Category Archives: Daily living

Kingdom of God 6

Church, Church Bulletin, Culture, Daily living, God, Government

.”..be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

Daniel 3:18

“But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.”

Acts 5:29

The Kingdom of God reigns above any government of mankind. Earthly rule protects the believer from the avarice, greed, and violence of the worldly person who has no respect for God’s laws. The Christian is to be subject to those laws. However, when man’s laws contradict or oppose God’s laws, we must refuse to obey the government. Today, some engage in violent opposition to the government at the drop of a hat. They wrap themselves in the banner of the divine while breaking civil laws. We must not do likewise. The decision to engage in civil disobedience must come only after a careful study of the Bible.

Civil disobedience did not begin in the 1950s and 1960s with the civil rights movement or the anti-war protest movement. The two verses above show that resisting the authority of the state has been established for a very long time.  For us, we must take care to avoid a flippant appeal to disobedience. I offer three ideas to consider.

Civil Disobedience Requires the most Extreme Circumstances

God’s people have often found themselves in dire straits. They were attacked by other nations (Judges 4:2; 6:1; 10:7 et al.), enslaved (2 Kings 25), opposed by religious leaders (Acts 4:1-3), arrested and executed by kings (Acts 12:1-3) and generally persecuted by authorities (Hebrews 11:32-40). Despite all the opposition, civil disobedience was uncommon.

In Daniel 3, the king demanded that the Hebrews worship his pagan god. In Acts 5, the religious leaders demanded the apostles to stop preaching the gospel. In the USA, the Constitution constrains the government from issuing such orders. The time may come when such restraint is removed, but for now, we are blessed. Only an extraordinary assault on our faith would justify lawless opposition.

Civil Disobedience Is a Last Resort

Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not initiate a confrontation. It arose as a response to their obedience to God. Obedience drove their actions, not publicity. Had the rulers left them alone, there would have been no clash. History records that when Rome tried to prevent Christians from worshipping,  they assembled in hiding.

Another blessing of our nation is the right to petition the government for redress (relief) from burdensome rules. Last week, a federal judge slammed the door on attempts by New York to single out houses of worship for restrictions during the health crisis. Often, our complaints are better addressed in venues other than the media or the street.

Only after using venues of appeal and discussion may the Christian resort to civil disobedience. It is a tactic of last resort.

Civil Disobedience Demands Careful Consultation with the Lord

Before a person willingly breaks the law under God’s banner, he had best be sure his actions have divine approval. Daniel and the apostles were inspired. They received truth directly from on high. We do not. However, we have the inspired word of God that guides us into all truth (John 16:13; 2 Peter 1:19-21). How foolish to charge into lawbreaking without a knowledge of the word of God. So, the one planning disobedience does so only after an intense study and researching of God’s word.

Equally important is a prayerful spirit. Just as Bible study must be intense, our prayers must be fervent. Only then, after prayer and study, may we solemnly engage the exceptional act of disobedience. That prayer and study must be motivated by a desire to know truth. Approaching the Scriptures or bowing in prayer with our minds already made up is dangerous. We must seek to know the will of the Lord, not to find confirmation of our ideas.

Let us earnestly seek to be subject to the laws of government while being faithful to the real king, Jesus!

What are your thoughts? Please comment.

Why Aren’t You Praying More?

Bible General, Daily living, Prayer

Prayer has always been the centerpiece of any relationship with God. Jesus, and his forerunner John,  were so given to prayer that Jesus’ disciples asked him to teach them how to pray (Luke 11:1). There was a time when prayer was deeply ingrained in the American mindset but that is just a distant memory. There was a time when mid-week assemblies were called prayer meetings. Of course, we still pray but there is a noticeable lack of dependence on prayer.

Why?

You Aren’t Praying Because You Don’t Think You Need To

You are self sufficient. You take care of yourself. You are strong. You don’t anyone to help; you’ll be just fine. This is the way we are taught to think. It’s driven by the idea that man is superior to all else.

