Why Not Rather...

Christians, it's time. Time for the inevitable recognition and discussion about our own bad... very, very bad... behavior as of late. This is without a doubt not going to be the favorite post I've ever written. In fact, I've dreaded it. It's been on my mind for quite some time, but I have been avoiding it like the plague (or maybe the Covid??). But, I just keep thinking, if only Paul could see us now. What would he write to us in his letters? I fear it would be a reprimand of the highest order and the worst part would be that we would deserve every word. Christians everywhere, we should be choosing our own switches and bracing for that first swat against the backs of our legs. It's really gotten that bad out there. It has absolutely turned putrid and if we as believers do not do our part to stop it in it's tracks, this November might be our undoing.

Read the following VERY carefully. 

Does any one of you, when he has a case against his neighbor, dare to go to law before the unrighteous and not before the saints? Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life? So if you have law courts dealing with matters of this life, do you appoint them as judges who are of no account in the church? I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not among you one wise man who will be able to decide between his brethren, but brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers?

Actually, then, it is already a defeat for you, that you have lawsuits with one another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded? On the contrary, you yourselves wrong and defraud. You do this even to your brethren.

1 Corinthians 6:1-8

Alright, let's break it down.

Yes, I am aware that these verses specifically talk about believers bringing actual lawsuits against fellow believers in open court. I am also aware that not many of us who claim to be believers today are actually dragging each other in front of Judge Judy in order to air out our complaints on national television.

However, before we all run around high-fiving, let's take a sec and apply these same principles to the ever encroaching world of our social media feeds. Oops, not so innocent now are we?

For the love of everything holy, believers, we are BLOWING it. I mean, if I were on the fringe of Christianity today not really knowing what or who I believed in yet, it would take mere minutes of scrolling on the socials to be completely disheartened by the infighting of Christians out there on the inter webs. Make no mistake, we seem all in agreement and all too quick to point out our irritation at everyone's need for their "individual rights" these days, don't we? We talk a collective big game about looking towards the greater good of society, but dang if we won't cut a sister (or brother) for even coming close to treading on our individual lawns. Somehow we still maintain the right to call her or any other believer to the carpet at any time if they come at us with their mess of differing opinions. How dare they?

Mature Christians, where are you? Civility, where have you gone? 

Let's look back at Paul's rebuke again. He told the Corinthians that they were already a defeated people even before they made it to court. They were already a huge disappointment. They had already allowed the light of their witness to the watching world to be all but snuffed out. I think Paul would have absolutely told them all to just shut up if those had been the Heavenly inspired words of his choosing. I think his face would have said it all as he looked on them with total disgust as they behaved like common animals, dragging each other into the streets to publicly shame and condemn one other as the unbelieving world watched. I think he would look at us in the exact same way today and it makes my heart unbelievably sad to imagine it.

Believers, we are supposed to be the difference makers in this world! How on God's green earth is that ever going to happen in today's supercharged environment where we are all out here acting like maniacs just like the rest of society?

No, you DO NOT have the individualized right to run off at the mouth every time you feel the least bit slighted. But, what you do have is the ability to pray for the filling of the Holy Spirit to take that slap and turn your cheek for another. What in the world are those words even in there for if we don't actually believe God meant them?

No, you DO NOT have the individualized right to take all the vengeance your little heart desires because "God loves justice!" But, what you do have is the power to wait and allow God to take His vengeance in your stead because it is His and only HIS to repay! Again, why are those words in scripture as plain as day if God was only kidding?

No, you DO NOT have the right to repay all the evils that have ever been paid to you because your feelings have really been hurt. But, what you do have are clear instructions to, as far as it depends on YOU, live peaceably with your fellow humans and do not take your own revenge. If you profess to be a bible believer, then do me a solid and actually believe what's written in the bible.

Why am I hammering this so hard right now? Because if we can't get a handle on our tongues and I mean right this red hot second, this fall is gonna take us all down. Oh sure, we've had hotly contested presidential election seasons before, but there is something looming about that makes this one feel especially dangerous. The country is burning, literally and figuratively. We are debating everything! Philosophies that seem like non-sense are being hailed as the fresh, new potential policies of tomorrow while other schools of thought that seem wise and truthful are being tossed aside as the old, tired policies of days gone by. People feel justified in their hatred of one another. Acts of violence are seen as heroic. Everyone is suspicious of their fellow man and therefore disagreements might actually end your life. 

