GOD-DAMNED HYPOCRITES - PART 5
THE
ROLE OF FELLOWSHIP
Those who surround themselves with sycophants are not those who serve God and are not people that God wants Christians to be around. If those people are unwilling to listen to anybody who does not tell them what they want to hear, then ultimately you will be expected to deny God in order to serve them. There are many ‘churches’ that promote such behaviour by ostracising those who would obey God rather than doing what is ‘good’ for their ‘church’. In these cases, such a ‘church’ is nothing more than a cult, and those who refuse to stop practicing such behaviours, doctrines and dogma should be avoided at all costs.
“Bad company corrupts good character” (1 Corinthians 15: 33-34) is not just a very wise observation and warning that can benefit everyone, it is specifically directed toward Christians. Every time you make the decision to do as someone demands from some misconceived notion of love, you deny Christ and enable sin. If you continue down the path of this type of ‘friendship’ then you are no better than an anti-Christian. The rewards of sin are a delusion and difficult to release. Good deeds do not lead to salvation, but rather salvation leads to good deeds. The failure to keep good company will lead to a corruption which results in a return to the utter isolation from God through sin.
There are several references to what duty applies to all male elders in positions of authority within the church, not just Ministers or Priests: do not embitter or exasperate your children by doing what is contrary to God’s will (Ephesians 6: 4 & Colossians 3: 21). What does this mean? Well, for one thing it means that those men should not, by their actions or inactions, enable younger Christians to turn away, or be turned away, from God. Although there are extreme cases of this ungodly, sick, reprehensible behaviour within the Catholic Church, the act of embitterment or exasperation is not limited to this church alone.
If, for example, you are made aware of certain activities going on within a church (ie, a group of people who claim to be Christians) that are contrary to what you know is righteous, then you must put aside any desires you have to avoid conflicts and do as God has entrusted you to do: your duty. As a Christian you are required to rebuke those who stray (Matthew 18: 15-20 & 1 Corinthians 5: 1-13), but this is rarely an easy task and inevitably becomes a minefield of problems.
What happens if they refuse to listen and nobody will support your efforts to help those at fault see the errors of their way? What if you are the only person who knows what is going on? What if you are somebody who is approached for help and there is no other evidence but the word of a single witness? How do you know who is telling the truth? What if those accused are your friends? What if you do not like the person making the accusation? What if the person being accused holds a position of authority? The answer seems very simple: Christians must pray for guidance and, when God does not answer, consult their Bible and do not let their own desires guide their actions if they are contrary.
What are
the circumstances? Has the accuser ever lied or been known to lie? Is there
even the slightest chance that what is being said may be true? Does the accuser
have reason to make false allegations and what is their agenda? How long have
you known those involved? Has the accuser or accused responded to the situation
as the Bible instructs them? Has there been a similar situation before this and
how was that matter dealt with? Put aside preconceptions and personal
loyalties. Consider Mark 4: 21-25.
How has the accused responded? Has the accused made counter-allegations to discredit the accuser? What motives might they have to deny the accusations and could they be false? People who get defensive, throw the Bible back in the face of those calling them out, or attempt to direct mistrust on others are often guilty, but at the same time they may be justified in defending themselves against false accusations. When you have the answers to these questions, then you can begin to make good decisions.
While Christians cannot be expected to judge one another, we must make judgements concerning important matters. Most of us have life experiences that have forced us to make difficult choices. The decision to choose God usually requires great hardship, but to walk the path you must avoid stepping in the defecation others leave behind, for the stench will follow you and removing it from your soul is a difficult and all too unpleasant task. Allowing corruption to remain allows it to spread. Everybody must be dealt with justly, with no favouritism, for their sake as well as our own, as Christ taught us. How we respond when sin is revealed is also important, and repentance should be encouraged and supported wherever possible.
