A Sharp Tongue

A "sharp tongue" is usually associated with prevarication. Those who lie are said to have "a sharp tongue". However, the tongue is a weapon of mass destruction used in other ways as well.

Psalm 52:2 "The tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully."

The tongue is a weapon. The Bible likens it to a sword. It's capable of spreading deceit, but the main use of the tongue in wicked people is for "cutting remarks". Some have a critical spirit and their tongue is the medium which takes that criticism from thought to incision.

A person with a "critical spirit" is one who judges adversely, harshly and unfairly. It's a personality trait. Such people are antagonistic and are the provoking parents, wives, husbands, friends and of course enemies. A critical spirit makes enemies of friends. We all must overlook biting criticism, but it's difficult to overlook continual negativism.

As an example, let's say one's daughter makes a fairly neutral statement such as "I wish my bedroom walls were pink.". A normal response would be "Why pink?" A critical person may respond "You're never happy with anything!" It's a short swath of the sword, but it's a provoking statement and is the "first shot" in the new battle just starting! The daughter becomes rightfully defensive and puts up her shield of defense: "I like pink, but am ready for a change!" Mom or Dad replies "You'll have to pay for it yourself!" Although the daughter has yet to ask for anything, the parent just made an unfair supposition. Tempers flare and war ensues! What was once a cranky negative conversation may escalate into screaming and cursing. It's just not worth it, but that's the way some people live their lives. People make sharp statements and start wars wherever they go, most often with those they love!

Many use a critical spirit as a defense mechanism. Those who are speaking to one perceived to be more intelligent or knowledgeable may use biting remarks to conceal their own short-comings. For instance, if person #1 says "The snow is deep!", person #2 may say in a snappy manner "It's not as deep as it was before it packed!" Person #2 has just tried to "one up" person #1. It's a shallow way of putting a person down. Most often Person #2 is insecure with his own education, job, intelligence, position or whatever. Knowing themselves to be less  knowledgeable is why they are ill with another. Person #2 sub-consciously wants person #1 to feel badly.  Person #1 does in fact feel badly, and in the future, endeavors to avoid person #2 or to avoid conversations with that person.

How do others respond to those with a negative disposition; a critical spirit? Others, after a learning curve, avoid conversation which leads to conflict, oftentimes saying as little to the provocator as possible. Within a family unit, attitudes seeth, conversation ceases and dysfunction is the norm. Everyone just lost the war, but the instigator. This family now acts just like Satan wants them to act. Satan pleasures in seeing people at odds with one another. The critical person doesn't realize it, but they just obeyed a trick of Satan!

Look at Paul's warning about this type of communication:

Galatians 5:14 "For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another."

Loving "thy neighbour" is loving others! It includes friends, spouses, and even that daughter!  A critical tongue provokes. "Ye bite and devour one another!" By warring with those a person must love, people consume each other. One person destroys another with the ready biting tongue until what relationship existed is consumed. Rather than loving one another, at most, the relationship becomes adversarial in nature. All lose! God is forlorn and Satan is ecstatic!

1. James 1:26 "If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain."
2. James 3:5 "Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!"
3. James 3:8 "But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God."

Not only do those evil have a critical tongue, but also those who are Christians do as well. If one seems "to be religious" an unloving heart is exposed by a critical tongue. By professing Christ, but failing to control the tongue, "the man's religion is in vain". It is for naught! How can "bless we God" with the same tongue that "therewith curse we men"?  A poison tongue is a sign of a currupt heart.

Oh, what are we to do? Tame the tongue? Put a bridle on it? "The tongue no man can tame!" Taming of the tongue is a result of a loving heart. To change negative dispositions one must change from a judgmental person to a loving person. Love can be achieved. That's what the Holy Spirit does. He can change our disposition. We can go from a hateful Christian to one who loves by seeking the will of God! His will is that we have loving relationships, joy-filled marriages and happy families. He wants genuine friendships where we treat others as we desire to be treated.

It takes sorrow, contrition and forgiveness to have a changed heart. Then God will change you!  Consider scripture, pray and seek the will of God! Quit putting "self" over others. Getting in the  last jab at the other may end the discussion, but the critical person just lost the battle. The critical person with a hateful heart always loses in the end. Joy replaces envy when one empathizes rather than criticizes!

On war and killing

I'm about to write on the most difficult topic of the ages: What about the Christian and war? Should we participate or be conscientious objectors?

