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 be a Christian." Can a person be a Christian and hate what Christ loves? Doesn't that make the person as much a hypocrite as those whose hypocrisy the person used to reject the Church?
People who have rejected the Church have shared their stories with me. Some of them are nightmares. The Church is made up of lots of churches and people, and people in groups can be far worse than individuals. I understand. I've been hurt by both individual Christians and groups of Christians, not as badly as someone else has, but God calls us to love one another. The good that we do is to be done "especially" to those who are of the Church. That's pretty hard if you don't have anything to do with them.
The family of believers is the same as any other family in that those nearest to you can cause you the greatest pain. They can also bring you the greatest blessing, and it is by blessing them back that you prove you are His disciple.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
In The Sky:
Saturn at Opposition (biggest and brightest)
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 be a Christian." Can a person be a Christian and hate what Christ loves? Doesn't that make the person as much a hypocrite as those whose hypocrisy the person used to reject the Church?
People who have rejected the Church have shared their stories with me. Some of them are nightmares. The Church is made up of lots of churches and people, and people in groups can be far worse than individuals. I understand. I've been hurt by both individual Christians and groups of Christians, not as badly as someone else has, but God calls us to love one another. The good that we do is to be done "especially" to those who are of the Church. That's pretty hard if you don't have anything to do with them.
The family of believers is the same as any other family in that those nearest to you can cause you the greatest pain. They can also bring you the greatest blessing, and it is by blessing them back that you prove you are His disciple.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
In The Sky:
Saturn at Opposition (biggest and brightest)
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