The
purpose of fellowship is that of a support group. Fellowship is the company we
keep, and where we are supposed to return to bolster our faith where the
rigours of a non-/un-Christian world wear it away. This does not mean that Christians
should avoid the earthly world and remain safely closeted away with others of
their kind; indeed, how could they preach to non-Christians as Christ
instructed if they hid themselves away? More to the point, how would they be
able to know good from evil if they remained only in one another’s company? How
would they recognise sin? How would they avoid the corruption resulting from
such isolationist behaviours?
Though we all live in a non-/un-Christian world, Christians
must continue to set an example. They cannot afford to ‘blend-in’ and sacrifice
some of their duty for the sake of pleasing human desires, to commit a little
sin here or there to please themselves or others (in itself an act to please
ourselves) for the sake of maintaining
‘friendships’. A true friend is not someone who asks you to sacrifice the
things you believe (especially faith in God) on the basis of a claim that if
you really love them then you will do whatever they want to make them happy.
Where is the friendship in return?
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/california-pastor-celebrates-massacre-orlando-gay-club-article-1.2673335
How can a friendship exist where one person sacrifices themselves for another in return for nothing other than acceptance for obeisance to said ‘friend’? Did God sacrifice His only son, Himself in physical form, so that people could go to heaven and yet continue to satisfy their own sinful desires? No, He did not. Fellowship is the ultimate form of friendship; it is a reflection of Christ that can inspire and encourage, to love somebody enough to encourage and rebuke where it is needed, reminding a fellow Christian of their duty to God and caring enough to point out the pitfalls of sinful behaviour in advance.
Those who surround themselves with sycophants are not those who serve God and are not people that God wants Christians to be around. If those people are unwilling to listen to anybody who does not tell them what they want to hear, then ultimately you will be expected to deny God in order to serve them. There are many ‘churches’ that promote such behaviour by ostracising those who would obey God rather than doing what is ‘good’ for their ‘church’. In these cases, such a ‘church’ is nothing more than a cult, and those who refuse to stop practicing such behaviours, doctrines and dogma should be avoided at all costs.
“Bad company corrupts good character” (1 Corinthians 15: 33-34) is not just a very wise observation and warning that can benefit everyone, it is specifically directed toward Christians. Every time you make the decision to do as someone demands from some misconceived notion of love, you deny Christ and enable sin. If you continue down the path of this type of ‘friendship’ then you are no better than an anti-Christian. The rewards of sin are a delusion and difficult to release. Good deeds do not lead to salvation, but rather salvation leads to good deeds. The failure to keep good company will lead to a corruption which results in a return to the utter isolation from God through sin.
THE ROLE OF FAMILY
Jesus
made a point of claiming that those who followed Him were His family (Matthew
12: 46-50), and indicated by this act that all Christians are family to one
another. This theme is continued throughout the Bible but frequently misused to
ensure human desires are met before the will of God: “Honour your father and mother” (Matthew 15: 1-9) is too often used
to make children obey their parents, but this is not exactly what God
meant.
In this case, Christ indicated that we honour our parents by our faith in, and duty to, God. To do whatever our parents instruct even when it violates what God instructs would be hypocrisy. Further evidence of this can be found in Christ’s comments on where our loyalties must first be placed (Matthew 10: 37), and “the only father we have is God Himself” (John 8: 41). So if our family are other Christians, fellowship takes on a whole new role. As family, we must be devoted to one another and deal with our sibling rivalries, usually based in human desire, and accept our differences.
Does this mean we must simply ignore bad behaviour and remain silent to keep the peace? The answer is that our duty to one another is even more important because our father and brother are God and Jesus. What example did Jesus set for us and what do they expect us to do? Christians are expected to continue with the practice of fellowship but also to treat one another as brothers, sisters, mothers, and fathers (1 Timothy 5: 1-2) and honour them with the same love and devotion as God gave to us through Christ. However, our duty to honour our parents does not exempt them from responsibility.
