Posted on 04/18/2021 1:14:37 AM PDT by Pilgrim's Progress
“It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment” (Proverbs 18:5).
“It is not good to accept the person of the wicked,” is a great reminder. The idea there is on a practical basis, maybe your friend is wicked. Maybe your friend caused some trouble in school and when you were asked about it you knew the truth; but you honored the person of your friend and overthrew the righteous in judgment. You allowed the righteous man to be blamed. Why? Because your buddy is the one that was the guilty party. Right? You wanted to protect your buddy. You wanted to protect your friendship with your buddy. So, it's like that only there is a lot more to it. Right?
“These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage. (Jude 1:16).
I think that is what makes Washington D.C. go around, what makes the capital of every state in the United States go round and round and round is this very thing. Right? “Having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.” The question, “What can I get out of it,” is a huge determinator in whether a man does the right things or now. We are not supposed to accept the person of the wicked. This is related to the fear of man, “the fear of man bringing a snare.” Right?
“How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?” (John 5:44)
This passage from John 5 is a great verse. It is well worth contemplating with regard to the Bible issue, to your friends that are saved but are resilient against right doctrine. Why? When you seek to find some answer to some scripture, some dilemma, such as the “Baptist brider” thing or whatever, what is it you really care about? Do you want the honor that comes from God only, and if you are the only one in the world that is right, you're willing to be the only one in the world that's right? You prefer God approval of you, or would you rather stick with your friends?
It has long been a tragedy that some of pastors are more concerned with what their pastor friends believe then what the Bible says. There are some things among some fellowships of pastors that those pastors would not budge off something no matter how many verses that were shown them to the contrary, until some of their friends budged first. Usually the unofficial bishop of the pack.
Now, you can go too far. You can become a free agent where you say that all you want to do is be right and you do not care what anybody else thinks, and mainly what you're trying to do there is just to be different and just stick out and kind of draw attention to yourself. That's not right.
“I will speak, that I may be refreshed: I will open my lips and answer. Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man” (Job 32:20-21).
What say you? God’s approval or mans? Which will you seek?
If anyone would like to be added to the ping list, please let me know either by post or by p.m.
For more books on all topics of the Bible, visit my web site at:
BAPTIST BIBLE BELIEVERS WEBSITE
God hates injustice and I am convinced that that is part of the reason this nation is coming under His judgment.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.