There are SO many walls dividing the hearts of people around the world. Many times it boils down to a mindset of "mine is better than yours". This attitude manifests itself in the following ways:"My Country is greater"
"My Gender is stronger"
"My Opinions are more valid"
"My House is bigger"
"My Religious views are far superior"
"My Race is better than yours"
It seems so childlike to compare & boast like this. (Remember the "My Dad is stronger than your Dad" arguments back on the school playground?) Jesus came to level the playing field and bring us together. He was NOT arrogant but humble, viewing all men AND women as equal in the eyes of God. He befriended the outcasts, the poor, the sick, the down-trodden, sinful and forgotten. Why do we still behave in ways that promote separation? 2 Corinthians 5:14-21 says, "For the love of Christ motivates us, because The One has died for ALL, therefore all have died for sin. Jesus died for ALL so those who believe do not live for themselves, but for Him who for their sake died and was raised to life. From now on, therefore, we judge no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we do not regard Him in this way any longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he becomes a new creature. The old way has passed away and the new has come! All this is from God, Who through Christ reconciled all men unto Himself; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us a message of reconciliation. Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal to all men through us. We implore you, on behalf of Christ to be reconciled to Almighty God." If God Himself does not view human-kind in varying degrees of value- can we work harder for unity, fellowship, understanding and peace?
7 comments:
men from times immemorial has always invented ways and means to make them feel superior to others. Christ's message of peace, unity and understanding does not always go down well with these people who feel threatened by the idea!. I'm going to link your post and put down my thoughts on this one.
Even with Satan, it started out that he thought he could be greater than God. We humans tend to follow his patterns because we are too often self-centered rather than God and others centered. We want to be the greatest and we want to do it our own way. And that becomes our downfall.
I was once in a very legalistic church...the pastor one Sunday went so far as to say that Christians should only socialize with other Christians.
Huh?
So much for the great commission, then...
Suffice to say, we attend a completely different church. We need to tear down the walls and remember that the church is not ours...it is Christ's!
Totally agree with that statement, Andy! Good for you!! I too was caught up in legalism. I'm still in the process of trying to get my head together. I could easily have called this blog "My Journey Out of Legalism". ;o)
For a while I thought Baptists should rule the world, but I think there is more to life than trying to push our views on other people.
true .. and we ought to know that revenge sure .. eye for an eye but forgiveness is better .. all prophets made this message very clear by their words and actions .. so you can pray to God for forgiveness but also forgive when you have the power !!
Well said, Andy!
A very good point, Nabeel!! :o)
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