Presently, many hold that science is the only answer to our many problems. The Humanist Manifesto III, adopted in 2003, says it this way: “Humanists find that science is the best method for determining this knowledge as well as for solving problems and developing beneficial technologies.”

As a former RN, CCRN who worked for years in a Critical Care setting, I know the value of science. I know that new medications and treatments have improved the quality of our lives and the quantity of our days. I also know there is a limit to science. Today, science remains uncertain of the future. Science has been humbled by a tiny, previously unknown virus.

A generation learned that dependence on tangible things is foolish. The Great Depression begin in 1929 and lasted 10 years. Those who lived through that period are still guided by their experiences. In 2008, many lost their savings and saw their retirement plans implode in days. Now, we struggle through another economic disaster on the back of the coronavirus pandemic.

How is it possible that we think we do not need prayer?

You Don’t Pray Because You Are Not Sure Prayer Works.

It probably sounds crazy for a Christian to deny the power of prayer. But many do. They aren’t trying to be evil or weak, but they just haven’t seen the power of prayer in action. Actually, they have but they don’t recognize it.

Have you ever prayed for someone suffering? Maybe the church has a prayer list and you bow your head each week as someone prays for those in the hospital. When they recover to whom do you give the glory? I’ve heard people say something like, “She really had a good doctor!” Or, “that’s really a great hospital, I’m glad she went there.” It would be great to hear someone exclaim, “What a great God she has!” Even if God is working through those wonderful doctors it is still the Lord who deserves the credit. We ought to give glory where it is due.

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.”

James 3:16-18

Look at this verse. First, prayer has power! James does not wavier. Prayer works. That alone should put to rest our suspicion that prayer is only wishful thinking. But next, he uses Elijah’s prayer for drought and then for rain as an illustration of the power of prayer (! Kings 17:1ff; 18:1ff). Elijah, like me, prayed and the Lord withheld the rain. Later, the Lord released the waters.

Tell me, how is it we don’t believe in the power of prayer.

A Challenge 

I’m challenging you to pray like you have never prayed before. And, I am asking you to record your prayers in a notebook or journal. In one month, revisit your listing and see what God has done. You will be amazed!

One reminder: God may not answer your prayers in the way you want. God will, and we want him to, answer prayers by giving us what we need. We want God to give us what is best. One of the benefits of the prayer journal is that you will see how God responds to your wants and perceived needs.

Release your fears to God. Surrender to him and and ask for God to give you what is best. I promise that your faith will grow and you will never again wonder if prayer works.

Let me know how you come along on your prayer life. I’d love to know!

4 Quarantine Lessons from Judah

1 and 2 Kings, Daily living, Encouragement, Old Testament, ,

Judah spent 70 years in enforced confinement. You are spending weeks in quarantine, which is like enforced confinement. It’s not as bad but still restrictive. Ancient Judah has four lessons for you.

Things Don’t Always Go Your Way

Judah, and Israel before them, thought the future was bountiful. They lived in relative peace and went about their daily tasks in a comfortable routine (Amos 6:1). Suddenly, their expectations and hopes crumbled. Their hopes for a quiet life changed drastically.

Today, things are not going the way you expected, either. Three months ago, we were thinking about spring break, the end of the school year, graduations, and summer vacations. Major surgery only requires 6 to 8 weeks of recovery, but this is still dragging on.

Trouble Comes When You Don’t Expect It

Judah should have seen trouble coming; they missed it. Their northern cousins went into captivity over a hundred years earlier. Enemies attacked, but God always prevented their capture. Not this time. Their faithlessness was overwhelming. Babylon rolled into Judah and began resettling the people.

We should have seen this pandemic coming. Experts have warned of such an event for generations. The world has suffered through many devasting, illnesses including the Spanish Flu of 1918 and the Black Death (Bubonic Plague) of the 14th century. Smallpox killed half a billion of us before we conquered it in 1977. We were surprised, even though we shouldn’t have been.

