ROMANS 12 9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. 20 Therefore
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head."
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
I am so weary of all the bickering, the slander, the salacious gossip, the judging, the arrogance, the self righteousness, the politicking, the power games, the carnality and so much more that is the result of the TV vote at Tampa and the resulting Tulsa meeting later this month.
WE NEED TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER!!!!!!!!!!!
If men leave the UPC because they feel they cannot fellowship with an organization that allows tv advertising and programming, regardless if you agree with the rationale, can we respect their convictions and believe the bes tabout these people and that they are sincere? Leave them alone and let them follow Christ the best way they know how.
If men want to use tv, if men stay, can we leave them alone and respect that they may not feel that they are on a slippery slope toward hell? Can we not demonize one another, can we pray for one another, can we wish that both organizations do well? Can we hope that the Lord will be with both groups and that His favor will grace both arms of evangelism? Can we believe that the Lord will use both organizations?
If you leave, leave with dignity and a right spirit. Do not sow discord. Leave without fanfare and circumstance. Follow the Lord as you see fit. Don't seek to compete with the UPC. Don't run it down or bad mouth your brethren.
If you stay, pray for those leaving. Leave the door open to friendship and kinship. Write a departing brother with a word of encouragement. Pray for the Tulsa meeting that it will be blessed with the Presence of the Lord and a spirit of humility will present there. Write Bro Haney and other officials a letter of encouragement. Let them know you are behind them and you want to move forward. Encourage your District officials especially if you all are losing a significant number of preachers/churches.
Tampa happened. Tulsa will happen. Let's strive to behave like followers of Christ. Let's show the world that we are His disciples, by our love for one another.
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When a newspaper posed the question, "What's Wrong with the World?" G. K. Chesterton reputedly wrote a brief letter in response: "Dear Sirs: I am. Sincerely Yours, G. K. Chesterton." That is the attitude of someone who has grasped the message of Jesus.
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If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8 KJV
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2 KJV
I loved this post, I have always wondered why it is so hard for Christians to act like Christians.
We should have more love, more concern, and more kindness towards our fellow man, than anyone else. It concerns me when I see the random person on the street exhibiting more charity than some supposed believers.
I think that we lose track of the basis of Christianity, that we are first and foremost supposed to be followers of Christ. We should be modeling his behavior, and I think very often, we are falling very far from the mark.
I know that we will never be "perfect", but I wonder sometimes if some of us are even trying. I am including myself in this criticism, because I struggle with it as much as the next person.
(I Co 13:1) Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
(I Co 13:2) And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
(I Co 13:3) And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
(I Co 13:4) Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
(I Co 13:5) Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
(I Co 13:6) Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
(I Co 13:7) Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
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"God, send me anywhere, only go with me. Lay any burden on me, only sustain me. And sever any tie in my heart except the tie that binds my heart to Yours."
--David Livingstone
"To see no being, not God’s or any, but you also go thither,
To see no possession but you may possess it—enjoying all without labor or purchase—
abstracting the feast, yet not abstracting one particle of it;…."
--Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass, Song of the Open Road
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