Michael Schavio

[StinkerBell]

Today is Easter Sunday and I wonder if Michael Schavio showed up at your church how would you receive him?

[Redmow]

Hopefully with our arms as wide as Jesus' arms were on the cross.

[vesper]

I read where the church that Greer attented asked him to leave and got conflicting stories as to why. But this is in the scriptures how we are supposed to admonish our brthrren when they go against the Word. But it also confuses me because we are told to love everyone. Then I find scripture saying don't pray for the wicked (I think in Isiah) , then other scripture telling us to pray.
So to me, I would accept him but would hope for a sermon that deals with this issue. The ones in need of salvation are the ones that need to be around the Body of Jesus.
Big big 'test'. It is opening alot of hearts and I asked God to search mine and He is. Many issues I have to deal with over this one case alone.
Jesus would know what to do, why can't we figure it out?

[MrJim]

I would hope that I could receive him, as Jesus received us just how we were. But first I'd have to ask Jesus to wash my heart with forgiveness, because I don't think I could do it on my own. It's times like these that we need the strength and love of our Lord.

[Caligirl]

I would hope that I could receive him, as Jesus received us just how we were. But first I'd have to ask Jesus to wash my heart with forgiveness, because I don't think I could do it on my own. It's times like these that we need the strength and love of our Lord.

I would have to do the same Jim. Pray that I would see him through Jesus eyes instead of my own. I have had to do that before with people, Praise God it works, he is good and faithful.

That being said, we still need to always stand up for what is right in the eyes of Jesus as well and not confuse compromising with Love.

[Teresa]

I would welcome him as I would anyone that entered into a church wanting to worship the Lord with fellow believers.

I am a sinner saved by grace and I don't have any right to judge anyone including Michael. Only God knows the heart of this man.

[roadrunner570]

Man, having flashbacks of an ugly argument I got into on another board over this exact question.

I think the passage that talks about us expelling the immoral brethern from a church is referring to a current member who is openly sinning.

If Shaivo showed up at our church, for all we know he's an unbeliver and needs to be welcomed and told the gospel. Perhaps then he could become repentent.

Many people who sin unrepentently do so because its all they know...once shown the light of God's word, they're able to look into their heart and recognize their sin for what it is. Chasing someone out of church becuase we didn't like what we saw of them on the news wouldn't accomplish this. Just my two cents. I agree with most of you so far, welcome him in and show him Christ's love, as hard as that may be.

[mamacags]

I just know I wouldn't want to sit next to him in case lightening strikes him dead.

[nooneuno]

He is a sinner like the rest of us.
I would be nervous and would probably be praying even harder that Jesus' saving grace would shine into his darkened soul.

I hope he attends a church soon that preaches that Jesus died for his sins on the cross so that he would have eternal life.

Praying that we would stay humble before Jesus and that our words are seasoned here with His love and mercy..and not judgment and self-righteousness among brothers and sister in Him!!!

[Ciscokid]

I would welcome him as I would anyone that entered into a church wanting to worship the Lord with fellow believers.

I am a sinner saved by grace and I don't have any right to judge anyone including Michael. Only God knows the heart of this man.


What a fantastic post!! Good on ya Teresa.

[JustGodsChild]

I would recieve him regardless of who he was, because like him, I am a sinner and I have no right to pass judgment on someone else because I am no better. I am saved by grace. I just would hope/pray that he would come to know the Lord and I would do my best to try and make that happen. With the Lord's help of course! :):

[walkbyfaith]

I have been praying daily for Michael Schiavo's salvation. I would welcome him, but would have to pray for the Lord to fill my heart with love for this lost person. Our merciful Lord has done it before in this life, and I am grateful for His faithfulness to do just that. :):

[CarolAnn]

Read the truth about this guy at www.republicanandproud.com. God to the line for Terry.

[LDinthewoods]

I would probably just point and gossip about him with CarolAnn & Mamacags.


(:lol Just kidding.)

[NetHog]

Read the truth about this guy at www.republicanandproud.com. God to the line for Terry.
What's this got to do with the OP question?

[Danimus]

I'm gonna go with 2 Timothy 3:1-5 on this one. If the man were to repent of his actions then obviously my view would change. But until then I will stand by this verse.

[NetHog]

I'm gonna go with 2 Timothy 3:1-5 on this one. If the man were to repent of his actions then obviously my view would change. But until then I will stand by this verse.