Don’t Take the Presence of the Lord for Granted.

Babylon took Judah into captivity; separating them from the Temple. Since the Temple’s construction by Solomon in about 1000 BC, the people had enjoyed a strong visual reminder of the presence of God. It was the place of God’s high and holy name (2 Chronicles 6:18). Moses had commanded three visits to the Temple annually (Deuteronomy 16:16). They would be reminded of the Lord’s presence each time.

It is different for Christians. Our bodies are the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). Christ lives in us (John 17:23; Galatians 2:20). We don’t have a Temple. The church building is just that, a building that meets the needs of the Christians. It is neither holy nor divine.

Still, the assembly together of saints is a vital part of our lives. We see the Lord living in the lives of one another in a way that is impossible with the disassembled assembly. Weekly worship assemblies become common. We may have been guilty of taking them for granted. I hope we will never do that again.

Reunion Will Be Sweet

Judah eventually left their restricted domicile. They returned to Jerusalem, rebuilt the destroyed Temple, and worshipped God according to his plan (Ezra 6:13–18). The Bible says they celebrated with “great Joy” (vs. 16).

When we assemble together physically, and we will, it will be a time of great joy and happiness. A day doesn’t pass that someone doesn’t mention how they miss the assembly of the church. Jesus wants his people to be together. In Acts 2, they were together and “from house to house.” That day is coming again.

We must remember these lessons and teach them to our children.

When the Bottom Falls Out

Daily living, ,

“No trial has overtaken you that is not faced by others. And God is faithful: He will not let you be tried beyond what you are able to bear, but with the trial will also provide a way out so that you may be able to endure it. ” (1 Corinthians 10:13, NET Bible)

1 Corinthians 10:13, NET Bible

You’ve either been  there, or you are heading there. You might be there right now. “There” is that place where all your troubles are piling on you at once. Life pressure is so intense that you don’t want to get out of bed. Your day is a blur. You fear to hear the phone ring because it might be more bad news. You think that it cannot get any worse – except it can.

Honestly, it may seem that God is distant. Your fervent prayers are seemingly met with cold silence from on high. Like David, you cry, “Give ear to my words, O Lord; consider my groaning” (Psalm 5:1). Still, it seems that nothing comes from God. You want to give up.

You are in the moment of God’s greatest attention and care. Don’t surrender! Our Lord is carefully watching your day and ensuring that you are not overwhelmed by the affairs of this life. He, like a mother guarding her young, is standing between you and the world. Inspiration says that God “will not let you be tried beyond what you are able to bear” (1 Corinthians 10:13). The temptation to surrender is powerful but limited. You will endure this darkness.

Things were so bad for Job that his wife urged him to call it quits (Job 2:9). He clung to God and remembered all the good that had come from him. Do the same. Remember God’s blessings.

Jesus was alone in the depths of Gethsemane when he cried to God for deliverance. He was deserted by his friends as he was beaten and humiliated in the High Priest’s courtyard. He hung naked and bleeding, having been deserted by most. His answer was to cry out to God. Remember to pray as you have never prayed before.

Paul was repeatedly beaten as he preached the Gospel to the lost. He did not stop. He arose and continue preaching. When Agabus told him of his impending arrest in Jerusalem, he would not be stopped from going. The Lord had work for him, and he would not be dissuaded (Acts 20:18-24; 21:10-14). Remember to focus on the Lord and do not take your eyes off of him.

The apostle reasons that trouble will come often in this life, but because of Jesus and his resurrection, we have confidence in something better ( 1 Corinthians 15:19,20). Our struggles today are but a pothole on the road to eternal life (Romans 8:18). Remember the goal that is set before you.

We do not suggest that your struggles are small or insignificant. They are not. We only want to remind you there is a Lord in heaven who sees and cares. He is protecting you even now as you struggle through the demands of the day. He is also preparing a place of eternal rest where you will be set free from all cares. It is essential  that you cling to your savior in these troublesome times. You must fight the temptation to raise the white flag of failure. He will bring you through whatever troubles you face. Throw your troubles to him because he cares what happens (1 Peter 5:7).

