Why Division?

Recently I read an article regarding love and hate.  It was written by a blogger who is also a  journalist. The beginning of the article sounded great because it addressed the hate mongering and division that is going on all over social media. As I got deeper and deeper into the article, the goal of the article turned out hugely deceptive.  The article could not hide how the author really thinks and I was struck by his logic, deception and hate-mongering that he just quite couldn't hide.

There is a huge fight going on for the soul of America (actually it is nothing new). What has caused this dark divide in our culture? As I said, it has been going on for quite a while, and there are many manifestations now visible as people have made 'snark' the ultimate tool of what they call truth.

The question of what is at the bottom of all this divide actually is truth. There is truth and non-truth  and they are at odds with each other. There is only one body of truth and that lies at the feet of Almighty God, the creator of the universe.  God is love that is so simple and obvious when we just look around us and see the wonderful blessings that God has provided for us. I have mentioned this over and over in my blog maybe because it is an extension of my thankfulness for all God has done for us just in the creation alone.

My most recent excursion in this topic has been in to the realm of immunology. God has designed and given us such resources in how he designed the human body. Our immune system is just one of them. Even with the abuse that man puts the body through, there are layers and layers of built -in resources to help us out from external attack. It is amazing!!

The truth is God loves us.  He even gave his Son for the very purpose of lifting the guilt, shame and fear off our hearts so that we can live without being burdened down with oppressive mental weight. Guilt, shame and oppression are at the root of what divides us. How we feel about ourselves will determine how we love. Untruth believes in its own love. Therein lies the divide. God defines love, our works don't however wonderful they are.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing.3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profiteth me nothing.
4 Love has a long fuse , and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.8 love never faileth: I Corinthians13:1-8a KJV modified

There is a reason why this thirteenth chapter in Corinthians is sandwiched between chapters twelve and fourteen Together they teach about the gift of holy spirit that we have and can utilize. The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts throughout our spirit and it is something that cannot be hidden from view when we let it shine. Allowing God to work in us changes us from noisy gongs to rich melodies resounding throughout our world.

An Act of God?

Recently a state governor  reported on the corona virus progress in his state, and he made a statement that could cause a lot of confusion in people's minds. He said that it wasn't an 'Act of God' that we have flattened the curve; we have done that, not God. On the one hand, this could reflect thinking that we don't need God. On the other hand, it could mean God expects us to trust him to help us get through it and act without fear to handle situations that come up.

There are others who call the pandemic an "Act of God"; that God is displeased with us because of the moral degradation present in the world today.  Some say God is punishing us and some say he is waking us up. Others word it as "he is testing us". How many of us would take our children out to the curb, let go and see if they would run into the street?

In answer to all of these thoughts, I know that we are exposed to good and evil everyday (goes way back to Genesis 3). God is good always.There is no question in my mind that there isn't anything about him that is dark and sinister! Pandemic outcomes of isolation, not being able to hug and kiss our grandkids, keeping us from work, the wearing of masks and constant washing of the hands, just to mention a few things, is not what God envisioned for his creation. There is evil at the bottom of this, but God's sole desire is to help us rise up out of the clutches of fear, and, with his inspiration, stand boldly to defeat the attack on our lives.

God caused the sun to rise and set everyday in a 24 hour cycle and as someone near and dear to me said "I just take everyday, one at a time."  Yes! Our lives are meant to be lived in 24 hour units.

31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Matthew 6:31-34

So are we to freeze up in the 24 hour period? Not at all.

There is so much to do and it may not be the same as we are accustomed to but there are great blessings to be had and different things to learn and see during this time. I have seen some amazing things going on in my community and among my friends and relatives. Maybe we have decided to change up  what we do, what we enjoy and how we think a bit . God designed our brain and he didn't design it so he could control our very thoughts and actions. He didn't design our ruts. He made our brains so we could think things through.  He has made it abundantly clear throughout creation that he will help any one who comes to him. He gave us his son who faced all the bloodhounds of hell straight on so that we might have life and have it more abundantly. The Apostle Paul wrote:

11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 

13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:11-13

This is the Act of God! This is a great time to think bigger!

Condemnation ~ "NOT!"

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans 8:1

The 'no' in the verse above is a strong 'no' as compared to other Greek words for 'no'. It is a 'No' with a capital 'N'. (I love the old Greek language, it is so specific and logical!) This is like the English expression that has become popular that makes a statement and ends it with "NOT!" to show absolute negation.

Romans 8 is declaring a big 'No condemnation' headline for a chapter in Romans that is chocked full of goodies! Condemnation became totally defunct through the amazing life of Jesus Christ. Condemnation by definition refers to a sentence handed down after a being declared guilty. We are all guilty. In the previous chapter of Romans the great apostle Paul talked about how frustrated he was with his own life in this category. But! thank God he had learned in life how God had relieved him of the guilty irreversible sentence he thought he so deserved by making Jesus his Lord. We are all guilty of not doing things the way they should be done, and those who truly understand what Jesus Christ was and is all about know that God doesn't penalize those who love and commit themselves to him.

It took me a long time to understand the whole deal about what Jesus Christ is to our lives. I remember going into church as a child and seeing Jesus on the cross and then thinking I had done that to him. This was especially true when I was first learning about sin so that I could make my first confession. I also remember going to a church that also had a cross up front, but no Jesus. That was not as scary.

The cross represents what Jesus Christ did for us not what we did to him. What did he do for us? He freed us from the penalty of sin. He freed us from condemnation. Paul continues in Romas 8 to share what he learned;

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:2

Who wants to walk around with sin and death hanging over our heads? We have no sentence of condemnation when we walk in the spirit of life in Christ Jesus. (Whenever Christ comes first in his title, it refers to the the Messianic benefits of his life.) We have the spirit of life in all of its fullness when we focus on what God has done through his son.  He is our example. Jesus was a man with passions like our own. He proved to the world that walking with God is the absolute way to go! Paul knew the reality of that freedom and we have the privilege and choice today.

Paul manifested this same life in Christ Jesus to people as he lived in its freedom. We can do it today. As believers we have the spirit of God dwelling in us:

But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Romans 8:11

Our life in the fleshy carnal world doesn't do anything for us.  It is like a lead weight dragging us down under the pull of pressure and restlessness. We can shed anger, resentment, un-forgiveness  and other negative passions like we do a coat because we have a the passion of God inside our hearts to love when we walk in with his spirit.