34I give you a new commandment: that you should love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too should love one another.
35By this shall all [men] know that you are My disciples, if you love one another [if you keep on showing love among yourselves].
36Simon Peter said to Him, Lord, where are You going? Jesus answered, You are not able to follow Me now where I am going, but you shall follow Me afterwards.
John 13:34-36 (AMP)
I find it interesting that, in the world, people seem to be able to agree on sin. For example, you dont find beer drinkers battling over whether to get drunk off of stout, a pilsner, or ale. And, for that matter... you don’t see winos fighting over whether it is better to get drunk off of wine versus a wine cooler. Nor do drinkers of clear liquor battle with those who use brown liquor.
Do heroin addicts protest in front of crack houses?
The point that I am making is... people in the world just enjoy their lives. Those who go to disco nightclubs dont fight those who go to rave clubs. They just want to party... and if someone wants to party differently... then no biggie, right?
So then, why is it Christians will cut each others’ throats over doctrinal differences while ignoring the weightier matters?
We have fights over doctrine and dogma... musical styles and “acceptable” instruments... whether the church supper should include potatoes or Stove Top stuffing...
Look at those who fight against a woman being in ministry, rather asking themselves if she is being used by God? Is she bringing souls into the kingdom?
I hope we can take the above scripture to heart and truly love one another... rather than to be so quick to tear one another down. If a brother or sister is caught in a sin, a fault, or an error... pray for them... and then make sure you aren’t walking around with a beam in your eye while criticising the splinter in their eye.
Jesus died so that we might have and enjoy life (John 10:10). Don’t be a curmudgeonly sourpuss, only interested in finding fault. But seek and even believe for good in the lives of your fellow believers.
1 comment:
It's amazing how we focus on minimal stuff when every 5 seconds 6 people die and go to hell, which is a conservative estimate. As Barna points out, less than 5% of Christian share their faith actively. But in the armor of God, which protects us, the only outward offensive part is the sharing the gospel (shoes of readiness/ready to share - even the sword of the Spirit/Word of God is for our faith).
Go try it - it is amazing how problems, arguments, and divisive people seem to disappear when the rubber meets the road and we are ready to go out and share our faith, publicly, outside the walls of the church.
It's amazing how the Cross of Jesus, when used as the foundational filter, is the best medicine for every disease.
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