Beyond Myself

Bible General, Culture, Daily living, Jesus

Would you agree that most people today think first of themselves and then of other people? Would you also agree that for most people the world revolves around them? Galileo had nothing on today’s people. Most folks think they are the center of the universe. Consider the last 10 posts you read on Facebook. How many of them were begging you to like or in some way to indicate your approval of what the person had written? It really seems as if people have become infatuated with themselves and have lost concern for anybody else.

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: you shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40)

Jesus reasoned differently than modern man. According to the Lord, our first concern is to God. Our second concern is our neighbor. Only then do we begin to think about self. In Luke’s account of the same story Jesus follows up with the parable of the Good Samaritan. Remember that in that story a man greatly inconveniences himself both physically and financially as he provides care for someone else (Luke 10:29 through 37). It’s the kind of story that you don’t hear much today. I suspect most of us would be just too busy to stop and help somebody who is bleeding nasty and maybe even at the point of death. That’s a pretty serious indictment of our culture, I know. Just look around. We’ll see many people who are terribly needy and pitiful and no one stepping up to help them.

That is not Jesus’ way.

We live in an incredibly affluent society. We are sloppy rich compared to many people in the world. We have the means to help others if we look beyond ourselves. Jesus said in Galatians 6:10 that we are to do good to all men. We are to serve our fellow man. Do you remember what Jesus did in John 13? Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. The washing of the guest feet was customary in ancient times. But on this occasion, nobody got around to the simple act of hospitality. Finally, Jesus got up took a towel and a basin of water and began to wash the dirty feet of his disciples. I imagine there was an awkward silence in the room. When Jesus finishes this humble act, he says: “if I then, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14). In Mark 10:45 Jesus said he did not come to be served but to serve others. We live in an incredibly affluent society. We are sloppy rich compared to many people in the world. We have the means to help others if we look beyond ourselves.[bctt tweet=”We live in an incredibly affluent society. We are sloppy rich compared to many people in the world. We have the means to help others if we look beyond ourselves.” username=”Preachers_Study”]

That is Jesus’ way.

The man whose heart is anchored in the world looks at Jesus in confusion. Why would God leave heaven, come to this old earth, suffer disrespect, and finally death? What is the gain? What is the profit? What’s in it for God? The worldly man doesn’t understand because he spends his time focused on himself. [bctt tweet=”The man whose heart is anchored in the world looks at Jesus in confusion. ” username=”Preachers_Study”]

So here is my question and I pray that you will answer it honestly. When was the last time you did something that was completely selfless? When was the last time you went out of your way to help somebody else when there was absolutely nothing in it for you? Jesus says that it is by our love that other people will know that we are his disciples (John 13:35). You see, we don’t have to wear a crucifix around our neck or put the fish symbol on the back of our car for people to know that we are Christians. Instead, our love for the Lord, for one another and even for those outside of the body of Christ will demonstrate our faith in a way that cannot be ignored. [bctt tweet=”When was the last time you went out of your way to help somebody else when there was absolutely nothing in it for you?” username=”Preachers_Study”]

Let today be the day that you do something solely for Christ. Remember, Jesus loved the world enough to die. Let us reflect that love to a world that doesn’t even know him.

What I Saw at 5:30 AM

Daily living, Personal Thoughts,

It’s 5:30 AM and I am the only one awake in the house — the only human that is. Gideon is awake and patrolling the backyard. While I lounge on the patio, he is keeping me safe from evil squirrels and the occasional blue jay that sails into the yard.

The sky is growing brighter, slowly, but the moon still shines brilliantly against the backdrop of the heavens. A few translucent clouds waft lazily through the air as if they had just awakened.

The birds sing happily like tiny alarm clocks arousing nature from slumber. I count at least a half dozen singers greeting me this morning.

To cap it off there is my morning cup of coffee, a sublime gift from God created on the third day, one of the “plants yielding seed” of Genesis 1:11.

