Skip to main content

Wisdom Is Not A Knee-Jerk Reaction. Hatred Is.


Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. (Colossians 4:5) 

            Having spent some time looking at how we are to treat one another within a community, it seems appropriate to consider how to treat the "not one anothers" we encounter. The first key for me is to acknowledge that different  people warm up to both one anothers and "not one anothers" at different rates. There are a few people that I hit it off with quickly. Most take time, and when it comes to whole groups, that time may be a couple years. I have friends who seem to make instant friends with everyone. You probably know to which category you belong and I believe it's wise to work within that understanding.
            For some, being wise toward outsiders (the not one anothers) seems to mean to be street smart, to protect themselves so that they are not scammed, taken advantage of or hurt. It means dealing with the enemy. There is a sense in which this is accurate, and a sense in which it is an overly broad generalization (therefore inaccurate.)  Once upon a time, we were all part of that same enemy force. Those enemies are best eliminated by their conversion, not their execution. This may mean taking the chance of treating them as human beings now, rather than as sub-human enemies. This was the teaching of the Old Testament as well. The foreigner was to be treated like a neighboring Jew. That principle has not changed. You never know when the Saul who is persecuting you will become the Paul who is one of your champions.

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

The List

              Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,   through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;   perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 5:1-5)           Think about it. We have been justified. At least, we could be justified if we stopped insisting that our justification be based on our merits. We have peace with God, or could have peace if we stopped throwing temper tantrums. We have gained access into grace i...
Post a Comment
Read more