Someone ask me if I had been alive during the Civil War, on whose side would I fight. My answer was "Neither. I'd be in hiding!"  The Civil War would not be enough to make me fight. Both sides had good points and bad, and war is not moral when there is an alternative. In the Civil War there was an alternative... the U.S. Federal Court System. I don't consider Lincoln a hero as most people do because his flagrant violation of the Constitution caused the war. Seven-hundred thousand lives were lost in what Lincoln believed was to be an overnight skirmish. No U.S. President has ever been more wrong!  The U.S. Civil War was an "immoral war", the war as bad as slavery itself!

What is a just war?  It's military action warranted for legal or moral reasons. For me "legal reasons" is not enough to justify a war. Although the United Nations uses "legal reasons" as cause for a justifiable war, I don't. It may be justifiable, but not moral. Diplomacy or non-violent means are often enough. Murder is evil! Killing is different than murder! Killing is putting to death. Murder is breaking the law and killing with premeditated malicious intent. "Murder" is a specific way of "killing". The Bible says much about taking a life:

Exodus 20:13 (KJV) "Thou shalt not kill."
Exodus 20:13 (ESV) "“You shall not murder."

Which is it... murder or killing? The English transliteration for the Hebrew word is ratsach. The Hebrew word means to "murder" or to "kill". Not much help there, but if one looks at the uses of ratsach in the Bible, it is most often used in a "murder" context. Hence, my perception is that "You shall not commit murder."

"What difference does it make?", being a rabid quote from Hillary Clinton. The difference suggests that at times it's okay to kill, but never to murder! The key differences being the legality of the killing and the malicious intent, since even a soldier at war is premeditating to kill another who is trying to kill him!

Romans 13:1-14 "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience."

We are rightfully subject to governing authorities. While I would never volunteer to fight a war, especially if I had been alive in the 1860s, I am scripturally required to fight if I'm conscripted. In 1863 Abraham Lincoln signed into law an act "drafting" men into military service. It was the first time a draft was instituted in the U.S. People were excused for health or vocational reasons, but not for moral objection. However, a person could pay another to substitute as did Abraham Lincoln himself, although he was exempt from service because of age. If the government requires Christians to fight, fight they must, unless in a sect which specifically forbids killing of any kind. Then, normally some type of service can be substituted. However, that wasn't always the situation!

Let's take an extreme case. Were Christians "subject to governing authorities" when Hitler was in power? Hitler, according to scripture above, was included in "For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God." You mean Hitler the  Fuehrer was in power because of God? "Yes". If it wasn't God's will for Hitler to be Fuehrer, Hitler would not have been Fuehrer. Why in the world would God allow Hitler to be so powerful? He had his reasons, but if we look at the end result, "good" came of it!  People are much less prone to kill others since they've seen the horror of the halocaust! We are now more "loving" since we faced our hatred in the face! Perhaps that's why God allowed Hitler to be Fuehrer!

One might think "Hitler was the most evil man alive! These passages shouldn't apply to him!" Caesar and Herod the Great  were as evil as Hitler,  and Paul was inspired by God to write that scripture although he was a contemporary of the evil Roman Empire!  Yes, those passages applied to Hitler and even with the foresight of being written to the Jews! God knew what was to come!

Regardless of what we think of those in authority, we are subject to them! I don't like that, but that's God's truth!  It sickens me to think that I owe allegiance to an anti-Christ, Obama, for if you're not for Him you're against Him. However, I have an obligation to obey his laws, even if it was to go fight!

Let's suppose that my government ordered me to abort a baby. As a doctor (pretending) am I obligated to obey? What do you think given the servitude I owe authorities? I must follow God's law over civil law. That's included too:  "there is no authority except from God". God is the highest authority and he told me that I shall not murder! That's where "legality" in the definition of a "just war" is meaningless. Natural Law (God's Law) supersedes civil law. When ordered I cannot commit murder. Killing a baby is murder because of the innocence of the infant. It's against God's moral law!

However, let's suppose that the government (the army) ordered me to shoot an enemy soldier. Is that okay? If there is any malicious intent in our hearts leading to murder! If I'm protecting self, family or country; it's justifiable.

I was speaking to a Mennonite whose belief is that they do not kill for any reason. He told me "I would never kill because God will take care of my family for me!" My response was "What if you are the instrument God chooses to protect your family?" He made no response. We may not like it, but God does use Christians as a means to propagate the "greater good" or the "lesser evil" if you want to look at it that way.

Let's look at justifiable war. Christians were right to disobey Hitler because his murders were in violation of God's Laws. Caesar did it too! Were the Christians of Paul's day to stand idly by? Paul did and "good" became of it. Most of the world today is Christian because of Paul's persecution by the evil Roman Empire. Personally, I believe it was God's intent for Christianity to spread even if it took evil to make it happen. Would Hitler being successful brought more to Christ? I don't see how!

