It makes me sad that the Body of Christ is so divided on so many issues facing our entire US culture today. I’m okay with diversity and differences of opinion. I even find that they are healthy and give us perspective if we actually sit down and listen to one another. I enjoy hearing healthy perspectives shaped by the Word of God that might differ from my own.
What grieves me is that there are so few (all around) that are willing to sit down and have a loving discussion with one another…for the cause of Christ, for the sake of the Gospel. Instead one group says, “I’m right and you’re selfish and hate mankind.” Another says, “I’m right and you’re full of fear and lack conviction…you’re a sheep.” Both call the other arrogant or pious. Both call the other killers. Both accuse the other of not caring about people…all in a public forum, while the world watches on.
Our world faces a horrific enemy. They’re lost. They’re scared. They’re deceived. They’re confused and wonder if life is even worth it. All the while, the church is calling one another names and virtue signaling on social media.
We say we love people. We want people to share in the hope that we have in Jesus. I believe that at our core, we really do. But we sure have a funny way of showing it. God forgive me for the part I’ve played in desecrating Your testimony through my own. I don’t apologize for speaking Truth…I walk in Your Truth. I confess to participating in public discussions over ”the wisdom of men” that does not proclaim Truth but defends positions of “my own righteousness”.
John 17:20-26 ESV
“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, [21] that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. [22] The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, [23] I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. [24] Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. [25] O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. [26] I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
1 Corinthians 2:2-5 ESV
For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. [3] And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, [4] and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, [5] so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
Philippians 3:7-11 ESV
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. [8] Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ [9] and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith- [10] that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, [11] that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
Minimizing me...making much of Jesus 