Faith Unto Discomfort?

 Faith Unto Discomfort?

 

“If we compare what we read in the New Testament of the personal cost to be a disciple of Christ, and then read in history books of the many persecutions of Christians who made that commitment of a renunciation of all things worldly, I think we probably need to admit that the standard we have set for ourselves is pretty low and we can do much better. And it seems to me that what we all ought to strive for as our goal is the faith unto death exhibited by Shadrakh, Meshakh and Abednego, instead of the faith unto discomfort that has replaced it for the most part. We need to have a faith that is so humble, full of love, and imbedded in us that it will brook no compromise and accept no rule of man that clearly conflicts with what God has clearly laid out in His laws and commandments.” Torah Lessons.

 

Some of the things that Tom Bradford mentioned included gay marriage, abortion, and fornication. It seems to me that most of us simply avoid confronting anyone about these issues. We don’t attend the marriage; we might behave like abortion might be acceptable, or we might blow off the idea that living together outside of marriage is not fornication since the person only has ONE partner. It IS a different world with different standards today, but those do not reflect God’s standards or His laws.

 

How does a person continue to love others who are obviously not obeying God’s laws. In my mind, we LOVE them first before everything else. The Jews during the days when Christ walked among them were so judgmental of Him because he accepted the tax men, the former prostitutes, and the ones who drank—probably to excess? The problem with the Jews’ attitude was that they condemned Jesus because of His associations. They had no idea what His relationships were really like with these people. The Jews condemned Christ because He did not condemn these people the way the Jews thought He should. It is terribly easy to be judgmental—then and now.

 

Most of us have read the story of the young man who showed up for church services with tattered jeans, a torn shirt, tattoos, and piercings. With no place to sit in the pews, he sat in the aisle in the church. An old deacon came down the aisle, and many a head nodded to see him walk toward the young man while assuming he would remove him. But how many were surprised to see the old deacon get down on his knees and join the young man on the floor?

 

If the old woman fails to understand or appreciate the ways of this world and how things have changed, at least perhaps like the old deacon, my actions will express love before all else.

 

My friend Judie B. has surgery Monday. Shona and Albert’s daughter Toni will be having a C-section Monday. My sister-in-law is having to adapt to having an oxygen machine on her almost non-stop. Kim R’s husband is recovering from spinal surgery. Let us pray for these and others who are trying to heal.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.