Now for the ultimate war. The war to end all wars. The "War of Armegeddon". That's when Christian nations fight all the evil empires of the world. Is that God's will? Blood will flow to the depth of horses heads. Millions will die. Is that God's will? It's God's will because God is in authority. He will allow that to happen and we're expected to fight for him and to kill for his glory if required! It's not a loving activity, but it's in God's plan!

How about fighting Islamic terrorists? Should we go there to kill or stay here and wait for them to come to us? Is Islam a righteous religion or is it evil? Islam IS a religion of hate. That's the definition of murder. They don't fight in defense, but for control. Their goal is to subjagate the entire world in a Islamic Caliphate. This empire will be in total opposition to Christians principles. Those who seek to destroy (murder us) are justifying a war of defense. It would be stupid to wait until they are at our doors when their intent has been so well-defined. By killing now more lives will be saved! That's the same justification Alvin York got from God when he prayed about the same issue in World War II. He was taught "not to kill", but came to realize it was "not to murder"!

Exodus 21:23 "But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life..."

Yes, for those trying to kill us we are authorized by God to make restitution. Killing is justified in war. Murder is not. The difference is in motivation. We don't desire to kill others because of hate, but we must kill even though scripture tells us to love:

Luke 6:27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you..."

Wars are seldom won by doing "good" because "good" doesn't exist in the enemy. After the war Japan was ready for reconstruction and peace. America did "good". As with our help using the "Marshall Plan" in Europe we reconstructed Japan. By doing "good" with Japan our enemy is now our friend. But what did it take to get to that point? A hydrogen bomb! 900,000 died that more shall live! Love is a curious thing.


 

On Miracles

I'm a miracle!  You're a miracle. We're all miracles! No "mechanism" known to man is as complex as are human beings. We're made in the image of God:

Genesis 1:27 "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."

No God is not both male and female or either for that matter!. He's above gender specificy. His name is "I AM WHAT I AM". That's neither male nor female, but a Holy Spirit; a divine personality! However, man was created by God in his image!  We need to examine God. Exactly how are we as Him?

Man has body, mind and spirit. Our bodies are similar to the other animals. Our minds are different. We are capable of reason. We are much more than instinctual or products of repeated behaviors. We learn from mistakes, gain knowledge, have various degrees of wisdom and we can reason! That's a miracle! Man is capable of harmonizing mind, body and spirit. Although we're born asynchronous, with the knowledge of God, we can develop a unitized system where all our human faculties aid and abet the other! That's a miracle!

The systems of the body are eleven: 1) Skin, connective tissues and the fascia, 2) muslcles, 3) skeleton, tendons and ligamants, 4) respiratory, 5) digestive, 6) cardiovascular, 7) lymphatic, 8) endocrine, 9) urinary, 10) reproductive, 11) and nervous system. (Yahoo Answers).

However, Arnold Gesell added 12) personality, believing and rightfully so, that the personality develops congruously with the other systems , and that all individuals are born with a personality. I submit that there are thirteen, the 13) intelligence or mind! Since the "mind" is the faculty of thought and reason and intelligence is relatively constant, it seems to me that "the mind" is a human system. That's a miracle!

"Chance" is randomness. Chance is based on accidents. According to evolutionists we're freak accidents; based on the random collection of all the right elements, in the right proportions, in the optimal environment. No intelligence was associated with out existence although as products of freak accidents, yet we all have minds! If one thinks of the our systems and their interactions, we're much more than evolved ameba, we're miracles! Mankind is a product of an omniscient mind. It can be said without error, probabilty eliminates the possibility that we "just happened!!

Before we move on to spirit, we need to examine thermodynamics. Don't let the word scare you! It's really simple. Specifically, we're interested in entropy. "Entropy" is a measure of disorder. It's the deterioration of the universe. When a person slams on the brakes of the car, entropy is power lost. The friction causes heat which is lost never to be regained. Likewise, when the air conditioner cools, there is a certain amount of energy lost. It can never be recovered to be put back from whence it came! That's why perpetual motion is an impossibilty; the universe is changing toward a state of uniformity.

What does entropy have to do with evolution? Systems always go in the direction of disorder or randomness. It never, without outside input, moves toward order. That's where God comes in. He is the input which makes all things possible. That is the miracle of existence!

"Creation Fact" (fact because of probability and entropy), can be credited for not only creating the body, but the mind as well! How be it the mind as well? 13) Intelligence in man is another "system" as previously discussed. The body would be incomplete without a mind to govern it. Whereas animals exist on what's natural, man creates what we need! The wolf was given a coat for warmth. Man makes his coat. That's intelligence. Primates hover together in caves. Man discovered and harnessed fire. That's intelligence in action. We must accept that the mind is part of our body. It's referred to separately because animals don't have it!