I am tempted to think that it doesn’t get any better than this.

I’d be wrong.

For all the glories of this present life, I know there is something far better. Something that supersedes everything eye can see or ear can ear.

There is a new place called heaven. It is the place of God. While God dwells within me (2 Corinthians 6:16; Ephesians 2:22), Jesus is within me (John 17:23; Galatians 2:20 ), and the Spirit dwells within me too (Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:16), I await something brighter.

My finite mind cannot comprehend what an infinite treasure God has in store for me. Jesus has gone to prepare that place (John 14:1-4) and will take me there. It is a place where God’s brightness shines and where nothing vile or decaying will enter (Revelation 21:27).

The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit will be there. And they will outshine the moon.

Abortion…Again

Abortion, Church Bulletin, Culture, Daily living, ,

Recent legislative actions leave Christians aghast at the possibility that a child, delivered alive, could be killed without legal punishment. At the same time, some state legislatures are resisting federal courts and asserting their right to govern their states without interference from those courts. They are crafting very restrictive laws which would limit or abolish abortion for all but the most narrowly defined cases. They hope to force the U.S. Supreme Court to review their laws and dismantle abortion-on-demand laws that are common in our country. The outcome of such a ruling is uncertain. Still, abortion has regained its spot as the hot topic moral issue of our day.

Christians do not need to be confused about their role in this debate.

Jesus told his disciples that they were both salt and light (Matthew 5:13, 14). The undeniable application of these verses is that Christians must assert Godly principles where possible. In homes, in schools, in communities, and in the public square, the followers of Christ must affect their world.

Jesus was a Jewish man who lived under the occupation of the Roman empire. He had no input into the political affairs of the day. Even Paul, a Roman citizen by birth, had little input into the affairs of state (c.f. Acts 22:22-29). Today, our world is different.

A person born in the United States gains the right to vote at 18.  Even before that, he enjoys a “right of redress” provided in the 1st Amendment which recognizes the citizen’s undeniable right to petition the government to correct wrongs. It is this right, and the Biblical admonition to influence the world, that should drive Christians to petition on behalf of the most vulnerable among us: the unborn.

Life is the unique province of the Lord. He spoke humanity into existence. He began with plant life (Genesis 1:11, Day Three), then animal life (Genesis 1: 20, Day Five) and finally, humanity (Genesis 1:27, Day Six). But notice verse 26. “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” Man was fundamentally different from every other living creature God had created. The text shows that this newly created species was to have dominion over the rest of the creation. Man was different. He was special. Genesis 2:7 has God breathing life into mankind. He never did that with any other creature.

God controls the taking of life. Divinely ordained capital punishment is biblical. Paul writes that government, ordained by God, does not carry the sword in vain. He argues that evildoers should, therefore, be afraid of government (Romans 13:1-7). God even regulates combat and the taking of life in warfare. When nations warred without divine approval and leadership, failure followed (c.f. 1 Samuel 4, 5).

Let the reader see that life is precious to God. Humanity does not determine who lives and dies. Only God does. Therefore, we conclude that abortion is wrong for it encroaches on that which God has reserved for himself. We conclude that apart from the actual life of the mother, there is no acceptable rationale for abortion.

Let us fervently pray that abortion will end up on the garbage heap of social injustice like slavery. It is a stain upon our national character. Christians should use their influence with elected officials to bring an end to this despicable act.

Serving or Served?

Church Bulletin, Daily living, Jesus,

There are many problems in the world which run the gamut from inconvenient to catastrophic, from too many meetings at work to nuclear proliferation. I probably cannot do much about nuclear bombs and I probably can’t help you with your work schedule but I am not powerless to serve.

The follower of Jesus seeks to serve others because Jesus served.

But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,  and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.  For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Mark 10:43-45

I was recently in a restaurant. I noticed there were far more customers than servers. That’s to be expected in a restaurant but not in the church. We need churches full of people who serve others in some way. Church leaders must ensure ample opportunities for service among their people.