2Ti 3:1 Know this also, that in the last days grievous times will be at hand.
2Ti 3:2 For men will be self-lovers, money-lovers, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2Ti 3:3 without natural affection, unyielding, false accusers, without self-control, savage, despisers of good,
2Ti 3:4 traitors, reckless, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
2Ti 3:5 having a form of godliness, but denying the power of it; even turn away from these.


I'm not sure how the above passage says we should treat a sinner who enters into a Church.

This following passage speaks to me on this, for all of us:


Mar 2:15 And it happened as Jesus reclined in his house, many tax-collectors and sinners also reclined with Jesus and His disciples. For there were many, and they followed Him.
Mar 2:16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eat with tax-collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, How is it that He eats and drinks with tax-collectors and sinners?
Mar 2:17 When Jesus heard, He said to them, They who are strong have no need of a physician, but the ones who have illness. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

[tootie]

We should all remember that Jesus washed Judas' feet and Jesus served Judas' the Last Supper...........Jesus asked the "Father, forgive them they do not know what they do" on the cross and Jesus also offered forgiveness to the thief on the Cross..........Jesus is forgiveness personified! Forgiveness is not easy and it is not optional for the Christian......it is hard to forgive others especially when we do not agree with them or their actions............ I do not know what I would do if Michael S. showed up at my Church..........I hope I would show him the love of CHRIST in me.

[Chris4Christ]

Today is Easter Sunday and I wonder if Michael Schavio showed up at your church how would you receive him?
Today is the day after Easter. And I wonder if you worked in the hospice where she lives if you'd give her a sip of water on this day to quench her burning thirst, if you'd place even a drop on her tongue.

[ironman]

well seeing as how she was on a tube for her nutrients, she probably is unable to swallow, so a sip of water would probably cause her to choke to death....so no.

[Chris4Christ]

well seeing as how she was on a tube for her nutrients, she probably is unable to swallow, so a sip of water would probably cause her to choke to death....so no.
Well, considering as how MANY tube-fed patients can also eat by mouth, of which of I have PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE, I'd say you might want to rethink your answer based on the fact that it was formulated on misinformation.

Add to that the fact that choking to death is about ONE THOUSAND TIMES MORE HUMANE than starving/dehydrating a person to death.

[ironman]

ok, I rethunk it........no. And before you raise your nose in the air again, my family and I faced this situation with my mother almost 5 years ago. We had to decide wether to put a feeding tube in or let her starve to death.... we chose the tube. And I wish that this wasn't happening to Terri either.

[Chris4Christ]

ok, I rethunk it........no. And before you raise your nose in the air again, my family and I faced this situation with my mother almost 5 years ago. We had to decide wether to put a feeding tube in or let her starve to death.... we chose the tube. And I wish that this wasn't happening to Terri either.
Raise my nose in the air again? What the heck does that mean?

You wish this wasn't happening to Terri, but you wouldn't place a drop of water on her tongue if you had the chance?

[ironman]

There are a lot of things I would do in this world, or would do "if" I had the chance.

[His4ever]

I think the passage that talks about us expelling the immoral brethern from a church is referring to a current member who is openly sinning.



Not to be discordant or "holier than thou" but isn't Michael sinning by living with and having children with another woman. After all, he is still married to Terri until she dies.

[Chris4Christ]

Not to be discordant or "holier than thou" but isn't Michael sinning by living with and having children with another woman. After all, he is still married to Terri until she dies.
You're correct. And if he were a brother in Christ, he should be confronted about his unrepentant adulterous lifestyle...not to mention the fact that he's murdering his wife. :sigh

Don't get me wrong, I believe everybody should be given the opportunity to hear the Gospel...but that doesn't mean that we also have to hug and kiss men that are in the act of killing their wives. :hrm I say, let him hear the Gospel...as we're busy calling the cops to come and arrest him for murder. (If only it were that easy.)

[Blessedx4]

Call me a hypcrite, bad Christian or whatever you want but if Michael walked into my church there is no way under God's great heaven that I'd walk up to that man - throw my arms around him and give him a great bigh sloppy kiss on the cheek.

It ain't gonna happen. At least not right now.

Sorry.

God and I will have to work-out my feelings over time. But for now I pray Michael finds Jesus. But that's the best I can muster.

I'm just being honest. :sigh

[MrsG0529]

Blessed,

I admit I feel the same way. I was too chicken to admit it. I would hope after time I would be able to show the love of Christ to him...I just don't think I could do it right now.

[NetHog]

Today is the day after Easter. And I wonder if you worked in the hospice where she lives if you'd give her a sip of water on this day to quench her burning thirst, if you'd place even a drop on her tongue.

