Have often . . . and, .30Carbine's precious posts just above notwithstanding . . . still . . .
struggle with discerning Holy Spirit's application in my life . . .
of the contrast of Christ's behavior, tone, statements, spirit, attitude toward
1) the masses
2) the hurting
3) the religious rulers
They were all Christ--authentic, potent, anointed, fitting, piercing in various ways.
Some were piercing with compassion, empathy, Love personified; Father-Love tangibly body-slamming with the fierce forcefulness of GOD PRESENT in the situation in power, might and liquid eternal Resurrection Love.
Other moments, words, actions were piercing with forceful TRUTH ruthlessly, brazenly searing to the bone marrow with the smell of burnt marrow.
Both, actually, were LOVE. Truth in Love.
Many of the pharisees had evidently no chance given their willful blindness and stubborn idolatry of their own constructions on spiritual reality--no chance for eternal life because they persistently determined to maintain their death grip on their own constructions on reality.
But IF they were to have a chance . . . it had to be along the lines of accepting the body slams of truth that Jesus hurled at them with fierce forcefulness.
It was clearly not going to be along the lines of gentle discourse.
Therefore what, I don't know. Has been a persistent conundrum, challenge to me for most of my near 60 years.
I just know that both are God and both are Love. And I know that they are two sides of the same coin. And, IF I am not as willing to be used of Holy Spirit in one way as the other . . . I may miss what HE WISHES TO DO in a given situation.
St Paul demonstrated the same TRUTH IN LOVE LOVE OF JESUS though, of course, with his personality. There is the fierceness of the heavy sacrificial love of I Cor 13. Then there's the fierceness of him telling various congregations how to handle serious errors, attitudes, spirits, junk.
Therefore what, hereon, I don't know. Has been a troubling ponder every month I've been on FR for many years--since near the beginning minus absenses.
Thankfully, JimRob has given guidelines which SHOULD provide abundant clear guidance, boundaries, motivation to demonstrate Christ to a hurting world and diverse brothers and sisters way above average.
Yet, the result, day in and day out is a religion forum more fiercely hostile to God--His ways and priorities--as well as to man and particularly other believers--than about any on the net. This OUGHT NOT TO BE.
Mercifully, God has answered a lot of prayers and granted us an RM who has incredible wisdom, fairness, balance, discernment, True Spiritual maturity, tirelessness, . . . who labors uncommonly in the love and anointing of God. And it has made a tremendous difference for the better.
Nevertheless, the horrors continue. Always "for righteousness," "for the Gospel," etc. Gag me with a Scriptural filthy rag of our own works of righteousness.
I have no brilliant and certainly no startlingly anointed solutions.
.30Carbine has given us a marevelous, anointed new/old challenge which could help. Wish I weren't so skeptical.
The only thing I know that seems to have a chance is prayer and God intervening in the lives of sufficient individuals toward His passion for His priorities such that we see a change hereon.
I THINK THAT'S WELL WORTH A LOT OF PRAYER FOR.
I have been praying for God to impart to all fittingly needing a greater such imparting . . . God's search light's vivid illustration, demonstration, vision of folks own hearts as well as Rick Warren, Joel Osteen's etc. hearts.
When God does that sufficiently, there is NO REBUTTLE. None. Absolutely none. All the stones fall to the ground and all the religious rulers walk away from the prostitute realizing that they are as bad or worse. ALL.
Jesus says, (Luke 7:35, Young's Literal)
'...and the wisdom was justified from all her children.'or the NIV
"But wisdom is proved right by all her children." .
Thank you for your beautiful testimony and exhortations!