It’s not always “the world” that’s the Christian’s greatest struggle. \u00a0Sometimes it is the classic – “We have found the enemy and they is us.”<\/p>\n
Sometimes I think I\u2019m the world\u2019s greatest cynic.\u00a0 (Not really but I think you know what I\u2019m saying.)\u00a0 And sometimes I do wonder if I sound like Pollyanna.<\/p>\n
Because this seems so simple.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t talk bad about each other.\u00a0 Don\u2019t try to hurt someone with your words, even if they did hurt you, even if they \u201cdeserve it.\u201d<\/p>\n
We say …<\/strong> That\u2019s what we say …<\/strong> And that certainly has an element of truth because God\u2019s truth will not always take us where we want to go but without fail will take us where God wants us to go.<\/p>\n And here is the echo I heard in the room as I wrote this: \u00a0“… holding to a form of godliness.”<\/p>\n So I\u2019m asking:\u00a0 Whose journey are we on?<\/strong><\/p>\n Because the journey, what we have our sights set on, determines whether or not we follow Jesus Christ and trust his words …<\/p>\n Or we just hold to a form …<\/strong><\/p>\n And, yes, I\u2019m talking to you, Mr. Real World Theology.\u00a0 Whose journey are you on?<\/p>\n So, I am going to wander along with Pollyanna for a minute or two and wonder.\u00a0 What would our world be like if we took these few words and tested them in our real worlds.\u00a0 Or maybe scale it back from the world and ask.\u00a0 Christian, what would our church be like if we lived these few simple words that Paul wrote to Timothy.<\/p>\n Maybe it helps to bullet the main points:<\/p>\n So a couple more questions:<\/p>\n I\u2019m going with Pollyanna … And Paul and Titus and God.<\/p>\n On God\u2019s journey, on the path of Jesus, maligning someone, speaking of them in a way to harm, no matter how subtle the misrepresentation, is sin.<\/strong><\/p>\n The classic may be when the arrow is introduced with this little dilly: \u00a0\u201cI am so concerned about so and so …\u201d<\/p>\n Bringing glory to God to life (mine and yours) …<\/strong> That’s what I’m talking about.<\/p>\n First listening to God, not just reading the Bible, but hearing the Holy Spirit of God who is living in you if indeed you have eternal life in Christ, and then honoring God by following the truth of words that may or may not make sense to your “real world view” of God’s world.<\/p>\n It’s called faith. \u00a0It’s called trust. \u00a0It’s called God really is as wise as I proclaim him to be.<\/p>\n It’s called glory to God!<\/p>\n \u201cMalign no one.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It’s not always “the world” that’s the Christian’s greatest struggle. \u00a0Sometimes it is the classic – “We have found the enemy and they is us.” \u201c… to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men … Continue reading
\nBut it really is this simple.\u00a0 We say we believe in the Word of God, inspired, infallible, inerrant, God-breathed and all.<\/p>\n
\nBut when we bump these simple eternal truths aside for real world living, then what are we truly saying?\u00a0 God\u2019s word only takes you so far on the journey.<\/p>\n\n
\n… holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
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\nLet me suggest a definite way that we can bring glory to God:\u00a0 Letting his words constrain and direct our words and thoughts. \u00a0Bow to God by bowing to his words and watch the transformation as you the clay jar move from the abstract, from the conception of bringing your Savior glory, to a genuine, bonafide reflection of Jesus Savior Redeemer in your daily routine.<\/p>\n