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Gingham Dog & Calico Cat
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Gingham Dog & Calico Cat

  11/03/12 08:36, by , Categories: Announcements, Church Life, Politics, Theology Lived

To my brothers & sisters in Christ,

I know there are many of you who are motivated, not by fear or by hatred, but by simple heart felt conviction that God means what He says. When you are attacked and maligned as being a bigot and being filled with hatred by people who in their next breath claim tolerance as their highest moral, it can get you angry and frustrated. Understandable. At that point though, we have a choice. Too many of us have answered back in kind. We have turned those who say such things into "those people". We have too often answered with anger, with counter-attack, with defensiveness.

This should not be.

"They started it" is best left to small children. If we are indeed motivated and informed by God's Word, then let the whole Word characterize us.

"Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way. "But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. "Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either. "Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. "Treat others the same way you want them to treat you. "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. "If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. "If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount. "But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. (Luke 6:26-35)

Jesus told us we would be hated, maligned, and abused. He also told us not to be the same way. I am tired of being called names and called a hater, but I am more tired of watching Christians speak without mercy in response, of watching Christians not respond with blessing. We need not ever compromise the clear teaching of God's Word to still be loving and merciful, like Jesus, in our interaction with those who reject God's truth

 

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A look at life and ministry.

About the Author

After growing up in Maine, Ira graduated from Bible College and wandered into Western Maine and has never found his way back out. He has a deep love for the rural churches of Maine and the people who make up this great state. He loves Truth over Tradition, Christ over Culture, and People over Process. He love to equip, teach, and disciple and longs to see the Maine church grow healthy and make disciples.


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