Originally posted by KellyJay
Not really Christians are supposed to be able to share about the hope they
have. To not share would be keep that hope away from those that don't have
it and need it.
Christians are not always obligated to put out there, to be ridiculed and trashed, the precious things of either God's truth or their personal experiences of God.
The Lord taught His disciples -
"Do not give that which is holy to the dogs, neither cast your pearls before the hogs, lest they trample them with their feet, and turn and tear you." (Matt. 7:6)
I use to have a wrong attitude about this passage. I thought this was Jesus insulting some people by calling them unclean dogs or dirty hogs. "Yea!" I thought. Get them by calling them dogs or hogs.
Then a wiser experienced Christian brought to my attention the
context and the immediately following passage - verse 7.
"Ask and it shall be given to you; seek and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened." (v.7,8)
The context is seeking God for WISDOM how to deal with people. The context is seeking God for guidance and the Holy Spirit in dealing with people in living of the Kingdom of the Heavens.
Some opposers of the Gospel are overtaken by the "dog" nature. If you put something holy of God before them, they are eaten up by that God hating and spiritually unclean reaction. To not give some people holy things is to not give them God's truth for them to have a violent and unclean reaction. They may be even further damaged by their own violent reactions.
Some people are overtaken by a nature like that of a hog or pig that likes to wallow in filth. If you share with them your "pearls" - meaning your precious personal experiences of God they will be eaten up by their hog nature. They will trample on your precious personal spiritual experiences and turn to attack the one sharing.
Such people need light and truth also. But the Christian has to seek, has to knock, has to ask of Christ for the way to share anything of the Gospel with them.
Love can also be not allowing unbelievers to be devoured up by the devilish dog and devilish hog nature.
Do not give that which is holy [God's truth]
to the dogs, neither cast your pearls [your precious personal spiritual experience]
before the hogs, lest they trample them with their feet, and turn and tear you."