"For man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires." James 1:20
We talk a lot about Grace, Mercy, change and freedom on this Blog. Those are negative terms, if you can image, to some folks. Many, but not all, of those who have a problem with these terms are themselves steeped in bondage to a legalistic form of justification by law to which they can not attain. As a result they have to “bite and devour” others in order to lift themselves up. They are often “Parrots” of others, not having looked at why they believe what they believe. And when someone has a differing opinion or conclusion, they can only respond like a scared animal backed into a corner. While professing to “defend the truth” they often manifest an attitude that is completely un-Christ like. Character assignation is often their aim. From the shadows they send their fiery barbs in hopes of bringing their enemy down.
If you have noticed the last few comments here you can get a little taste of what I am talking about. Whenever I see this kind of reaction I remember my own beginning in Christ. While I didn’t have all the answers, I knew my heroes of the faith did, so I would just look for what they said on the matter and then I would speak. I never ever thought of them as fallible and capable of being wrong. Their arguments sounded so convincing, and what did I know, hey they are the ones who have studied for years, and everyone I knew trusted them and their understanding.
This is the way a denomination is begins, and is perpetuated.
My heart goes out to those in bondage, for I was there once too. So now, I don’t respond in anger, I pray. I hope that doesn’t sound pious, because I sure don’t mean it to be. I know how it feels to have what you have considered as sacred truth challenged. I know how it feels to be challenged to think for myself and come to my own conclusions. Knowing what I know now about the freedom that is in Christ, I would not go back to that bondage for all the tea in China, as my daddy used to say. Paul said, It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Gal. 5:1. Paul’s challenge to “stand firm” is for grace and freedom, and not a system of justification based on law. I love the way the NLT puts it, “So Christ has really set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don't get tied up again in slavery to the law.”
My tribe is not the first, and I am sure not the last, to think they have a corner on truth. But the fate of those who are so closed is all the same. They continue to grow smaller and smaller until they become apart of history as a distant memory. Jesus said He would build His church and not even the gates of Hell could destroy it. Seems to me we are in pretty good hands with Him.
"It is said love your neighbor and hate your enemy, but I say love your enemies and pray for them..." Jesus (Comment this)