[i]He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches ...
Finding once again the great paradox and tension, wishing to be silent while compelled to speak. To fend off any wrong perception of the above text, might it be said;
[i]What saith the Spirit unto the churches
[b]A shrinking from self examination
An old quote came to mind and a search to be sure I reproduced it accurately brought forth something analogous;
[i]Nearly a century ago G. K. Chesterton asked "what's wrong with the world?" His answers included the usual suspects among the universal "isms," especially socialism, feminism, capitalism, and imperialism. But his first and last answer was always the same: "I am."
This was the quote I was looking for, but the analogy was further on;
[i]At present, the greatest problem is the citizen in the clutches of political power. . . .
To think of everything as political, to conceal everything by using this word (with intellectuals taking the cue from Plato and several others), to place everything in the hands of the state, to appeal to the state in all circumstances, to subordinate the problems of the individual to those of the group, to believe that political affairs are on everybody's level and everybody is qualified to deal with them--these factors characterize the politicization of modern man and, as such, comprise a myth.
http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/06/06/180802.php
Granted this is taken from a blog which is a review of a review of a book ironically entitled; [i]God's Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It
It goes on,
[i]... it is an illusion to think you can use politics to limit politics. I suppose it's like trying to stop a big snowball by throwing little snowballs at it.
And ...
[i]Both Falwell and Wallis are ministers who proclaim a message that transcends politics. Maybe they need to do a better job of reminding their constituents that the greatest problems in the world are in their hearts, not in the Democratic (if you are Jerry Falwell) or Republican (if you are Jim Wallis) political parties. And maybe they could remind their constituents that the ultimate solutions to these problems aren't found in the statehouse or in Washington DC.
The analogy would be to draw the political more closely to the spiritual and to the discussions here in this forum. As it has been rightly mentioned time and again here, 'tone' is something difficult often times to discern and we can get quite combative over misunderstandings just as often as we can can get caught up in right motivations taken too far, poorly expressed or otherwise misconstrued. To begin pressing into heart matters, to draw out what is at the root of things, [i]what's back of it
[b]Mirrors, planks and specks
Have been of a mind for quite awhile now to try and recognize that everything in some form or fashion is as if beholding a mirror. Here, in this forum of fellowship, it is as if writing unto a mirror or speaking to a resounding wall, it comes back in reflection or in sound reverberations. First and foremost the question must begin with the equivalent; "[i] Is it I[i][u]You[i]"what's wrong with the world?"
If we know well enough the admonition ...
[i]For with the judgment you use, you will be judged. And with the measure you use, you will be measured. "Why do you see the speck in your brother's eye but fail to notice the beam in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when the beam is in your own eye? You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you will see clearly enough to remove the speck from your brother's eye."
... there is a 'then' in there which means we are going to need to accept the fact that someone else is both going to notice as well as attempt to remove the speck from [i]our
[b]Combatants
This word seems to be one that might often describe us. To reiterate the earlier out take ...
[i]To think of everything as political, to conceal everything by using this word (with intellectuals taking the cue from Plato and several others), to place everything in the hands of the state, to appeal to the state in all circumstances, to subordinate the problems of the individual to those of the group, to believe that political affairs are on everybody's level and everybody is qualified to deal with them--these factors characterize the politicization of modern man and, as such, comprise a myth.
How much of this is equally attributable to our discussions? Some of us can be quite dogmatic about things we suppose and things we really don't have a handle on. I have fallen into this trap, talking beyond my understanding. Our accusations can be quite wrong headed, even if they are accurate. Whether it's an individual, the Church, the 'heathen', what have you.
I am speaking of the Spirit by which we are measuring all things.
[i]But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Think we may be want to level this as only a charge towards the unbelieving, forgetting just where our own folly is centered.
[i]Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
[i]For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
And the combative nature is perfectly expressed by Paul;
[i]For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
There is something else that I feel there is a great resistance to, that has to be explained away or modified or contrived or 'balanced' or rationalized, but is still commanded and demanded of us spiritually;
[i]For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
[i]Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
The Lords desire for unity of His Church. To be One as He is One. So many exhortations, but ... but, is this not often the reflex, the retort? [i]But
Somehow there has to be a true self leveling of the playing field amongst ourselves.
[i]For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
The interrogation and serious contemplation of Paul's words;
[i]Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
"Let love be without [u]dissimulation
"continuing [u]instant
"Be of the [u]same mind
[i]Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate
To feed this one alone back into the mirror of contemplation, align it with the planks and specks, find the humility at the base of it.
[b]What's missing?
Prayer. Something that there is just no escaping. There can never, ever be enough written, expressed, retraced. It cannot be said enough, it cannot be practiced enough, it cannot be repeated enough. Our failure starts right here because we will not tarry long with the Lord in prayer. I am living proof of this if it needs any more exhortation. Every folly, every misspoken word can in some measure have at it's root a lack of prayerfulness.
Wrong dependence. What I observe first in myself and then amongst ourselves often is the lack of the Holy Spirit's involvement and more so the evidence of His Presence. As derided and abused as the word has become, there is still the anointing, that which always finds agreement. If our rationale, our compulsions, our emotions, whatever thing has gotten under our skin is in the moment overshadowing then this is conspicuous by His absence. Hard things, difficult things, things that need to be said, ought to be said, if we continue to rely on our measuring ourselves by ourselves we will only further continue to be not wise.
How often is our concern really a mask for anger? And the inverse, our true concern expressed in denouncing, in bitterness, in pride, in controversy and suspicion, in conspiracy and contention? We see it in everything from open air preaching to condemning the heathen to misappropriating each other. It is the Holy Spirit who convicts and far better than any single one of us who will not relinquish this control.
What is it if we are truly honest that registers in our heart? When we hear the truth spoken even in these cracked vessels? We know the thing is true even if we chaff at it, cannot express it adequately. It may be just out of our reach in our intellect, it may cause a revolt of the natural, [i]amen
It just seems to me that if we would truly lose ourselves in experiential humility, in the real sense of dying to our opinion as much as all of our proclivities, that our combative offenses and defenses would also drop their weapons. The suspicions would cease and the dialouge could still be edgy, difficult even, but with no more self concern other than to learn and grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord. Perhaps then we could facilitate ...
[i] Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Lastly. Contemplation, thinking, musing, waiting. How often are we just frankly missing the point? And what more could be the attributable cause than the pace that we can digest deep spiritual truths? This site is so well stocked with resources that can be absorbed, [i]making disciples[i]Go[i]to see if they are so
Briefly, I fear we have the wrong fear ... of each other. That we are apt to lose what character ought to be inwrought because of the susceptibility of ruling emotions over spiritual resiliency. The strength of weakness is in knowing and understanding what we are and [i]Whose[i]changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
[i]For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
And so for us as well.
[i]For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
A need for spiritual fortitude, that has no quit in it, no despondency and doesn't parade itself in forms of pride when the suffering is taken patiently. There ought not be any fear whatsoever of being challenged by each other with all these things in mind. It is to our good and God's Glory if we can but accept it.
[i]But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.