YOU AND ME GOD, AGAINST THE WORLD (Russ Lawson, Messages From The Heart)

Have you ever felt like the whole world is against you? Sometimes it feels that way doesn't it. Even if you are right and know you are right, the world often is really not interested in what is right, they only want what they want anyway.

This little story kind of puts things in perspective.

A preacher had been having trouble with his congregation. It seemed they could agree upon nothing, and controversy filled the air until meeting on Sunday itself, became an area of conflict, and unhappiness filled the church. The leaders of the congregation organized a meeting of 10 elders and the preacher. They met in the conference room, sitting about a magnificent mahogany table. One by one the issues were dealt with and on each issue it became more and more apparent that the preacher was a lonely voice in the wilderness.

The leader of the meeting said, "Come, Preacher, enough of this. Let us vote and allow the majority to rule." He passed out the slips of paper, and each man made his mark. The slips were collected and the president said, "You may examine them, Preacher. It is 11 to one against you. We have the majority."

Whereupon the preacher rose to his feet, "So", he said, "You now think because of the vote that you are right and I am wrong. Well, I stand here, and he raised his arms impressively, and call upon our Holy God to give us a sign that I am right and you are wrong."

Suddenly, there came a frightful crack of thunder and a brilliant flash of lightning that struck the mahogany table and cracked it in two. The room was filled with smoke and the elders were hurled to the floor.

But the preacher was untouched, his eyes flashing and a grim smile on his face.
Slowly, the speaker for the elders lifted himself above what was left of the table. His hair was singed, his glasses were hanging from one ear, and his clothing was in disarray. He said, "All right, 11 to two. We still have the majority."

I'm reminded of the words of the apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 4:15-18 writing about a man named Alexander. He wrote to Timothy: "You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message. At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen."

Paul said, he stood all alone for the truth of God's word, but he also understood that "the Lord stood" at his side. I can promise you (from experience) that at times, if you stand for truth, for purity, for righteousness, at times it will seem that you stand all alone. Never forget that God is with you always.

Christian Escapism on Social Media

One of the things I have learnt on Social Media (being quite active as I am, actually I live online ) is that we as Christians love our comfort zones very much. For example, we are very comfortable with a post that only requires a simple AMEN, SURE, GREAT, POWERFUL MESSAGE, WORD!, THANK YOU FOR THAT, WOW! etc, etc

However, anything that challenges our traditional way of Christian thinking makes us uncomfortable, we prefer to read that and quickly skip with no comment (perhaps a like). We are shy/afraid to comment on the deep profound stuff you just read from his or her wall, if it challenged you.

My brother and sister, if we want to grow, we must avoid escapism and burying our heads under the sand whenever we feel challenged by a different kind of thinking or perspective, hoping that “it will pass” and we can revert to the usual.

Even a good classroom teacher encourages students to be inquisitive, to contribute, share, and never to be afraid of what fellow students think of you. Just be sincere. An inquisitive student learns faster and more. I am not under any circumstance saying YOU MUST comment.

I love Social Media because it is such a wonderful forum where I can post something and in the process end up learning much more from your comments, rebukes, correction, guidance, etc. That is how a Christian grows. Facebook for example, is a form of “communing together” which many of us have physically sadly neglected.

Facebook, in particular offers a unique forum where you can ask a question/post something and in the midst of the myriad of answers/comments, you may get your answer. That is why I at times post provoking thoughts/opinions.

That way, you and me will not remain spiritual babes forever.

"Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly -- mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not mere men?"
(1 Corinthians 3:1-5)

“Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”; and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”
(1 Corinthians 3:18-20)