Chris4Christ - please keep these threads on topic instead of derailing them. This thread is not about how we respond to Terri (open a thread on this if you have to), this is about how we would respond to Michael.

Thanks!

[Chris4Christ]

Chris4Christ - please keep these threads on topic instead of derailing them. This thread is not about how we respond to Terri (open a thread on this if you have to), this is about how we would respond to Michael.

Thanks!
I'm not surprised that you would say so. However, I disagree.

The OP is a purely hypothetical situation posed to make people think about how they treat people / react to people. The hypothetical situation I countered with was perfectly in line...in fact, I believe it completed the circle of thought.

The OP was meant to make people in the Pro-Terri camp "think" on how the Lord would have us treat him. My question was posed to make people in the Pro-Michael camp "think" on how the Lord would have us treat Terri.

If the OP was an appropriate question to begin with, then my response was equally appropriate, I believe.

[pilgrimian]

And before you raise your nose in the air again....

Chris was not being smug in any way. It's unfortunate that you are jumping to such a conclusion.

The moral issue of how the governing authorities are handling this (aside from Michael's involvement, or control) is a blot upon our country.

If Michael was to atten our congregation, I wouldn't mind, and would welcome him. He has a lot to answer for, and I know that Father God will bring justice in the end if he doesn't turn from the error of his ways. His actions are killing Terri, though. On a personal level, I can't say that it would make me blink if the bounty put upon his head came to reality. Since I am to love him I would hope otherwise...but there are too many souls searching and yearning for the truth. I'm not interested in wasting my time on people who are not searching. From everything I've read about Michael, he is not genuine and his motives are extremely questionable.

I'm not surprised that you would say so. However, I disagree.

The OP is a purely hypothetical situation posed to make people think about how they treat people / react to people. The hypothetical situation I countered with was perfectly in line...in fact, I believe it completed the circle of thought.

The OP was meant to make people in the Pro-Terri camp "think" on how the Lord would have us treat him. My question was posed to make people in the Pro-Michael camp "think" on how the Lord would have us treat Terri.

If the OP was an appropriate question to begin with, then my response was equally appropriate, I believe.

Amen, sister!

Terri is the one who doesn't have a voice in this, and by Michael's moving on with another woman--having another family--his motives are obvious.

The fact that the courts are letting her die shows how this country values human life.

[twelvesmaster]

Today is Easter Sunday and I wonder if Michael Schavio showed up at your church how would you receive him?


By all means, I think we should greet him and seat him. Give him the Gospel, and make sure he has an opportunity to either accept Christ if he's not a believer, or repent if he already is.

This should be done for anyone that comes into a place of worship.


However, he should most definitely not be allowed to leave, thinking that the church is in his corner, and approves of what he is doing. The Elders and pastor, at the very least, should request a private meeting with him for an opportunity to challenge him, Biblically, on his actions.

I'm saying this based on the teachings of my own church. I'm aware there are probably others out there who might, on the whole, approve of what he is doing.

More shame to them [my opinion].

[Fishy]

I do not agree with what is happening to Terri Schiavo. But in no way do I think Michael Schiavo is this great evil being that some are making him out to be. Do you really think he is cackling and rubbing his hands together with giddy anticipation of his wife's death? He has turned down offers of millions of dollars to turn over custody to Terri's parents, and I have come to believe that he honestly believes he is doing the right thing. I believe he is woefully wrong, but many who don't know Christ do things I find appalling, yet they honestly don't understand the error of their ways. Ignorance is not intended to be an excuse in this, but none of us knows the heart of this man, and we don't know his intentions, despite the mud being thrown from both sides.

So yes, I would welcome him to church with open arms. I am praying for the Lord to touch his heart and bring him to salvation, and then it is up to him to pray for forgiveness.

[discovergrace]

I would welcome him...I would also ask him some questions.
I find it so sad that at one time we used to need a piece of paper to say that we wanted to die...now it seems we need that paper to say we want to live...
I feel sorry for Michael. He has a lot to repent from and it must be aweful hard to do that when your in the media like he is...
It's hard enough as it is to repent one on one...to have to do it in front of the world must be so hard. (not impossible though)

[Danimus]

I'm not sure how the above passage says we should treat a sinner who enters into a Church.

This following passage speaks to me on this, for all of us:

Which is exactly what I said in my post.

[NetHog]

Which is exactly what I said in my post.
Not sure I agree, but maybe we're coming from different angles.

Jesus ate with sinners before they repented. You seem to imply you'll eat with sinners after they've repented.

[Danimus]

Not sure I agree, but maybe we're coming from different angles.