According to Jesus, greatness is in serving. That’s upside down from the world’s thinking, but Jesus says that we must become slaves in order to become great. Slaves. Who wants that? Jesus was a slave who went to his death to serve us (Philippians 2:8).

What have we done to serve others?

We do not have to die to serve, but we do have to serve in some way.

  1. Look for opportunities to serve. Seek them out. Do not wait for someone else to point out a need.
  2. Act on opportunities. A church program or another leader is unnecessary. You do what needs to be done.
  3. Pray for unseen opportunities. Sometimes, the deepest needs are hidden. Ask our Lord to open your eyes.
  4. Don’t miss the small stuff. A phone call or a card can do much to brighten the day of someone struggling. Your thoughts and prayers matter.
  5. Ask to serve. There are many ready-made opportunities for service. Get involved somewhere.

We all have talents. Use your talents to their maximum. Be like Jesus and serve others!

5 Ways to Guarantee Hypocrisy Will Thrive

Daily living, Sin,

hypocrite

“Hypocrite” is a nasty word. It’s a slap in the face to be called a hypocrite. Jesus used it for his loudest critics (Matthew 23). He used it of those who were judgemental while ignoring their own faults (Matthew 7:5; 15:7). It is not a nice label. Nobody likes a hypocrite.

Yet, hypocrisy is everywhere. Why? If it is so bad, why does it keep cropping up?

Hypocrisy remains among us because we feed it, nurture it, and grow it to maturity. Here’s how to guarantee that hypocrisy will grow.

Use Hypocrisy as an Excuse for Hypocrisy

Someone makes a hypocritical statement, and they are called on it. Their response is that their opponent did the same so why complain? It’s common in the news. Memes are floating around the internet quote the leader of one party making a statement in the past that is vehemently opposed today by that same party. Then, the tables are turned, and the hypocrisy flows in the other direction.

In this way of thinking hypocrisy is still just an excuse. It is a weakness of character that allows the horrible practice to spread and expand. Hypocrisy becomes fertilizer for more hypocrisy.

Allow Hypocrisy to be Expected and Accepted

Hypocrisy is so common that we have to come to accept that hypocrisy is a part of everyday life. When was the last time you were shocked, at someone’s hypocritical behavior? Have you ever heard a brother sing sweet hymns to our Lord in the assembly and scream and yell like a banshee when he’s cut off in traffic? How about a sister who modestly sits among the saints Sunday and dresses in attire worthy of a brothel on Monday?

This is the nature of sin. “Everybody is doing it” cries Satan. It must be ok! Can we rediscover a sense of holiness that refuses to accept hypocrisy or any other sin, as normal? Accepting hypocrisy feeds the flock and grows more.

Tolerate Hypocrisy

The government just recalled all romaine lettuce because it was contaminated by bacteria. The contamination was tiny. You couldn’t see it, and it couldn’t even be washed away. This minuscule impurity was enough to sicken and kill people. Its presence in the food chain could not be tolerated.

Tolerate hypocrisy, and it will grow just like a bacterial infestation will grow in your physical body. We seek a consistent but growing holiness among brethren. Gentle, or even strong rebukes, may prevent hypocrisy from becoming habitual. Tolerance of duplicity is the water of a crop of hypocrisy.

Confuse Repentance with Hypocrisy

Our Lord calls for repentance (Luke 13:3). Entrance into the body of Christ requires repentance (Acts 2:38; 3:19). One who has repented talks, thinks, and walks differently than before. On the surface, they may suddenly appear to be a hypocrite, but they are not; they are changed.

When we question the validity of repentance, when we assume hypocrisy instead of struggle, we will drive that person back into the arms of sin and make our prophecy of their hypocrisy self-fulfilling.

We must encourage repentance for no man can come unto Jesus without being changed. But understand that change is often slow. It is hard. Sometimes we slip. That is not hypocrisy. To confuse repentance and pretense is sure to grow a bumper crop of hypocrisy.

