Monday, July 20, 2015

FISH OR CUT BAIT!

So you have been on this journey for a long time and you think you know what building the Kingdom of God should look like.....yet you sow discord among the brethren (of course thinking you are doing God a favor); you participate in character assassination by propagating rumors you have heard discussed (and you have 'listened' to, in spite of knowing that God holds the sin of gossiping the same as the sin of murder). Let's be very clear about this behavior.....it is wrong and innocent blood is being shed. And even if there is some 'truth' that is being shared around, you will not be held guiltless. "There are seven things that the Lord hates and cannot tolerate: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that kill innocent people, a mind that thinks up wicked plans, feet that hurry off to do evil, a witness who tells one lie after another, and someone who stirs up trouble among friends." (Proverbs 6:16-19) Even if there is a shred of truth to all the accusations....it is not your place to judge. It is God's job! It is our's to bring reconciliation to any situation that might rise among us. It appears to those on the outside, that you are no different than the world; no different than those who do not profess to know the God of the Universe. STOP IT! If you have been offended. Make it right. You are just as responsible to clear the offence as the 'offender'. Either be part of the solution, or get out of the way, but do not be a participant in bringing down those who are also on this journey Home. Either fish or cut bait! Get in or get out! For in the end, "ALL things work together for good for those who love God and are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28) When you are taking things into your own hands, damage that you cannot imagine is being done in hearts and lives you cannot see. "It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble." (Luke 17:2) And if you think this applies only to little children, you are mistaken. We have people born into the Kingdom every day that are babies in Christ. Some remain that way for many years........and they can be severely damaged when older, more experienced ones are participating in sowing discord among the brethren. If this post is offensive to you, ask yourself if it's offensive because you are guilty and are justifying what you are doing. A church, a business, a marriage, a friendship, a family can be severely damaged by this kind of behavior. I am not your judge but the Word is and the Holy Spirit is speaking to you to repent of this behavior and to bring healing to whatever the situation is; bring mercy and bring Grace...for where sin abounds ( and believe it.....gossip/tale bearing are sin) Grace does much more abound. Be a builder and a lifter of those around you. God will forgive everyone and reconciliation will come. We are in perilous times and this is no time for us to be wasting the Gift that the Father has given us in His Son, Jesus, the Christ. Live a crucified life and make it count!