Losing Our Message
"Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will."
2 Timothy 2:23-26
God is so funny. Maybe not "ha-ha" funny, but his timing is better than a professional stand-up comedian, that's for sure. Many of you readers may remember that I have had the privilege of teaching high school junior and senior girls at my church over the past several years. Many of these ladies I still see regularly and they trust me enough to continue to allow me to speak into their lives as they also speak into mine. After a particularly deep conversation I had with two of these girls recently, the next day God sent the verse above right smack into the middle of my Instagram feed. This conversation was notably more intense than others we have had and we covered some heavy topics. While I remain a firm believer in speaking hard truths (even when they aren't always popular), God was just gently reminding me not to lose the greater lesson. As I pondered that, I realized I might have been so concentrated on making my points for God that I just went and flat left out God. I was in danger of losing the real message. Face palm.
So, as any blogger worth her salt does when she's taught a good lesson, she looks to see how she might write about it also being applied to the greater world around her.
And here it goes...
One might take a long look back at their life since the beginning of March and come to the conclusion that they've had a lot of time to rest. For some, they've experienced rest from the grind of 60 hour work weeks. For others, rest from the grind of multiple kid's sports practices, games, activities, etc. that result in living life from a car. Still others, rest from the grind and pressures of keeping up a never ending social life. Whatever phase of life you are in, rest has been something forced upon us whether we were ready for it or not. Now that we're six months into our forced Covid time-out, I have to say, this intermission has really forced many people's true colors to come bursting forth. I love hearing stories from those who are learning all over again what it means to rest in the Lord. At the same time, it's a little concerning how too much of this forced breather has others in danger of losing their message, just like me.
Before Covid, I don't think any of us would have ever thought that there was such a thing as too much down time. Wasn't it just a few short months ago when all anyone wanted to do was take a nap? Now, I get it. There's only so much siesta one can take before starting to feel antsy. I have experienced this myself, believe me. At this point, though, when our minds are no longer at ease and we no longer find joy in slowing down our pace, it becomes paramount that believers cling like they've never clung to the truth of scripture. Why? Because when we don't, our minds become an absolute playground for Satan.
"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
Matthew 11:28-30
Suspicions arise quite innocently at first. It's just a thought that pops in your head. Maybe it's a post that made you do a double-take. Hmmm, God, are you putting that idea in my head? If so, it's obviously my duty to follow it down the appropriate number of rabbit holes until I have a clearer understanding of why you would allow it there in the first place. There are so many unknowns concerning this virus and so many other distractions right now that it's reasonable to think other people are just missing God's word of warning about this in their own lives, right? I think it's my responsibility to move full speed ahead and lead others in my new enlightenment.
So many issues here that can lead a believer to just annihilate their true message.
"Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good."
1 Thessalonians 5:20-21
"Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so."
Acts 17:11
First, is what you are chasing after scriptural? This one seems obvious, but how quickly are we susceptible to this very thing?! What teachings of scripture back up your new found knowledge? Are you cherry picking verses to suit you or are you testing your theory and examining the scriptures daily to verify it's truthfulness? Am I saying God doesn't reveal things about Himself to people in new and fresh ways anymore? Not at all. But I definitely do not think He does it through veiled, cryptic messages that only a select few are privy to. There's been a long list of folks who have fallen prey to that line of thinking and lived life on the "spiritual fringe" and to date, it hasn't ended well.
"And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation."
Mark 16:15
Second, how does your new data further the spreading of the gospel? More importantly, how does the method of sharing your data help spread the gospel? Here's where we get down to the real point. You have a new platform and a new theory now, right? Ask yourself this question, "If I shared the gospel with someone right after I shared my theory with them, would the gospel message be helped or hindered by that conversation?" Refer to the first problem above. Are you able to share scripturally sound references with them when they have questions about your findings? If not, what reason will they have to believe you possess scripturally sound references about your gospel message? Do you see the inherent problem? When out of the same mouth comes the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ followed by the gospel of #maskgate, you're in serious danger of losing the true message. One gospel is potentially going to drown out the other and do you really want to take a chance on which one will win?
"A leader who is a great oppressor lacks understanding,
But he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days."
Proverbs 28:16
Third, I am fully aware of the dangers of abusive leadership. All it takes is a quick Google search to educate oneself on the atrocities caused by power hungry humans on every continent since the beginning of time. Government overreach? Check. Regulations leading to loss of freedom? Check. While I am all for keeping my eye firmly planted on the ball, I think it's a tremendous waste of time, energy, resources, and intelligence to swing the bat so incredibly early. Six months. It's been six months, believers. I know things are FAR from perfect in our society, but after a lifetime of feeling nothing but secure, these days of unpredictability have some of us grasping at straws.
Here's the thing, and there's no getting around it, there is a global health crisis evolving for the first time in any of our natural lives. Our leaders, administrators, doctors and scientists do not have every last detail of this novel virus figured out yet in this short period of time. They have even made decisions and changed their minds on several different occasions thus far. I know, I know! But still y'all, that doesn't qualify this as international espionage. Believers, look, once this virus is contained and we have suitable vaccines and protocols in place, THEN let's have a long, hard look at what our leadership is doing in response. Only at that time, when the health crisis variable is gone, will anyone be able to discern what is actual truth from what has been skewed by fear of the unknown.
"Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. But the Lord of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread."
Isaiah 8:12-13
Jesus did not give us a hyper critical spirit. You know what Jesus also didn't give us? A sixth sense. We need to stop looking for the dead people! Not one of us has a crystal ball telling us of things yet to come. In all honesty, what I believe you do have is a serious case of nerves that are getting the better of you. Understandably I might add! But, Paul did not write letter after letter to the early churches of his day so that they could counter back with, "Yeah, but we know something you don't!" No! He said this:
"For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete."
2 Corinthians 10:4-6
And this:
"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."
Ephesians 6:11-12
One article I read in preparation for this post puts it this way, "Gullibility is not a Spiritual Gift." I mean, come one. That's just funny right there. Of course turnabout is fair play and there are some who would say that I am the gullible one for listening to and honoring governmental mandates right now. But the ultimate answer is found in the summary of these two verses:
"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."
Romans 13:1
"But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men."
Acts 5:29
I haven't yet been asked to do a single thing that is anti-scriptural and until then, I will honor whoever God has appointed over me. Remember, my eye is on the ball, but it would be careless of me to swing the bat too early. I continue to rely on the source of true knowledge and what is that again, Christians? You got it, the fear of the Lord (see Proverbs 1:7).
Also, this...
"I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you."
Philippians 3:14-15
"For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil."
Hebrews 5:12-14
Catch that again... "Let those of us who are MATURE think this way." Christians, the world needs maturity now more than ever. The world needs Christ followers who won't throw up their middle finger to their mayor, governor, president, etc. all while spouting their conspiratorial ideas that have no basis in scripture. No, the world needs believers who are on solid food, not just spiritual milk, that will stand and fight the REAL enemy. Falling prey to these peripheral theories has the potential to kill your gospel message which is the only one that matters in the end.
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