Refrain From Strife

It is honorable to refrain from strife,
    but every fool is quick to quarrel. Prov 20:3

Lately I have been biting my tongue and restraining my fingers from typing words that are best left unsaid, an awful lot, in order to keep from quarreling with some who appear to be provoking quarrels and strife. It is not always easy for me; but, I do try. Every now and then something slips through my lips or the tips of my fingers and I am confessing that sin before the day's end.

The world appears to be in quite a mess right now. ISIS has caused and continues to cause much devastation. But, it's not all that helpful for those whom ISIS threatens with death to be fighting with each other. There are way too many conflicts going on all over the world (there always are) for any country or people to expend any more time or energy stirring up more conflict amongst themselves.

Is it not time for us to refrain from strife and quit quarreling amongst our brothers and sisters here and around the world so we can focus on taking care of the imminent and very real dangers that ISIS is bent on bringing?

I am fortunate to live in a country where we have freedom of speech; freedom of religion; and a whole lot of freedoms that many in this world do not have. I am very disappointed that we often take those freedoms for granted and use them to cause strife and quarrels. Instead of being thankful for these freedoms we abuse the privileges by using them to cause more strife and quarrels. We do not have the time to argue with or slander one another; we have way too much to do. There is enough suffering in the world without adding to it.

I do not think that I will be repenting of this blog by this day's end.

May God help us to live and work in unity to protect all whose lives are being torn apart and even ended.

God's Peace - Pr. J 

John 18:28-40 Religion and Politics Crucify Jesus

John 18:28-40 NIV
Religion and politics don't go very well together. The Jewish leaders used politics to their advantage in order to rid themselves of Jesus.

On the one hand, they would not enter the palace of the governor as the praetorium had been and was still a place of contention between the Romans and the Jews. It was considered an unclean place and if the Jewish leaders had entered it they would not have been able to participate in the Passover Meal, due to being unclean. So the governor; Pilate comes out to them.

The Jewish leaders have no charge to bring against Jesus. Instead they respond arrogantly to the governor when asked what the charge was. "If he were not a criminal we would not have handed him over to you." That sounds to me as if there is a bit of hostility on the part of the Jewish leaders toward Rome. In effect, what difference whether they are inside or outside of the palace? Their contentious attitudes have made the whole area, themselves included, unclean.

The Jewish leaders manipulate and intimidate Pilate into having Jesus executed. They are willing to have a convicted murderer released in order get rid of the truth that Jesus has been busy proclaiming. They want Jesus gone and they will use even the tradition of the Passover as an excuse to get rid of him.

Yes, certainly, it is every Christian's right and responsibility to become politically engaged. We must, at times, speak out. We must speak the truth. But, it is very dangerous for a church to start mixing religion and politics. When the state becomes involved in your faith; you might just forget who your true God is and what His will is for all people. It is very dangerous, for everyone, when church leaders manipulate people into supporting specific political agendas or politicians. All I have to do is take a walk back in history to have that affirmed. Take a look at the world news of today; at the unrest (the killings and massacres) of countries where political parties are religious parties. Take a look back to Nazi Germany where even the churches supported Hitler. And... don't forget the unrest of the even earlier church when church and state were one. Priests and Popes were disposed at the whim of the state in order to be replaced by someone who was more in line with the state's leaders political and religious views. Our reading today brings us to the trial of Jesus at which we find the religious leaders manipulating and intimidating the Roman Governor, Pilate, into crucifying an innocent man.   

Jesus said his kingdom was not of this world. All who believe in him are a part of that kingdom; even though, we live in this world. We live in both and must be responsible citizens of both. But, let us not confuse the two. A final thought:  Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's and don't be playing one against the other. That, my friends, has been the source of many wars. Religion and politics don't go very well together. Remember, the Jewish leaders used politics to their advantage in order to rid themselves of Jesus.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Jeremiah 40 - Fear Divides

Jeremiah doesn't do any prophesying in this chapter. We find him bound in chains. The Nebuzaradan commander frees him and gives him a choice. Go to Babylon and he will take care of Jeremiah or stay with the remnant. Jeremiah chooses to stay with the remnant.

Meanwhile, Gedaliah has been left in charge of the remnant in the Yehud province. But, not all of the God's people are pleased with this turn of events. Most of their people have just been carried off as prisoners to a foreign country and some of those who have been left behind are plotting to kill Gedaliah. Gedaliah doesn't believe it! He cannot believe that Ishmael, son of Nethaniah, would try to destroy him and ultimately divide and scatter the rest of the remnant. Politics!

It has been a difficult morning as I have been considering the plight of and praying for the Coptic Christians in Egypt this morning. At least 40 Christian churches were destroyed this week. Politics! Even Religion! So much turmoil! What causes it all! Could it be the fear of losing what one has had? Maybe, anger over the recent changes in the country? Could it be the fear of change? It just kind of baffles me that when things don't go our way, rather than face and address the situation appropriately, we sometimes attack, not the one(s) who is actually at the root of the problem, but the one who we don't care for, but is closer and more vulnerable. As individuals, we do it all the time. The problem is too big for us to handle alone, so we attack anyone and anything that irritates us. We end up attacking the symptom not the problem. Kind of reminds me of a few doctors... That is just what some of the remnant are about to do. They are frustrated and angry over the deportation of their people to Babylon. They can't stand up to Nebuchadnezzar's forces so they will attack Gedaliah, one of their own, who has been placed in charge of them.

Doesn't make sense to me to attack the symptom when the cause overwhelms us.

Doesn't make sense to me to not trust the LORD to see us through the disasters that come upon us and to give us the strength and courage to endure. Seems like God's people in Jeremiah's day were really having a hard time learning this. Seems to me that they will probably be bringing more trouble to themselves. May God help us to avoid all troubles by listening to His Word and doing His will.

God's Peace - Pr. J