The third faculty of man is the "spirit". We refer to the spirit as the "soul". We know it's separate from the body because at death, our soul or spirit, leaves our body!  It's there as long as our lifeblood flows, but once the body is beyond life, the soul departs.

Luke 8:53 "And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead. 54 And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise. 55  And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway..."

It's obvious from this passage that the spirit is separate from the body! However, in heaven they will be reunited forever!

The "soul" is the faculty containing the spirit. Our spirit is given freedom. Yes, we're all born "free spirits"! Our mind can make decisions for our spirit and our mind makes the body fulfill the desires of the mind. Our spirit provokes our mind do do what's righeous, but our mind evaluates pleasure versus obedience.

Romans 7:18 "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20  Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me."

Paul's self-admission is the same for all mankind. Paul mentioned his "will". He has the "free will" to do "good", but the sin within him deceives his mind to accept something less than what his spirit would have him do! We all struggle with the "original sin" with which we're all born (thank Adam and Eve). Hence, we all have a spirit, but sin in-dwells there. It works on our mind and corrupts. Although we have a spirit, it's not in harmony with God. Once we're born again, our spirit is cleansed of in-dwelled sin. We are in harmony, albeit imperfect, with God:

2 Corinthians 3:17 "Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."

 

Sin becomes a choice! Before we're saved, we sin without thinking much about it. Once God's spirit is revived within us, lying dormant since Adam, it ministers to us! That's our "conscience"! The conscience is the netwok between the mind and spirit. The conscience can be operationalized. The scale goes from "reprobate to guilt"!  Those reprobate have a damned spirit because there is no communication between the mind and spirit. The reprobate worships the body (flesh) and has no concern for the will of God. God does not commune with the reprobate person, that person being eternally lost!

 

We need a healthy conscience. That's spiritual health. Without spiritual help, our mind and and body are dysfunctional. They fail to work in unity. Since, the spirit is a separate faculty, it's not in scripture, but I believe that the reprobate person's spirit has already fled a sin-filled mind and body! Contempate that! Salvation IS A MIRACLE! The angels sang as the coming of the Savior!

 

Salvation is "grace". God's grace is a miracle! Most people don't consider Jesus' miracles before his birth as a man, but Jesus was part of those miracles. Jesus was God before he was born! That brings me to being "created in God's image". Jesus wasn't born in the form of a man, but man was created in the image of what Jesus was to be. God, in his knowledge, knew Jesus, the Son of Man, and planned his fleshly existence. We were created in the image of Jesus, not Jesus created in the form of man! That's a miracle!

 

Jesus is credited with 37 miracles. I've added the miracle of creation and the miracle of salvation. In the Old Testament were many miracles where Jesus was there!

 

Jesus worked miracles. It's unknown how many:

 

John 21:25 "And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen."

 

Amen: "And that's the truth!"

Loving a Married Woman

Some have confessions to make. They're in love with married women! As singles they liked single women. Now that they're married, that just doesn't work anymore. If the woman isn't married, the Christian man is just not interested!

Many single women are "rounders". Hopefully, married women are not. Married women are serious about relationships and are more dedicated.  The thought of a married woman is exciting! Hearts palpitate wildly just knowing the woman is married!

1 Corinthians 7:2 "... let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. 3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. 4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.

That's what scripture says about marriage! "But", you say "let every man have his OWN wife!" The popular mantra "That's what I'm talking about!" is what is being talked about. Yes, a man can be in love with a married woman. His own wife!!!  What's more, time doesn't change things. When men get married it is their wife for life. That's what the wedding vowels say! 

Having power over each other is erotic. That's part of marriage, but a tiny part!  The most important part comes from here:

Genesis 2:24 "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh."

Have you "cleaved" recently? It's harder than it sounds!  "Cleave" in this context, means to be faithful!  Faithful is fidelity. Just like a good sound system, a great marriage has fidelity, being true to the relationship. There's certain obligations, duties and things to observe in marriage. Things to which the married person must be true.

Our "obligation" is exclusivity. We are to focus on the one to which we're married. It may not be easy at times! That's where "for better or for worse comes in". That's to make the "difficult" surmountable.  Our "obligation" of exclusivity is what's meant by "and they shall be one flesh". Marriage is unity. It's when a man and a woman put the good of the family before the interests of the self.  When a couple get married I call that "when world's collide"!

After the excitement and lust have subsided, a newly married couple get down to brass tacks. Now they must be friends and become a functioning unit.  That's the hard part!

