I have recently been "accused" of not being a good Christan. That I do not walk in the fear of the Lord. That I have far to much faith in the human race and that I do not worship correctly and live by the book. That my own opinions do not matter and that I should only seek God's opinion. I have been challenged to dig deeper into the Bible and see clearly the word of God, to disect it and find each and every meaning that there could possibly be in every word scribed. To lift my hands in gratitude and praise each week in the front row of a church and allow the Holy Spirit to flow through me. To re-dedicate myself, to re-baptize myself and give it all over to God...only then I will enter the gates of heaven and have my crowning glories....
Gotta tell you something ...when this accusation came across me. I was so hurt I could not believe that a "friend" could possibly say some of the things that were said. I could not sleep that night and spend a distracting day at work with a heavy heart. I prayed that day for God to lift this off of me and make my heart still so I could hear HIM and find HIS peace in me. HE did.(naturally)
My husband and I talked about this and prayed on it together and separately to find our solution of what to say to this accuser. We were told ...Be still . Forgive and walk away. As I have done and as Dan has done also. He too was very hurt.
My husband and I are not boxed in people. We have to be out there in society with our line of work. we interact with people each day and we talk to them each day. We do not solidify ourselves to the confines of our home and a church where we are safe. We cannot do that. We go to church. But we do not go to the church that this person wants us to go, and since we do not then we are not good people. Each day I ask God to let His Will be my Will and His words be my words. Now I know that not always are His words my words, because there are many time that my words are my words, but what I try to do is to be the best bible that someone will read. I TRY this, I may not always succeed, but I have to give it a shot. There are a lot of people out there who will never read the bible, but they may meet me and see that my loving word and kind actions say something special about me. It would be my FAITH.
My parents were the cornerstone of my faith ever since I was young. We belonged to a great church. All with wonderful friends and leaders. As I grew my love for God was always in the back of my mind, but it may not have always came out of me. (I think most of us can attest to that) but you know what I have learned from all my travels all over the world, the sick, the poor, the imprisoned, the loving, the challenged, the lifeless, the scientists,,the prostitute,s the homeless, the peacemakers, and the peace wants, those that say they are PRO life and those that say they are Pro choice, the political parties the everyday Joe's that mill around....we are all children of the Lord. Matt 7:1-2 says...do not judge or you too will be judged- For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." I think of this all the time when my selfish persona come out of me and I have something to say about someone....this my "friend" IS fearing God. To think that I could be judged just as harsh as I have just judged someone.
I could not help but think of the Pharisees in the Bible. The word Pharisee translates into the meaning of Separated Ones. These blokes were harsh. Hey were all about for insisting that the Laws of God be carried through and they had a special commitment to keeping that Laws of tithing and ritual purity. They were concerned for other matters and they limited themselves contacts with Jews who THEY BELIEVED were not pure and clean and the Gentiles. They would never break bread at the home of a non-pharisee for fear of the home and food not being "ritualistically clean" and "pure". They continuously criticized others for not keeping the Laws and for being "sinners". They looked down on tax collectors, prostitutes and the unclean. Such a contrast from who Jesus loved on. They questioned Jesus so much in the New Testament and Christ did call them out on their ways. They observed the Laws carefully as far as their appearance went, but their hearts were far from God. Their motives were wrong because they wanted human praise. They were often called Hypocrites. Luke 18:9 says.."trust in themselves that they are righteous". This can easily happen when people think God's will is the same thing as their list of what they want.
I will tell you that a few days later I was handed an apology and asked for forgiveness on the words that had already hurt me. I do forgive. Absolutely, No resolution without forgiveness. No love with out forgiveness. The forgive part is really the easy part for me. The hard part of this for me is the thought and action of this persons righteousness to tell me that the free will that God has given all of us is wrong and the only way into the gates of God's glorious kingdom is this person's way. Hmmm
Religious people have to keep one important thing in mind...that they too are sinners in gods eyes and that Christ died for EVERYONE.
No comments:
Post a Comment