The world is mess. OF COURSE IT IS!!

Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.

Matthew 24:12-13

The only thing shocking about this scripture is how many believers don't actually believe it when they see it playing out right before their very eyes. I mean, honestly, how do we think the world should be behaving right about now? I'm not saying I have no concern over the state of these things. Far from it. It saddens me to my core to witness the devastation and the desperation in people's lives. But believers, we have also started living as a people without hope and THAT simply will not do!  

Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.

1 John 3:4

Ask yourself right now, am I truly saved? Am I counted among those whose names are written in the Book of Life? Am I truly secure in the fact that if I died tonight, I would immediately be in the arms of Jesus when I breathed my last? If the answer is yes, praise God, and read on.

YOU have the power of the Holy Spirit readily available to help you do supernatural things that just any 'ol body can not yet do. You have the supernatural ability to tap into God's nature and conduct your life in a manner that is full of self-control. You have the supernatural ability to unconditionally love another being who literally embodies everything you loathe about the human race. You have the supernatural ability to look at someone who hates you, calls you horrible names and detests everything you stand for and answer with, "Jesus loves you and wants a relationship with you right this minute." You have the supernatural ability to STOP talking, typing, screaming, pounding your fists and pouting about the seemingly dismal state of affairs in our world and to START abiding, like right this very second, in the joy of the Lord!

No, this is NOT impossible. You are NOT excused because of your family history. You are NOT a special case. You are among those that Paul told, "Why not rather...?"

Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded?

Why not rather allow that person to call you those awful names? Why not rather allow your pride to be bruised. Why not rather be made fun of, detested or abhorred for your beliefs?

Why not rather do what ONLY a Christ-follower can do in a world that is starving for the Jesus they don't even know they need yet?

Giving up the idea of your individual rights for the sake of showing Christ to a hell-bound man or woman instead of squashing them like a bug on your windshield is proof positive of your heavenly citizenship. Who else would do this? An atheist? An agnostic? Not hardly. It is Jesus and Jesus alone who empowers in this way. It is only the fruit-bearing branches that abide in the vine that even have the slightest, infinitesimal chance of taking the gut punch, standing up straight again and answering that hate with the kindness of the Lord.

Let's keep in mind Peter's words as well.

But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.

1 Peter 3:14-17

No one who has ever read a word that I have written has accused me of saying the Christian life is easy. Not in the least. As all believers know full well, it is chock full of making daily choices that we would rather not make and not making choices that we certainly rather would. It is the literal embodiment of Frost's two roads diverged in a wood that requires the traveler to choose the harder, un-beaten, over-grown, sometimes thorny and definitely bumpier way. And it all might just be too much to take if we didn't have the hope and promise of Heaven awaiting.

Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.

John 14:1-3

How can we turn the other cheek in this dog eat dog society that is out for blood? We can do it because Jesus is preparing a room for us in another place as we speak where we will live with Him for all eternity one day soon. How can we remain silent in the face of those who would slander and harm us? We can do it because Jesus did just that in the face of his accusers during the hours leading up to his excruciating death. How can we truly keep our anger in check? We can do it because as James tells us below, we miss the mark of God's righteousness when we don't. 

This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.

James 1:19-20

Will it be easy? Not a chance. But, if there truly exists a power big enough to raise our Savior clean up from the dead, then that power is certainly big enough to act as a filter over our very small words and deeds.

Believers, if you find yourselves void of joy in these days of mass bickering and disagreements at every turn, you may find yourself in a dangerous state of mind and ready to easily pop. Joy is also a fruit that, while requiring a little extra tending right now, is readily available to those branches that are flourishing. How do we ensure that we can flourish even as the days of lawlessness increase?

If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.

John 15:10-11

The answer is to keep God's commandments and abide in His love. You just have to literally park the car of your heart, mind, soul, ears, eyes and tongue in Jesus' garage and rely on Him every minute of every day for the fuel to keep pressing on. Interestingly, fighting the good fight sometimes requires utter silence on our part. It absolutely requires a will of iron to forgo our individual rights of defense and to instead answer hate with love, harsh words with kind ones and radically differing opinions with care and understanding.

Whatever "Why not rather..." statement applies to you now or in the next 5 minutes, if you are not actively keeping God's commands or abiding in the love of Jesus, I am afraid for your chances of success. Believers, let's not devour one another in the presence of the watching world, but let's show our joy made complete because of the intimate knowledge of our Savior.