Serial dating is an obstacle to a committed marriage. Most people date one person after another through high school and maybe college. When friction causes conflict, the solution is simple. You break up! In marriage that's not the way it's meant to be, but that's the way it is. People are so accustomed to splitting when things go awry that it becomes the natural thing to do. Hence, a couple should have a lengthy engagement before marriage. It helps to break the serial dating cycle. "Lengthy" is different for different people. The engagement should last long enough to be sure a person is "committed", but not so long as to get too comfortable being single "partners".

Many single couples have evolved into "married singles". They are still single, likely live in separate homes, but quit dating. They get into a married routine and, thus, have no reason to get married! I propose that single's go on a date once a week and no more. Neither should there be any hanky panky. What a man doesn't get is a good reason why he gets married. Likewise, for a woman:

1 Corinthians 7:9 "But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn."

"Burn" in the transliterated Greek is "pyro" (to set on fire). There are several ways to be on fire: 1) lust, 2) to be incensed or 3) eternal torment. People get married to extinquish sin. What they can't have outside marriage is blessed in the context of marriage. Those married are to multiply and the casual reader knows the mechanics of multiplying.

It's disrespectful for a man to "use" a woman, by not committing!  Women who're used are tools for satisfying a man's libido (and for women too). That's just not right. It's called fornication.

1 Corinthians 6:9 "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind..."

Those who fornicate are unrighteous in the sight of God. However, those who have fornicated are subject to God's grace just as all the other sinners!  However, forgiveness is contingent on contrition and those sorry are to whom grace is available. Thinking "Lord, forgive me for what I'm about to do!" isn't sorrow!

From a personal aspect I prefer marriage. When I was scouting unknown territories for a wife, I had certain metrics that interested me. Some are trivial, but others crucial:

1) A born-again Christian.
2) Accept that God comes first in marriage.
3) Attend church regularly with me.
4) Fellowship with Christians, not the worldly.
5) A conservative. (Alike politically).
6) Dark hair (I was being selfish!)
7) Slim (selfish again!)
8) Hard worker.
9) Good ethics.
10) Non-curser, non-drinker, non-smoker
11) Someone who did not use drugs nor ever did.
12) Pro-life.
13) Simularities in families/upbringing.
14) Common interests.
15) Not a nagger nor a jealous person.
16) Not a manipulator.
17) A woman who doesn't overvalue money or things.
18) Woman who loves my children.
19) Woman who loves me dearly.
20) Woman who ignites heated fire in me! (Very selfish!)
21) Not a "rounder" (Someone not promiscuous)

I gave an acquaintance a list of what I was looking for in a wife. She said "The virgin Mary is dead!"  I stuck to my guns awaiting the Lord to provide. God did good when I least expected it!

Were my criteria too high? Was I deserving? No! I was looking for what I wanted. We both looked not at the past, but at the present. We didn't care about previous relationships because we're to live in the present. We all are what we ARE, not what we WERE. That's important.

Single life in celibacy is the ideal if one's focus is solely on God. Otherwise, marriage is what makes people happy! We can do and feel things which before were taboo. However, friendship and commaraderie in marriage will eventually be more important than anything sexual because marriage is much more than "putting out the fire". Marriage is a picture of the church's relationship to Christ. It's a commitment that God honors and as a result, we have hope! Rule No. 1: We weren't meant to be alone. That's why man has wo-man; to be our help-mate!

Gen 2:20 "...but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. 22 And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. 23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh."

Marriage is God's plan. Marriage is one woman and one man. Anything else is an abomination! That unity is why couples are to marry. You can't date and live apart for years because that's not unity. You can't cohabitate because that's not unity and is a dire sin! Obedience is the result of salvation. By living outside God's will is disobedience.  Not married, but burning? Get married!  Release guilt, please the preacher and parents and please God!

Cranky and Grumpy: Children of Anger and Rebellion

Some people are just "cranky". Any little thing said by another is responded to as if it's a challenge to a duel. I've said "Good morning!" and my response I get may be "What's good about it?"  That's happened to about all of us. You know the situation.

One person I know is a Christian and his disposition is much like that. By "coincidence" (You think?) his nicknmae is "Grumpy".  Being a Christian with that nickname is an oxymoron to be sure.  How does a grumpy Christian live with himself?

Cranky and Grumpy are children of "Anger" and her husband "Rebellion"!  Those who are negative in their life fail to brighten the lives of others. 

Some people just can't seem to be content unless they are hostile to another!  It doesn't take an argument to get the disagreeable person going. They just may not be pleased with a factual statement. They may even snarl at the other "You're being hurtful!".  They accuse others of being what they themselves are. It's a defense mechanism for their own negative behavior.