Jesus ate with sinners before they repented. You seem to imply you'll eat with sinners after they've repented.

But of course Christ could see into their heart where as I cannot. Therefore I, being human, need some sort of confirmation that this man would be repentant. If he repented then I would definately change the way I look at him...but until then I can only go by what is being evidenced.

[Jacob]

I read where the church that Greer attented asked him to leave and got conflicting stories as to why. But this is in the scriptures how we are supposed to admonish our brthrren when they go against the Word. But it also confuses me because we are told to love everyone. Then I find scripture saying don't pray for the wicked (I think in Isiah) , then other scripture telling us to pray.
So to me, I would accept him but would hope for a sermon that deals with this issue. The ones in need of salvation are the ones that need to be around the Body of Jesus.
Big big 'test'. It is opening alot of hearts and I asked God to search mine and He is. Many issues I have to deal with over this one case alone.
Jesus would know what to do, why can't we figure it out?


Judge Forced Into Schiavo Spotlight
Sunday, March 27, 2005

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,151602,00.html

Article discusses the judge being at variance with the position of his church.

[sundero]

I guess I could say I would welcome him with open arms and be glad he was there to recieve the gospel, because after all this is the internet, and I can say whatever I think I should say. And heck, it is so unlikely that MS will attend my church that I would be pretty safe that no one would ever find out I said what i thought was the right answer instead of what I really think I would do.
However, that's not very like me, to say what I think will be acceptable to everyone. I am certain that if I saw him anywhere today, I would avoid any interaction, because I am afraid that I would say something terrible to him, and I realize it would do no good.
To the rest of you who would be more magnanimous, God Bless you. I'm glad I'm covered by the blood of Jesus even when I do the wrong thing.
One more thing. What really is the point of this thread? Usually we are allowed to go off topic and onto tangents, and yet here one poster is chided for that. Why?
susie

[Jiggy37]

I do not agree with what is happening to Terri Schiavo. But in no way do I think Michael Schiavo is this great evil being that some are making him out to be. Do you really think he is cackling and rubbing his hands together with giddy anticipation of his wife's death? He has turned down offers of millions of dollars to turn over custody to Terri's parents, and I have come to believe that he honestly believes he is doing the right thing. I believe he is woefully wrong, but many who don't know Christ do things I find appalling, yet they honestly don't understand the error of their ways. Ignorance is not intended to be an excuse in this, but none of us knows the heart of this man, and we don't know his intentions, despite the mud being thrown from both sides.

So yes, I would welcome him to church with open arms. I am praying for the Lord to touch his heart and bring him to salvation, and then it is up to him to pray for forgiveness.I basically agree with all of this.

...However, even if I didn't, I really wouldn't see a difference here between him and anyone else. :noidea Why?
Well, let me--or, rather, God through me through God--put it this way...


Luke 7:47
Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little."


Luke 12
47And that servant who knew his master's will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.


There's been an infinite amount of grace shown to me, and I have to respond in kind. I don't know how other people operate in life, but I can speak for myself when I say that there isn't a thing worse than feeling unforgiven. :sigh Some people, I know, are able to push it out of their mind, but for me it's there almost 24/7 hanging over me--I'm just a person of profound sorrow, I guess.
So to not accept someone else--that's the one thing I can't possibly do, because accepting another person allows me to live vicariously through them. If I can't be accepted myself, then at the very least I can give to others what I myself most desire.

[ILJ]

I basically agree with all of this.

...However, even if I didn't, I really wouldn't see a difference here between him and anyone else. :noidea Why?
Well, let me--or, rather, God through me through God--put it this way...


Luke 7:47
Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little."


Luke 12
47And that servant who knew his master's will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.


There's been an infinite amount of grace shown to me, and I have to respond in kind. I don't know how other people operate in life, but I can speak for myself when I say that there isn't a thing worse than feeling unforgiven. :sigh Some people, I know, are able to push it out of their mind, but for me it's there almost 24/7 hanging over me--I'm just a person of profound sorrow, I guess.
So to not accept someone else--that's the one thing I can't possibly do, because accepting another person allows me to live vicariously through them. If I can't be accepted myself, then at the very least I can give to others what I myself most desire.

Gotta luv ya, Jiggy! Nice post! :thumb

In regards to MS showing up at my church, I would welcome him just as I was welcomed a long time ago. I'm not any better than he is and I am not worthy to sit in judgement of him.

[Katydid278]

Well, I am. And no, I can't sit in judgement of him but I can judge his actions here on earth to form a human opinion of him and nowhere in the Bible does it say I cannot.