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Courageous Conversation
May 16, 2012

Is it possible that technological advances in communication have left us unable to confront people properly? After all, employers can now send layoff notices via e-mail. And people can criticize others on Facebook and Twitter instead of talking face to face. Perhaps it might be better to put all that aside and emulate how Paul communicated with Peter when they had a disagreement.

Paul had to confront Peter for compromising grace (Gal. 2:11-16). Peter had been fellowshiping with Gentiles, but when the Judaizers arrived (who believed that sinners are saved through Jesus plus keeping the law of Moses), Peter separated himself from the Gentiles. He ostracized them while professing to be one with them. Seeing this hypocrisy, Paul, in love and with passion, confronted Peter face to face for cowering to a legalistic system that was powerless to change lives. He vigorously reminded Peter that grace leads to freedom from sin’s slavery and to obedience to God.

Having courageous conversations with fellow Christians can be difficult, but they will promote purity and unity. We can carry out our responsibility to one another to speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15) by walking in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Lord, give us courage to confront
Believers who have strayed;
And then with gentleness restore
By coming to their aid. —Sper

A well-chosen word can speak volumes.

Read: Galatians 2:11-21

When Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed. —Galatians 2:11

Bible in a Year:
Job 8-10

The many electronic technologies of today isolate us from people. We are solitary in our mind and action. Amazing how we have learned to accept this and even prefer it.

In ORWELLS book ‘1984’ ... this isolation from other people is one of the major points to which the rulers and the people have arrived.

VERY TERRIBLE really. Hopefully people will reread ‘1984’ and ‘Brave New World’, by Huxley, again. Every generation needs to understand these books. So much of what they warn us about is true today. SCARY stuff. There are other books warning us of future events that are equally ‘right on’ too. MO

People have succumbed to rules and outrageous edicts by governments since history began. The LORD attempted to dissuade Israel from wanting a KING, warning of what a KING would do to them. But God let them have a KING.

Be careful what we wish for. Let us praise and glorify God and not fall for man’s deceit.