PRIVATELY, one may have the right to address another persons errs, and continuance in them, IF they are of THE FAITH, but I do NOT believe that public scathing, belittling, or on-going attention to particular people, or even issues serves a purpose, BECAUSE in doing so, gentleness is tossed aside in favour of harshness, even fierceness, which does NOT help anything, and in fact, might push someone farther from THE TRUTH as it was greatly altered in presentation!!!
I read somewhere that there some believe that CHRIST JESUS called out all sinners, and in particular senses HE did, but never with hostility! The Pharisee's, the Sudducees that HE spoke sternly too, HE did so in the course of TEACHING; especially as they were TRYING HIM with all sorts of questions, in order to prove HIM wrong. AT ALL TIMES, CHRIST DEMONSTRATED THE VOICE, and ACTIONS OF LOVE; which IS THE WILL OF THE FATHER! It IS written that CHRIST did NOT come to JUDGE/CONDEMN the world, but to save it (JOHN 3: 17)...
EACH person's life speaks for their hearts, and their spirits! HOW can anyone condemn one any more than the evidence of their lives already does? If one wishes to live in sin, the TRUTH of their choices condemns them; it is that cut, and dry...
ALL one can do is to INSPIRE others to SEE what their choices cost them in the long run, and their estrangement from the ONLY ONE who HAS THE POWER to SAVE them from the penalties of those choices! We can only SHOW them THROUGH HIM, HIS WILL, HIS WAY, HIS WORD, and our own aligned characters, and behaviours! We shouldn't imagine that we can take it upon ourselves to, with our mouths, or actions, or reactions condemn them, because their JUDGE is awaiting them! While we can stress the importance of repentance for sin, and the acceptance of CHRIST THE LORD, and the process of growing past the flesh, our work is NOT to drive them farther away through adverse treatment...
YES, as a *GOD* fearing person, I DETEST the sins of the masses, but LOVE LEADS ALL people past these sins, to the cleansing waters of Salvation! Heated discussions, arguments, hostility, all the way through absolute violence does NOT lead anyone to *GOD*! 1 TIMOTHY 1, 2 TIMOTHY 2, JAMES 4, and TITUS 3, REMIND us of the FACT that *GODLY* people are NOT quarrelsome, and that such only makes things worse for everyone involved!!!
As I see it, the work of the Devout is to INSPIRE, and to PRESENT THE TRUTH, that it awakens in others, NOT to send them running!!!
We are to bear one another's burdens. So we shall fulfil the law of Christ. This obliges to mutual forbearance and compassion towards each other, agreeably to his example. It becomes us to bear one another's burdens, as fellow-travellers.
It is very common for a man to look upon himself as wiser and better than other men, and as fit to dictate to them. Such a one deceives himself; by pretending to what he has not, he puts a cheat upon himself, and sooner or later will find the sad effects.
This will never gain esteem, either with God or men. Every one is advised to prove his own work. The better we know our own hearts and ways, the less shall we despise others, and the more be disposed to help them under infirmities and afflictions.
We, of THE FAITH, are to ENCOURAGE, and GUIDE one another to improvement, NOT to stand in opposition, adding to the enemy's oppressiveness! EVERY pot we put on the fire, the enemy will be there to taint, to stir up, but we CALL ON THE LORD, and USE HIS EXAMPLE as our own, just as Elisha did when HE made the poisoned stew edible!!!
NONE, NOT ONE is without sin! HOW can I, a sinner, condemn another? HOW can I point out the wrong in another if I don't spend time to correct my own wrongs? HOW can I represent *GOD* if I am taking HIS place as JUDGE???
Of course, the comm'UNITY' of THE LORD needs to work together to rid itself of thorns, HOWEVER, that does not indicate that we should heighten ourselves, while lessening others, instead, LOVE and compassion, and acknowledgement of being imperfect, though working towards perfection, NEEDS to take the place of the negative ways we handle other people's sins! IF someone in the fold REFUSES to change, then we send them out into the world they have chosen, BUT we DON'T make a spectacle of them, instead, we PRAY for them, and for resolve in such matters! While we should NOT be complacent, or accepting of sin, we should NOT push sinners farther from THE LORD, instead, as ONE we learn, we share, and we grow!!!
REV. LWINSOR © 2014
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS
No comments:
Post a Comment