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Not too long ago, I had the opportunity sit down with an individual who was no longer involved in organized religion. This person had not just been an average Sunday morning attendee, but a board member who, along with his co-deacons, assisted the Pastor in ministering to the people. It did not take much prodding to get him to share what went so tragically wrong. His story is not unique. There are many individuals who have become casualties of spiritual warfare. These are good people who happened to be in the right place with a wrong attitude. I know there are some who will read this article with a quick resolve to discredit any premise that would challenge their misunderstanding.
If we all could just step back from conflicting issues and take a deep breath. If we could look at negative situations with the attitude that God is allowing the fire in our life to provide a period of refining. If we could look at turning our cheek instead of our back, we might learn a little more about being a true disciple. If we could learn to count up to 490, we might learn with Peter the true principle of forgiving. (See Mt. 18:21, 22) If we could learn to be a conscientious objector, we could be the peacemaker God has called us to be. If we could learn how to wear the full armor of God, we would never run away from a conflict. Jesus preached that if we hear and obey His Word, our life will be like a house build upon a rock. No matter what is blown our way, we will never be moved.
There are many Christians who have walked away from situations that conflicted with their weaker moments. When conflicts interweave with a spiritually idle mind, there will be human responses that generate exaggerated responses. Whenever we respond to carnal or misunderstood accusations by counter actions that are based on our feelings and emotions, we have fallen into Satan’s snare. We all share responsibility for how things sometimes get out of hand. No one is without sin. The problem is that it is always the other guy that started it. Well, if he truly did, then we need to end it. We must stop wearing our feelings on our ear! If somebody hurts us with words and deeds, we need to bring healing with our words and deeds. If somebody hates you, we need to learn to love them. If somebody spreads lies about you, we need to love them all the more. Much of the hurt in the Church today is brought about by weak Christians who do not understand God’s Word. Instead of leaving the Body of Believers, we need to see the opportunity to bring the Gospel to those within the Body. Africa can wait; Asia will be still be there. We need to look within the Church; the field is ripe for harvest! I know there are people within the Church that are enemies of Christ and are there for the dividing of the Church. Those people need to be removed. (See Titus 1) But the harvest I am talking about is the spiritually blind that need to see the light of the Gospel, those who have the vocabulary, but don’t understand the words.
If you have been hurt and have left your position within the Church, its time to get back! God is not done with you yet. If you have been self inflicted by your reception of the hostility of others, receive your healing. If you let your spiritual guard down, restore the perimeter. Weakness comes from fasting the Word; strength comes from feasting on the Word. It is time for all Christians to “man up” and be the person God has called us to be! Remember, “I AM” said, “You are,” so no more excuses!
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