Spout Vague Teachings to Mask Hypocrisy

At its core, hypocrisy is about hiding conduct in a way that masks hypocrisy. No one wants to be labeled a hypocrite, so he is careful with his words and speaks in broad generalities avoiding specifics.

Our pulpits have become fountains of weak words and weasel statements. As a result, brethren have begun to use the same language. Our claim that sin is a problem or a disease masks the reality of its true, heinous nature. Jesus was never vague. He spoke truth. Speak elusive words and hypocrisy will soon bloom.

Root out hypocrisy and a beautiful lawn will grow in place of the weeds.

 

 

Why So Much Hate?

Church Bulletin, Culture, Daily living,

The world is an angry place. Venom runs deep. It is ugly, even nauseating to see it running so deeply through our world. Why? Where did this mess come from?

Anger and hatred can be classed into a half dozen very broad categories: Crime, Politics, Revenge, Anti-Authority, Economics, and Narcissism. These are in no particular order but simply group comments and actions together based on similar actions. In a sense, the classification is not relevant. Hate is hate and is bad. Likewise, there are at least a half dozen outcomes from hate: Pain & Suffering, Chaos & Confusion, Stress & Anxiety, Depression, Division & Isolation, and Sin.

There are no good outcomes from hate.

Does anyone profit from all this trouble? Who gains the most from it all? If you are a Christian, a person of faith, you know the answer. Satan!

We are not ignorant of Satan’s efforts or his schemes (2 Corinthians 2:11). We know how he operates. We have seen his lies in the past, and we take note of his horrible tortures of Job and the many prophets slain for speaking against him (Hebrews 11:32-38). We remember that Satan was the driving force behind the mob shouting “crucify him, crucify him” (Matthew 27:22, 23; Mark 15:13, 14; Luke 23:21). The anger and hatred we see today must be laid at the feet of the evil one. He alone profits from the troubles.

Therefore, we oppose the hatred by opposing the evil behind it. Darkness is often a metaphor for evil. It describes the horrible reality that is commonly our world. By driving out darkness, we establish light. While that sounds easy, it is not. The world loves darkness despite the fact that the light of Jesus has entered (John 3:19). Jesus described the hours of his arrest and crucifixion as being in the power of darkness (Luke 22:53). He calls upon his people to oppose and rebuke darkness (Ephesians 5:11; 2 Corinthians 6:14)

Christians must be careful not to contribute to the darkness through our opposition to it. How can we oppose, even rebuke evil, without being evil ourselves?

Love is the Centerpiece of Our Response

Scripture says we are to speak truth in love, and apart from love, we are only noise (1 Corinthians 13:1; 16:14; Ephesians 4:15). Our Lord was motivated by love (John 3:16; Romans 5:8, 10) so we must be so motivated too.

At the beginning of his work, Jesus declared that people in darkness were seeing the light that would deliver them (Matthew 4:15, 16). The battle persists between light and dark and will so long as the world stands (John 1:5).

Motivations Matter

Ask yourself, “why am I opposing this statement, behavior or event?” If we cannot link our motivations to an overriding concern for the individual involved, we should probably pause and rethink our approach.

At his first coming, Jesus did not come to judge, although he had every right to do so. His motivation was to “seek and to save the lost” (John 12:47; Luke 19:10).

Think of Yourself Too

By examining self, we will purge out the darkness of our own hearts. The well-known parable of the log in our own eye is very instructive (Matthew 7:1-5). It reminds us that we have weaknesses and failing that must be addressed before assailing another. Paul warns that we should “take heed lest he falls” (1 Corinthians 10:12; c.f. Galatians 6:1) while Solomon reminds that “pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18).

Our goal is not to save others at the expense of our own souls, but to save ourselves and others too.

We can combat the horrible environment in which we live. There is little I can do on the world’s stage compared to what I can do in my own corner of the globe. The danger is doing nothing. We can change the world one soul at a time.