No Bitter Aftertaste

I’m not afraid of government overreach as much as I’m afraid of citizens mutual intolerance of each other. I’m not afraid of a virus as much as I’m afraid of the anger that is growing between those who hold different perspectives. I’m not as afraid that we need to fight for a right to worship in church buildings, as much as I’m afraid that as Christians we need to be reminded that we ourselves are the living stones of the church.  I am afraid of the loss of love and patience and kindness that I see. 

Ephesians 4: 29-32

29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

In recent comments of those taking a political stand, I’ve been reduced to, “a mindless sheep, someone who doesn’t care about the loss of my freedom, a fearful undevoted Christian, a racist, someone using fear tactics, and someone spreading lies from the deep state.” These comments have come from those I align with politically and those I don’t align with politically. It seems to be, that if we don’t agree in exactly the manner we are supposed to navigate these insane world situations we find ourselves in, that we reduce the value of those souls who don’t align with our own views of self righteousness. That is exactly opposite of what Christ did. 

Hebrews 12: 14-15

14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

We as Christians are, “defiled,” by any root of bitterness. We must actively seek peace. I must hold the value of another soul at the same level as my own soul. I must allow others the free will to navigate, just as God has given me. I must long suffer, and seek not my own. I dare not be so proud as to believe my own perspectives lift me above my God given commandment to first love my neighbor as myself.

James 1: 26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.

This is not an easy post for me to write. It’s sharp, but it’s only painful when I find myself on the wrong end of the sword of truth. Pain in my heart threatens to rise into anger at times and I need the word of God to bring me back to humility and the remembrance that He is the one who judges the hearts. I need the word of God to rid me of iniquity, purify me and lead me to a more righteous walk. I need to be chastised and purified when my heart begins to harden, and my words begin to taste of bitterness. 

James 3: 5-18 

5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:

8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?

12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

The fruit of righteousness is not bitter. If I possess the fruit of the spirit, I have love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance: against such there is no law. (Galatians 22-23.)  Jesus had every reason to grow bitter. He had the most righteous and infallible perspective of us all, and yet when He calls us sheep, it is to show His love and protection over us and gently remind us that we wander easily into dangerous places when we are not led. We are all His sheep and I am more than okay with that. We shouldn’t look to each other to lead the way, we must look to the shepherd.

Matthew 12: 34-37

34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

I pray my words at the last day will reflect a passionate love for Jesus over a passionate love of myself and my own opinion, a love of all of God’s children, a commitment to what is right, humility and true repentance for my sin, and a confession of my faith and hope in God, His son, and the Holy Spirit. God bless you each. I pray for you, and I love you.