Some people are just moody. Others even take pride in being disgruntled. A woman with whom I worked had a sign which said "Zero to Bitch in 60 Seconds!" That's nothing to brag about!

A form of torture is dripping water. Although one or a few drops in the face is forgettable, even pleasant, continuous drops of water for hours or days will drive a person insane!  Although this passage speaks of a woman, it works both ways:

Proverbs 27:15 "A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike."

That's torture! A "contentious" individual is a quarrelsome person. They are disagreeable and confrontational. It's as if their modus operandi is to make others unhappy!  If that's not their goal, then they're over-achievers!

Some are married to that type of personality:

Proverbs 21:19 "It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman."

That pithy remark applies to men too! Some men are angry by nature. Women tend to respond to anger with cutting remarks; men with outbursts of violent words or physical emotion. Sometimes cutting remarks hurt the most! An unknown philosopher once said "The tongue is like a sharp knife, it kills without drawing blood.".  Many are bleeding. It's emotional blood! The dripping of emotional blood can be felt in the pit of the stomach. It burns as each drop plunges against weakened membrane. Finally, emotional blood creates an open wound and ulcerates.

A Christian person with whom I was working had previously built an object. It was for use by others and due to his sloppy workmanship, it was dangerous to the lady using it. She asked me to help her with the safety problem. I made do with what I had and temporarily made it useable, but not safe. The grumpy person beside me said "If you can't do something right the first time don't do it at all. If she gets injured the fault is on you!"  I was astounded! Grumpy had built the unsafe object and he hadn't done it right the first time! How can a rational person argue with such irrational behavior? It can't be done!

There's another "tool" in the toolbox of the contentious. It's slick, even magical, how it's done! "Sane- One" will say something factual and without emotion. Cranky person will respond with an opposing argument. When the Sane-One moots the point of Cranky, then Cranky shifts the argument ever so slightly. As the disagreement ensues, Cranky keeps moving the argument. When Cranky's argument is the same as Sane-Ones, Cranky says "See I was right all along!", although Cranky was never right, and was unyielding to fact! Cranky's and Grump's are never wrong although highly opinionated. Since they're never wrong, they never say "I'm sorry!"

We all know people who either don't know what "sorry" means or can't use it in a sentence. Kids can at least yell derisively "Sorry!", but that's the extent of their sorrow.  Sorrow is an emotional condition. Contentious people have but one emotion... anger! They appear to be angry at the world, but most often they are angry with people they're supposed to love: spouses, children, parents, friends, and even pets! Contentious people often get along with acquaintances because no envy nor sources of irritation have yet to be manifested. "Love" IS "Having to say you're sorry!"

Contentious people have a spiritual problem.

Romans 2:9 "But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,  9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil...

Grumpy and Cranky are contentious. Scripture says that they "do not obey truth". They are unrighteous! Why are Grumpy and Cranky unrighteous? Can we all agree that  Cranky and Grumpy, children of Anger and Rebellion, were brought up in an environment of hate? Their attitudes witness to their heart:

1 John 4:8 :He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love."

 

Contentious people are not loving people! Ameliorating people love others. Loving people do not antagonize and provoke those they love. Anger's blood has passed into the bloodstream of Cranky and Grumpy. Rebellion taught Cranky and Grumpy provocation. I believe that those who love God can't hate others so badly they try to make their neigbors miserable.

 

Along with loving God, we're told in (Mark 12:31 "...Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." "Neighbour" is a general term for "others". The truth is that we are to love others. By not loving others and treating them how we each desire to be treated, is unrighteous. Loving people demonstrates righteousness.

 

Some people's disposition is to be contentious. As a "new person" in Christ, they need to bury that "old person".  The first thing a born-again person should do is love God and love others. Grumpy Christians are uncharacteristic of saved persons!

 

Other people may have hormonal inbalances for some reason or another. Bi-polar people are contentious at times, as well as menopausal women and those who have undergone certain surgical procedures. People get contentious when they continually fail in life. Others because love-lifes are less than desirable. Others were just dealt a bad hand when they were born.

 

Regardless of why people are contentious, it's not God's will. They are to seek change. Change may be spiritual renewal, biblical counseling or at times hormonal or medicinal treatment.

 

Many who are of a contentious disposition often fail to recognize their own emotional state, but if others are alienated from you, the shoe fits. Most rational people avoid those irrational.  We all seek people with whom we're comfortable. Contentious people make others not only uncomfortable, but really stressed.

