The Church Riots
Today’s post is by guest blogger Richard Manlove.
Acts 19:32 is a favorite of ministers. What isn’t apparent in the English translation of the Greek is that the word “assembly” is a translation of a Greek word that everywhere else in the New Testament (115 times) is rendered “church.” Implications aside, ministers joke that this is really a church business meeting with shouting and arguing with most of the people not even knowing why they were there. While we joke about such things, it is, unfortunately, all too true. We are called to be of one mind, of one heart and one purpose. Our faith and practice is to be founded upon the truth of God’s scripture. All of that, with the Holy Spirit’s indwelling, produces a love, care and concern for one another. We can disagree. We can argue. Perhaps we can even riot. But, we must visibly practice love for and love toward one another. Jesus said, in John 13:35, “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” If we are going to win our community for Christ, it begins with our love for each other, demonstrated in our day to day interactions. How you doin’?
Sometimes it is hard not to be judgmental. Sometimes it is easier just to think, well, I am saved so that makes me a little better than the rest of the world. I need to constantly remind myself that Jesus died for everyone’s sins. I need to remind myself that my sins are just as dirty next to Jesus as the unsaved person’s sins. Jesus loves all mankind–the prostitute, the thief, the murderer. He stands at each sinners door asking to come in. Thank you, Jesus, for shedding your blood so that I can be daily cleansed. Help me to love others enough to show them the way to You.
Richard, you’re a smart dude. Folks may be intimidated. Who knows? They’ll come around. Me on the other hand, I should probably learn to be a little more intimidated. It would keep me out of trouble. Anyway, I am sporadic in my blogging. I really have to be in the mood. But here we go.
Good point Janice. When I am being judgmental, what I really am saying to others is, there is something great about me, not in me. It’s silly really (that rhymes). If it weren’t for God’s merciful love, I would be a doomed ball of flesh slithering like a slug into eternal damnation.
But PRIDE, that’s a suffocating breach. I mean it really sucks the love right out an interaction. It is also detrimental to gaining insight. Proverbs 11:2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. (I love this scripture, it’s on our wall in class).
Without His mercy, His Word and my faith in the Holy Spirit, I am stupid, prideful, judgmental, doomed slug ball without any purpose. (I used a slug as a visual because it is hard to believe they have purpose). It’s hard to be united in love without purpose.
Love ya Richard and Janice!
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Shannon,
Pride is, perhaps, something we are born with, an inherent part of our nature. In Philippians 2, the scripture states that Jesus had to humble himself once he put on this flesh of ours, became human. If Jesus had to do that and that, by the full measure of the indwelling Spirit, do we, no less, have to deal with pride. We all suffer because of our pride. It is a dragon hard to slay. The Lord keeps working on mine. We love you, too.