Something I’ve been seeing alot of the past couple weeks is how prevalent it is within the Christian world to have Christians warring against eachother, or simply not talking, or simply talking about the other behind their back, or being “funny” (really cruel) by pointing out mistakes, or constantly arguing, or simply firmly against eachother…
Jesus did say in Matthew 5:10-11
“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you
and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.”
And he did say in John 16:33 “In this world, you will have trouble”
He did say in Luke 6:27-31
“But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.”
I wonder if when He said these things, he was thinking about all the Christian violence that was to come, all the “wars” and “batlles” amongst the citizens of Christendom… Calvinists versus Arminianists, KJV-only versus Modern Translations, Baptists versus Presbyterian, Conservative versus Contemporary versus Alternative versus Modern (and that’s just within worship music)… and so on and so forth
We have B Christians that are persecuting C Christians because of C Christian’s righteousness- maybe their standard is different, or their method seems strange… but persecution continues
We have D Christians insulting E Christians, because they seem different and weird
We have F Christians saying all kinds of evil against G Christians because they don’t understand the G Christians and don’t want to have to try
We have the H Christians causing trouble for the I Christians
We have the J Christians hating the K Christians and the L Christians cursing the M Christians and the O Christians mistreating the P Christians…
We have striking of cheeks
Taking of tunics
Stealing and Cursing and Bitterness and anger
In Psalms 103, David writes
“How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!
It is like precious oil poured on the head,
running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard,
down upon the collar of his robes.
It is as if the dew of Hermon
were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the LORD bestows his blessing,
even life forevermore”
If there was a converse of this verse it might read this
“How bad and ugly it is when Christians war against eachother
It is like acid poured upon the head
running down the face (cutting away at the senses)
running down even Aaron’s face (it even affects the leaders)
It is as if the excrement of the world were falling on Mount Zion
For there the LORD is… but what is He doing?
Where is life evermore?”
We are called to be one. But we let petty things get in the way of growing in the Lord and growing as a body. Everything from the color of carpets (church-splitters) to being overbearing and complaining (relationship-splitters) to coldness and bitterness and unacceptance (soul-splitters)
I have friends that were once real close, and then they stopped being friends and stopped talking… why?
I have others friends- one is trying to mature and keeps on running into people that are looking at her former self and not the person she is today, and the people that are doing this, I know they are good people, but it just happens
I know people- people from church, school, camp, everywhere, when it comes to jobs and occupations, that if a rule is broken or someone is angry or dissatisfied, that person is fired and there’s bad blood between them and the other people at the workplace for a long, long, time…
In Isaiah 11:6-10, it says this
The wolf will live with the lamb- THE OPPRESSOR AND THE OPPRESSED
the leopard will lie down with the goat- THOSE WHO RUN AWAY AND THOSE WHO FIGHT
the calf and the lion and the yearling together;- THOSE WHO FOLLOW OTHERS AND THOSE WHO KILL OTHERS AND THOSE WHO ARE CALM AND PEACEFUL
and a little child will lead them. – CHILDREN DON’T HOLD GRUDGES LIKE WE DO… i’ve known kids that I’ve been told to keep separate at camp, but the next day, they are bosom buddies… they let go and move on and love… the child here- Jesus Christ, the ultimate lover
The cow will feed with the bear- THOSE WHO FEED OTHERS AND THOSE WHO PREY ON OTHERS
their young will lie down together,- THEIR CHILDREN, THEIR FOLLOWERS
and the lion will eat straw like the ox.- THE TWO OPPOSITES WILL SIT DOWN AND SHARE A MEAL
The infant will play near the hole of the cobra,- PEACE AND SAFETY
and the young child put his hand into the viper’s nest. – NO WORRIES ABOUT BEING ATTACKED
They will neither harm nor destroy
on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD
as the waters cover the sea. – SO THE ANSWER IS KNOWLEDGE (see below)
In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples;
the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious.-FINALLY, A PLACE OF REST
The answer is found above- KNOWLEDGE OF THE LORD…
I believe this could mean a few things…
1. KNOWLEDGE FOUND IN HIS WORD- When you fill yourself with God’s Word, you fill yourself with God… and He can’t help but come out in your day to day life
2. KNOWING HIM- You can know facts, but when you personally know Jesus Christ and grow in your relationship, you are changed
3. KNOWING WHO HE IS AND WHAT HE DOES- He is broad, wide, farbeyond our understanding, loving, merciful, forgiving, but steadfast in truth, caring, reaching, big, diverse, multi-dimensional, and He works in people’s lives in different ways…
When You understand these things and grow in them, the little fights- maybe they’ll cease… I don’t know… but it seems like it makes sense, right?
I’ll end with a little saying that really makes sense now
No God
No Peace
Know God
Know Peace
You will have trouble with Christians, but never with Christ. He is faithful, He is peaceful, He is love. Follow Him and the rest will work out- eventually. At least you can know that someday on Mount Zion, you will get to have rest and fellowship with all believers from around the world… some day… i can’t wait… peace
http://geniusandlunacy.blogspot.com/2007/03/friends-of-foes-dealing-with-divorce.html