 

As in all things, God is the answer! We are to humble ourselves and call on God:

 

Micah 6:8 "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?"

Be Pithy. Turn to Proverbs.

Bill O'Reilly is always asking writers to him to be "pithy" That means the writer is to make brief meaningful precise statements which are to the point. King Solomon, speaking for the Lord, was "pithy" in his writings. That's why his wisdom is called Proverbs. They are pithy statements which express biblical truths. Today we'll look at a few "pithy" statements of wisdom". God was pithy in his advice!

Proverbs 1:23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

Solomon's intent was to persuade. His desire is for you to "turn", meaning to make a change! His argument for change is "reproof". Solomon looked at man through wisdom from the Lord, judged their lifestyle and rebuked (criticized) them. Those who turned had God's spirit poured unto them. God gave them discernment in understanding his words.

24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;

Man has failed to respond to God. They have rejected his wisdom.

25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:

God gave man his expectations. Ante-deluvians failed to listen to God and they were destroyed. Man was at his worst in those days. God baptized the earth with the flood and all things began anew. It didn't take long for man to fall right back into sinful ways. Ever since, man has  failed to turn to God. Why? God sought to change them, but they "would have none of my reproof" according to God. He judged man, man came up short, God taught change and they would have none of it!

"I won't change for anybody!" is a common prideful statement made by many today. That's why marriages fail. That's why children disobey and that's why employees fail to be promoted or get fired. "Change" can be a good thing! Change toward "rightness" is desirable. And if we truly desire to know what's "right" we seek God's wisdom. That's where Solomon comes in. He had God-given wisdom.

26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;

God has a sense of humor, but it's righteous. He's gracious enough to give us every chance in the world, but yet we don't listen to his reproof. When we suffer the consequences of our "unrighteousness" he will laugh. It's likely that his laugh will be humorless, but he laughs because of our foolishness. When we say "Please God! Bail me out!" He'll respond with derision "Pleeeeeaaase God! Hellllllllp meeeee out!"  That's mocking. That's what God will do when those who fail to listen need his help!

Most people live as the devil, but when catastrophe hits, they call on God. They have no faith nor love for God, but they want help out of this calamity. God will mock them! He says he will.

27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.

Here's the situation. Someday, sometime, someplace; you'll fear, your life will face destruction and you'll get stressed out. That's when you'll need God! He's always ready to help, but it's on his terms. People seem to get sincere about God, but it's when they need something. God may honor a person who's truly "turned", but most only turn for the time. When the catastrophe is over; it's "IIIII'm  baaaaacccckkkkkk!" (Look at 9/11. People got religious for a short while until the calamity was over!)

28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:

People need to change right now! Everyone is in need of change because we all sin! Saying that "I'll never change for anybody!" is utter foolishness! "Anybody" eliminates God. But then, when depression comes, we suddenly need God. Unlike the genie who grants every wish (or even three), God is not a genie. He's there for you all the time, but it's got to be done "His way!", not  Burger King's "Have it your way!". That's what we're used to, but that's not God's will! When you call God, he won't answer! God's not stupid, he's not a genie and he's not to be subject to irreverence.

29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord:

God is the source of all knowledge. Science takes a backseat to God as does philosophy and psychology. Those "religions" would have little to study without God's creation! Why does the Christian compromise sound doctrine with hyperbole? Since God is "knowledge" and some place God in tertiary submission to science and sociology, they have demonstrated their utter lack of fear of the Lord and who he is!  I believe in the creation because God claimed to be the author. According to evolutionists, who is the author of the universe? Chance" Their God is "Chance" and his court "Randomness", "Guessing" and "Speculation".

30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.

"Don't judge me!" is most often said of those sinning. It's the most quoted (actually misquoted) verse in the Bible. Those saying that are using the mild defintion of "judge". Such sinners are saying "Don't have an opinion of me!" How in the world can we rebuke a sinner without having an opinion of their life? (However, we're not to "condemn" the sinner which is the harsh definition of "judge")

31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

God says that people will suffer the consequences of their "ways". Yes, they may have fun for awhile, but that time is finite and limited. Someday, maybe tomorrow, there may be suffering associated with bad living. Regardless, eternity in hell (unless repentance) is the ultimate consequence.

32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

Without God the simple-minded shall be killed. The wealth of the foolish shall destroy them. What seems wise to the common man and to philanthropists will be their folly. Simplicity nor complexity when not in fear of God, results in destruction.

33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

As usual God offers "Plan B"!  His plan has a possibility of a positive outcome. Those who listen to him (and change) will be safe (from his wrath). There shall be no reason to fear what's evil (in the guise of good) because of God-given discernment.

