Taking a Stand

Here I go sounding like Andy Rooney, the 60 Minutes guy. Have you ever…? I ask myself and others this question quite frequently; like when I am driving through a neighborhood and see the street sign that says “SLOW CHILDREN PLAYING”. Have you ever wondered why anyone would like to advertise that their children are slow, or that they move very slowly? Are they proud of the fact their children are developmentally challenged or are they asking us to take careful aim with the automobile at those slow children to help cleanse the gene pool?

Another question I ask occasionally, is “Have you every wondered what body part is a yet?” I have seen news stories that tell you a bullet is in her yet. Even if they said the bullet is in her still, it is the same problem. What part of the body is her still?

Sentence structure and syntax are very important to communication. Why don’t we say what we mean in a way that is designed to communicate the true meaning of the statement? You could easily say that the bullet has not been removed from the victim at this time, or “PLEASE DRIVE SLOWLY. CHILDREN AT PLAY”.

But this is very judgmental of me, and that is just one of my character flaws. Not only do I judge things, but I have a tendency to judge other people for how they look, what they say, and the way they act. This is not a very good trait, especially in light of the scriptural admonition to not judge others.

However, this issue goes deeper that judging others. It reaches in to the heart of loving others, which as believers, we are constrained to do. Yet, I ask myself the question “Have you ever tried to love someone with God’s love and not judge them when you are so opposed to what they are doing?”

I have a friend who is involved in something that I just absolutely do not like. She and I have had several discussions about this activity, but each time the discussions escalate into full fledged arguments. Not exactly a free and open exchange of ideas at that point, is it? I need help understanding how to let her be her and love her for who she is and to not judge her.

Yet I know she is not walking the right path. Because there are absolutes in this world and life, taking a stand matters. How do we make others know that the stand we take is not against them but against evil, no matter in what form it comes? How do I communicate my love for her and my hate for the sin in which she lives?

The wisdom I have learned over my life, tells me the key to this balancing act is to make sure that there is a strong relationship in place. If my friend does not know how much I love her and value her friendship, I can not speak honestly into her life. The same goes for her. Relationship is a two way street. Both parties must trust in the relationship and the love they have for each other to know that when something is pointed out honestly, it is not meant to hurt but to help. Those relationships take time, effort, working to know someone, and prayer. It is the same way our relationship with our Heavenly Father is developed.

I, also, believe that the basis of any relationship with another person is based in the relationship with God. Only he allows us to love well enough to take and stand and not be the judge, jury, and executioner.

Moving towards vs. Away

Some one sent me a set of pictures this week. It involved a guy walking along praying for protection and then getting hit with a small rock. He, of course, grumbled about that. In the next frame, Jesus told him he was on the job protecting him but apologized if any of the small stuff rocks got through. It was cute and on the surface seemed to have a good message. I did not think anything about that email at the time, but the more I meditate on it; the more I believe it to be untrue.

He is perfect. He can not fail in protecting us. Therefore, if we are hit by the slings and arrows of the enemy, it is not his failure. It must, in someway, be ours. He tells us in the Psalms, he is a strong tower and the righteous run to it and are safe. When problems are on the horizon, are we headed toward Him or away from Him? In the midst of problems, where we are located, can determine the outcome.

I know as a child, my tendency when something happened, or I did something wrong, was to avoid the parents. As I learned to trust them, I began to stop doing that and learned to just 'fess up. The punishment was always easier and sometimes, it was avoided completely, since a free and open discussion of the issues at hand could occur.

If we move away from our Heavenly Father or practice avoidance, we place ourselves in such a location, that He can not help up. Not because He is not able, but because we are not listening and looking for His help. He loves us with an everlasting love that has already forgiven anything we might do. He will always help us because of Whose we are not because of what we are.

He is not just sitting there waiting to bust us one for fouling up. He is not waiting to tell us "I told you so". He lives in your heart, goes where you go, and is always there to help. His joy is our strength. His life is our life as is evidenced by Paul's statement that in him we live and move and have our being. His faith is the faith we have been given. Open yourself up and trust him. Love never fails and He IS LOVE!