does me no good. Love is patient and kind;it is not jealous or conceited or proud; love is not ill-mannered or selfish or irritable; love does not keep a record of wrongs; love is not happy with evil, but is happy with the truth. Love never gives up; and it's faith, hope, and patience never fails. (1 corinthians 13 : 1-7)

Love is the greatest of all human qualities, and it is an attribute of Jesus. Love involves unselfish service to others, to show it gives evidence that you care. Faith is the foundation and content of Jesus message, hope is the attitude and focus; love is the action.

[Evangelina]

*nod* this is true, paul :)

hmmm... what shows Jesus' love more truly - a hug, or a helping hand?

[paulnoel]

*nod* this is true, paul :)

hmmm... what shows Jesus' love more truly - a hug, or a helping hand?

I would say both somtimes someone just needs a hug and no words or actions then other times they do need a helping hand.

[TheDag]

You would need to know the person. If you don't and the person you hug had been abused it could create all kinds of problems. Hugging is only one way of showing love. So it may be better to show your love in some other way. I do agree that sometimes some people just need to be shown love and not a helping hand.

[Abiel]

On the other hand, some of the elderly folks we know go for days and weeks with out any human touch. A hug blesses those folk who need one no end.

[something from the fridge]

i'll stick to my practical show of love. if someone came up to me and hugged me i'd be freaked out and find another church i reckon. if someone offered to help me with a problem i had, be it emotional or practical, i'd me more receptive to their display.

[someone_else]

I LOVE HUGZ

you can all hug me anyday. i love giving hugz as well but sometimes you need to ask the person first. not everyone likes hugz

[TheDag]

I LOVE HUGZ

you can all hug me anyday. i love giving hugz as well but sometimes you need to ask the person first. not everyone likes hugz
I'm a hugging type but I've often been around non-hugging types. I'll remember you like hugs :hug:

[Andy Broadley]

Can't tea making be classed as a loving gesture?

[Sascha Fitzpatrick]

I agree with what thedag said.

I love hugs, so long as they are from a woman, or family or my bf. Another guy hugging me has a tendency to freak me out. Therefore, I restrict any 'church' hugging to the women I know and trust.

I don't think a hug is the best way of showing unity - it is ONE way, but not THE way.

Unity is also achieved by addressing situations which need assistance together, and showing that we are a team.

Sasch

[Warren Peace]

i'll stick to my practical show of love. if someone came up to me and hugged me i'd be freaked out and find another church i reckon. if someone offered to help me with a problem i had, be it emotional or practical, i'd me more receptive to their display.
If people *didn't* offer hugs I would find another church.

Giving a hug at church is as natural to me as shaking hands in business or saying hello when I answer the phone. Of course, I'm not going to walk up to a person who comes to the corps for the first time and give them a hug, I would normally shake hands and greet them. Once I got to know people it became pretty common to give a hug.

The kissing I could do without... we Jews kiss on both cheeks and it's what I got used to at synagogue, but the church folk do one cheek so I just stick to a hug. Going for the second cheek is too common nature for me, but it's too unexpected and I don't want to look foolish.

Well, I look foolish either way, but you know what I mean :P

Blessings...

[something from the fridge]

I agree with what thedag said.

I love hugs, so long as they are from a woman, or family or my bf. Another guy hugging me has a tendency to freak me out. Therefore, I restrict any 'church' hugging to the women I know and trust.

I don't think a hug is the best way of showing unity - it is ONE way, but not THE way.

Unity is also achieved by addressing situations which need assistance together, and showing that we are a team.

Sasch

but isn't that being divisive and not united?:P

[Sascha Fitzpatrick]

How so?

Just cos I don't hug someone means I'm divisive? PLEASE! That's laughable... :P

But I think I understand what you're talking about - the last part, right?

Unity to me is when we band together to seek a solution. Whether that's a global thing like injustice, or something more local like 'there's a homeless lady on our street, what can we do to help' - that's unity to me.

If I'm not being affectionate with someone brings into question my desire for unity in the church, then I'd be having serious issues with what the church thought unity was!

(If you want to see my desire for unity, just have a look on some of the more controversial topics to do with Christianity on the forum - I believe that some of us get our knickers in knots over things that are more divisive than unifying in the church)...

JMHO!

Sasch

[Warren Peace]

Unity comes in many forms. Not sure why anyone would try to define it as having only one meaning or function. Hugging people is a form of unity and helping people is a form of unity. Calling people is a form of unity. Praying for people is a form of unity.

Need I continue? ;)

[elm0]

Is Unity some new Finance Company?

[Andy Broadley]

Is Unity some new Finance Company?

Giz a loan;)

[something from the fridge]

How so?

Just cos I don't hug someone means I'm divisive? PLEASE! That's laughable... :P

But I think I understand what you're talking about - the last part, right?

Unity to me is when we band together to seek a solution. Whether that's a global thing like injustice, or something more local like 'there's a homeless lady on our street, what can we do to help' - that's unity to me.

If I'm not being affectionate with someone brings into question my desire for unity in the church, then I'd be having serious issues with what the church thought unity was!

(If you want to see my desire for unity, just have a look on some of the more controversial topics to do with Christianity on the forum - I believe that some of us get our knickers in knots over things that are more divisive than unifying in the church)...

JMHO!

Sasch

sorry, was being sarcastic.

I just had a mental picture of a church divided in two. The group who Sascha hugs and the group who gets a hand shake.

[elm0]

I see unity as a big thing in the church at the moment, and by 'the church' I mean the body of Christ. More and more congregations are realising that just because the people in the building down the road worship in a different way, doesn't make them any better or worse. I'm seeing more and more interaction between denominations, even working together to put on community events *GASP*!

[Abiel]

Each group with a reason to feel superior to another group. Conversations in hushed tones. Eyes cast up to see if anyone is watching. It happens in the smallest congregation. It's one of the reasons young people leave.

[Warren Peace]

Is Unity some new Finance Company?Dang, you found me out! :thumbsup:

[Andy Broadley]

Each group with a reason to feel superior to another group. Conversations in hushed tones. Eyes cast up to see if anyone is watching. It happens in the smallest congregation. It's one of the reasons young people leave.

Which is why officers always look so stressed just before a Corps Council meeting;)