Love for the Brethren

Anything that gets in the way of us loving fellow Christians should give us pause--those things that cause strife among us and are controversial. How much airtime should we be giving these things? Who is spreading the gospel and being a light for Jesus when believers are spun up and publicly promoting sideline issues?

These issues that bring discord by their very nature, not how they are presented (and we ought to be shrewd in understanding what these things are--naivety is no friend), should Christians even be involved with these issues, trying to influence others? Whenever we support a cause, we're putting our reputation on the line. This alone is why people often find themselves backing up from supporting something. It starts out OK, but then goes in an off direction for one reason or another. As believers we need to be careful what we 'hitch our wagon' to.

These things that we feel so passionately about and that we allow to be out in front of others, remembering we're REPRESENTATIVES OF JESUS CHRIST:

are they of God?

or are they of man?

Question: Is freedom necessary for a Christian?

Question: How much time did Jesus devote to fighting the oppressive laws of His day?

Final question: Could Satan use our wrong thinking about freedom to divide us? Would he do that?

Why the World Hates Christians

I'm not suggesting we as Christians do nothing to stand for freedom, but I think we get caught up FAR too often in sideline issues that take the focus off the Gospel. We allow our personal preferences and personal convictions to become public controversies. I do not think this is from God. I think Satan uses these things to divide us and deflect focus off the Gospel, which is the ONLY thing that will save mankind from eternal damnation. People have been oppressed and not had 'what they deserve' as far as rights for centuries. The church grew, it thrived. Why in America do we let them play us? Souls are lost every day into eternity. Do we care more about that than our personal freedoms?

When You Live in a Society

There are responsibilities when you live within a society. For example, to be educated. There are numerous ways to go about that goal being met, but I agree that people should be educated, particularly in the science field if they are going to debate scientific issues. Basic microbiology would help many debates flying around our society.

I also believe we should not be able to live in a way that brings harm to those around us. If we don't wish to comply with what that entails, we are free to live outside of society. Get some land, move to the central US. If we want to live among the majority though, we should take measures to not bring physical harm to others. Because of this, I do not think it is wrong for schools to insist children be vaccinated for the major diseases. The freedom we have is to participate or not, but when one person's freedom endangers others, measures get taken to protect the majority.

It is hard when the left is pushing something clearly for agenda reasons though. I get that. They don't care about freedom or disease, they care about controlling others. We have to refrain from knee-jerk reactions against that; reason has to rule the day. Satan uses controversial ideas to control the distracted.

It is sad we don't function as a society anymore in America on basic subjects. Everything is a debate and everyone is a self-proclaimed expert. I find it disturbingly bewildering how there is a prevalence of non-professionals thinking they can educate professionals on various issues. There is pride and ignorance permeating our culture, and as often happens, it is mostly daughters of Eve driving this. I won't debate what is medically safe and what isn't because I am not a professionally trained medical doctor, and I find it hard to take seriously lay-people educated by other lay-people. When non-professionals beat the drum of 'educate yourself', when they themselves are educated by the internet and other non-professionals, it is glaringly apparent the truly educated will be oppressed. I'm willing to consider different sides of medicine and have been helped by alternative methodologies, but you'll not find me a captive audience when the attitude is that of utter conspiracy theory against mainstream medicine. I'll also take your own success and familial health into strong consideration when deciding if you have any idea what you are talking about. If you've taken some college science courses first, then talk to me, I'll be far more willing to listen. If your sources are debatable or fringe lay-people on You Tube, forget it.

Bottom line, for Christians, when the gospel ceases to be our main focus we are at risk of being led astray or leading others astray. If the whole world agrees with our platform, yet dies and goes to Hell, has anything been won?

Satan is a divider and the true church needs to be united. All to often we are the source of the quarrels and divisions among us, NOT the outside. Yet, who will look in the mirror and humble themselves and change, admitting the reason they often find themselves in the midst of controversy is right before them?

God help us see where we are the source of the trouble and help us to change courses.