Fearing God is a "loving reverence for him". Evil is what should be feared because we're tricked into self-destruction, but we have no need to fear if we abide with God!  "Changing" from a life of sin to a righteous life is the reverence and love of God that he seeks. Foolishness is taking the gate to destruction because it's wider and more people pass through. Wisdom is squeezing throught that narrow gate not taken by so many because it is not a pleasurable gate.

Taking up His Cross and Persecution

Matthew 16:24 "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."

What's unusual about this statement? ....................................  Time's up! Give up?

Jesus said this to his disciples BEFORE cavalry; before he died on the cross! He told his followers to "take up his cross" right after saying this:

Matthew 16:21 "From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day."

Jesus, being God; being omniscient, knew all about his own fate! He knew why he was here. It was all about dying. It was all about the "cross". The Latin cross was a simple wooden upright extending somewhat above it's transom. This is the cross we think of because that's Rome's historical cross. Why does an instrument of destruction have such reverence? (A modern equivalence would be the electric chair!) Why is the cross venerated so much?

The answer. That's where all the sins of mankind (ever) converged on the back of one frail man who paid the penalty for all:

Romans 5:6 "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

 

2 Corinthians 5:21 "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."

 

The last two passages is what the cross means. There Jesus died "for the ungodly". "Christ died for us".  Since everyone has sinned, that's everyone. Jesus died for ALL on the cross. Furthermore, an innocent man; one who had never sinned, God "made him to be sin for us"!  The sin of all time was gathered right there and disposed of. Sin died on the back of Jesus as he died on that cross. The cross is the symbol of our redemption. Nothing should be more important to anyone than what happened right there; and Jesus knew in advance wat he was to do and told many about it before it happened. He didn't plan his own death. He knew just knew what he had to do!

 

God plans ahead! Back at the creation before mankind disobeyed, he "planted" two trees:

 

Genesis 2:9 "And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil."

 

The "tree of life also was in the midst of the garden". We know from Luke that "tree" was symbolic of Jesus:

 

Acts 5:30 "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree."

 

Although I was amazed that Jesus spoke of dying on the cross before his death, he knew of it at the creation! The prophets knew that Jesus was born to die and all the faithful Jews knew that too!

 

There are "Thirteen Principles of the Jewish Faith". Number 12 reads: "The belief in the arrival of the Messiah and the messianic era."

 

Based on prophecy and the Old Testament Jews do believe in the coming of Christ. They just don't believe it's happened yet! Why? Because they misunderstand the entire concept of the Trinity! Just as they persecuted Jesus in his time for claiming to "BE GOD", they still see Christians as  heretical for believing in Jesus, because in their minds "Jesus was a liar!" To convert a person who is of a strong Jewish faith is a miracle. No wonder the angels sing when one person is saved!

 

The cross as a medium for death was not used until the advent of the Roman Empire yet the prophets wrote of it before the Roman Empire even existed!  How could a nomadic Bedouin have the fortitude to suggest that Jesus would die on a cross when that manner of death was yet to exist? By "divine inspiration" is the correct answer!

 "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." (from Matthew 6:24).

How do we, as mere men, "take up his cross", especially the one they yet knew nothing? What were they supposed to do? Today it's relatively clear. To them it was a puzzle, but if they were truly disciples they had an inkling. They were to convert others. They were to tell others about Jesus! Why would Jesus tell them to "take up the cross" as he was about to do? He knew that like him, his devoted followers would be persecuted!

John 15:19 "If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. 21  But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me."

 

Yes, if you're a Christian, the "world" will hate you. Just as they persecuted Jesus, true Christians will taste hate as well. Each time our governement or secular humanists attack us, our faith, our actions or our motives, I think of "taking up his cross". If we're not feeling the hate that Jesus felt, are we vocal enough in our ministry? Yes, we all have a ministry. It's to tell others about Jesus so that they too can be saved!

 

Jesus was telling his followers "You must be committed. It won't be easy. Others will hurt you for believing in me!"  The paramount persecution will be by the end-of-time (Apocalyoptic) government. Christians who fail to follow the new god, "The Anti-Christ" will be beheaded!  During the French Revolution the Jacobans gave Christians, including the clergy, two choices: renounce your faith or be beheaded. Many of the faithful lost their heads, but most renounced their faith! "The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak"!

 

"Take up your cross"! Feel some heat! Some friends will even turn their backs on you, but if you love them, tell them about Jesus. The same goes for relatives. One atheist said (in paraphrase) "If Christians truly believed what they say they believe, they wouldn't be able to sleep nights because the friends they love are going to hell!"  So true!  We must be more committed. We must "take up His cross"!