Skip to main content

People Who Live In Glass Houses...

Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,
“The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone,’” and, “A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for. (I Peter 2:7-8) 

            That Corner Stone that both God and we find precious is the stone those who don't believe trip over then curse because they've skinned their knees and elbows. It's also the rock on which they stand in judgment of others, though they claim otherwise. They claim that they arrive at their ideas of justice from logic, reason, understanding and science. What they forget or ignore is the fact that the mind that created the universe is the same mind that set the rules thereof, so it's only natural that they would arrive at the same conclusions by observing and thinking. They are not the rules one finds by applying their theories of how the world works, but they are the rules one finds by applying the rules God set for the universe.
           Disregarding the rules and the Rule-giver has natural consequences. One stumbles. The passage today says this is what they were destined for. Sometimes people think "How cruel of God to destine people for destruction." Then we get on social media and proclaim that those who hurt women, children, or animals should be treated far worse than they treated the women, children or animals. During the same time on social media, someone declares a horrible fate for those of an opposing opinion, and we share and like because "they deserve it." We drive on the highway and someone screams by us, and we hope they get pulled over (or worse.)
        It's easy, when we look at Scripture, to assume that those who are described as "destined for" stumbling, or destruction or Hell don't deserve it.  It's also easy to pronounce a bad destiny for those who offend us using the exact same law (but only as far as we want to, and only when applied to someone else.)
 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Gal 6:10)   “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.   By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)           Joshua grinned when he saw Rex standing by the door, studying something on the ground. "Hey, man! Are we ready to do this thing?"          Rex looked up. "Josh, I can't do it. We're still best buds, but I can't stand your fiancée."           I've met "Rex" many times. I've been Rex. Joshua (Jesus) loves the Church. He's not a fool. He knows the Church is far from perfect, but she is His chosen bride. The Rexes of this world, who think themselves His friend, turn away from her. "You don't need the Church to...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ssssssubmmissssssionnn

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ . (Ephesians 5:21)             "Ssssssubmmisssssssionnn." Can't you just hear the serpent hissing this most horrible of words? If you listen to the serpent or the world, submission means groveling, allowing yourself to be abused, denying yourself your own humanity. Nothing could be worse than submission, could it?             Submission has never been a problem for me, as long as things are going the way I want them to. The rest of the time? Well, let's just say that while I don't know how to fight physically, I don't know how to not fight mentally. One of the fights I've been having with myself for years is about submission.             My first breakthrough took place on a trip to a bookstore. As I walked into the store, my thoughts were very clear. 1) I was goi...
Post a Comment
Read more

Shark Fins, Triple Dog Dares, Heroes, Villains and Sidekicks

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)            There's a scene in Jaws in which someone sees a shark fin and starts a panic. As   all the swimmers scramble to shore, boats surround the fin, which falls over to reveal two kids. With several guns pointed at them, one of the kids points at the other. The message is clear: it was his idea. In Christmas Story, there's a scene in which one kid "triple dog dares" another to do something stupid. Since it's a triple dog dare, well, what choice does the boy have? There doesn't seem to be any end to the trouble that peer pressure can cause. ...
Post a Comment
Read more