It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;[a] 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 1 Corinthians 13:5-6
When we moved into our new home a friend had helped us move some stuff in. We were eating lunch and talking about politics. He made the comment he was too critical to watch it. I thought about that a lot, because I am the same way. I fall into that trap everyday. Dietrich Boenhoeffer said that "politics is not a Christian game." I keep saying that quote in my head over and over again. I need to hear that everyday. It is not a game for Christians, and if we do not understand then we may not understand the power of God.
Do we understand that truly loving our neighbor means that we would be willing to give the last hundred bucks in our bank account to feed someone. Do we understand that truly loving someone is supporting them through all their trials and just being there without interference is love. Just giving someone else just a moment of peace, because Christ does that. However, do we understand that people will manipulate that over and over again if we don't question why they can't sacrifice just as God did; HIS SON.
"If you are someone that believes in truth and wants people to come to truth, your best play is to start living out what you do know, piece by piece, morsel by morsel. This is how God's kingdom works. It is mysteriously simple and profound." Hugh Halter - book Sacrilege
What we believe about God will help us understand what it is going on around us. Not what the church or another has told you about God, but what the scripture says is the truth. If you don't read it you don't know. We are a nation of consumer faith; conditional, mutual, can be broken, and task oriented. We are ruled by sentiment and only have our needs in mind. We have said that man's laws are better. We have chosen the Pharisees and the hypocrites just as we chose to take control in the Garden of Eden. There is a consequence for us taking control.
In consumer relationships, it could be said that the individuals needs are more important than the relationship..In a covenant the good of the relationship takes precedence over the immediate needs of the individual. Timothy Keller - The Meaning of Marriage
Our willingness and love for Christ is to sacrifice everything about ourselves for Him or another. After observing people for a long time you can tell the ones that are led by the spirit. People are drawn to them. They want to see that and feel that. The other side is these individuals are willing to accept where they went wrong. They are willing to seek another for help. These individuals accept them for face value. It doesn't matter the sin that they have committed because they know these individuals understand the love of Christ. They live their lives by it.
Those are the people you want around you. We are a very blessed family, because we have friends that live their lives by Christ. It is blessing everyday to get through to the next, because we cherish that he has given the strength for one more day. We are willing to love unconditionally, and help one another. We accept what we are doing is wrong, and we love each other all the more for it. We lose our pride and feelings of entitlement.
The people that don't understand that I wonder about. I wonder if they realize that their religious tradition makes people want to run. I wonder if they realize that is why there are boundaries in their relationships. The point is; are we hurting our neighbor in the long run for our wants as a nation? Is our unwavering insistence to control someone hurting them. People begin to feel that they aren't good enough. They feel that they aren't worth the love of Christ. Christ loved the people that we don't find worthy in our families, friendships, churches, jobs, and community.
God is not a democrat, a republican, a liberal, a conservative, a right-winger, a left-winger, a socialist, a dictator, a communist, a capitalist - He is God. He can do whatever he wants. He made dirt. Go pick up a handful of dirt, look up in awe, and say this is awesome. Think about that. I just read a book by Hugh Halter called Sacrilege. He asked a couple of questions about God.
Does God love everybody? Does God like everybody? He sent Christ to save us from our religious traditions. He sent Christ to save us from our inability to see the true power of his love and wrath. Would he like what we have become?