In this case, Christ indicated that we honour our parents by our faith in, and duty to, God. To do whatever our parents instruct even when it violates what God instructs would be hypocrisy. Further evidence of this can be found in Christ’s comments on where our loyalties must first be placed (Matthew 10: 37), and “the only father we have is God Himself” (John 8: 41). So if our family are other Christians, fellowship takes on a whole new role. As family, we must be devoted to one another and deal with our sibling rivalries, usually based in human desire, and accept our differences.
Does this mean we must simply ignore bad behaviour and remain silent to keep the peace? The answer is that our duty to one another is even more important because our father and brother are God and Jesus. What example did Jesus set for us and what do they expect us to do? Christians are expected to continue with the practice of fellowship but also to treat one another as brothers, sisters, mothers, and fathers (1 Timothy 5: 1-2) and honour them with the same love and devotion as God gave to us through Christ. However, our duty to honour our parents does not exempt them from responsibility.
There are several references to what duty applies to all male elders in positions of authority within the church, not just Ministers or Priests: do not embitter or exasperate your children by doing what is contrary to God’s will (Ephesians 6: 4 & Colossians 3: 21). What does this mean? Well, for one thing it means that those men should not, by their actions or inactions, enable younger Christians to turn away, or be turned away, from God. Although there are extreme cases of this ungodly, sick, reprehensible behaviour within the Catholic Church, the act of embitterment or exasperation is not limited to this church alone.
If, for example, you are made aware of certain activities going on within a church (ie, a group of people who claim to be Christians) that are contrary to what you know is righteous, then you must put aside any desires you have to avoid conflicts and do as God has entrusted you to do: your duty. As a Christian you are required to rebuke those who stray (Matthew 18: 15-20 & 1 Corinthians 5: 1-13), but this is rarely an easy task and inevitably becomes a minefield of problems.
What happens if they refuse to listen and nobody will support your efforts to help those at fault see the errors of their way? What if you are the only person who knows what is going on? What if you are somebody who is approached for help and there is no other evidence but the word of a single witness? How do you know who is telling the truth? What if those accused are your friends? What if you do not like the person making the accusation? What if the person being accused holds a position of authority? The answer seems very simple: Christians must pray for guidance and, when God does not answer, consult their Bible and do not let their own desires guide their actions if they are contrary.
How has the accused responded? Has the accused made counter-allegations to discredit the accuser? What motives might they have to deny the accusations and could they be false? People who get defensive, throw the Bible back in the face of those calling them out, or attempt to direct mistrust on others are often guilty, but at the same time they may be justified in defending themselves against false accusations. When you have the answers to these questions, then you can begin to make good decisions.
While Christians cannot be expected to judge one another, we must make judgements concerning important matters. Most of us have life experiences that have forced us to make difficult choices. The decision to choose God usually requires great hardship, but to walk the path you must avoid stepping in the defecation others leave behind, for the stench will follow you and removing it from your soul is a difficult and all too unpleasant task. Allowing corruption to remain allows it to spread. Everybody must be dealt with justly, with no favouritism, for their sake as well as our own, as Christ taught us. How we respond when sin is revealed is also important, and repentance should be encouraged and supported wherever possible.
FAMILY
AND RELATIVES
The
duty of parents is to raise their children, teach them morality, ethics,
prepare them for life as adults and demonstrate obedience to the Lord
(Ephesians 6: 4, Colossians 3: 21). The example set by a child’s parents and
relatives shapes their personality for the rest of their lives. My own
childhood, adolescence and life as an adult have provided me with a greater
understanding of this – and an ability to see things with far more clarity –
than most others. Despite this, many people regard my opinion with contempt and
insist that I know nothing and should remain silent.
Some people even claim that I have broken the fifth Commandment (Exodus 20: 12), but they are wrong (Matthew 12: 46-50). In the same way, there is a difference between family and relatives. Relatives are those to whom you are related by blood, but family are those who share your beliefs and attitudes, who will work with you to accomplish things and help you when you need them. They are, most definitely, not people who brutalise you, break faith, slander and defame you for doing what is right. Family, to Christians, are those that hear and obey the teachings of Christ.
Family will not lead you astray (1 Corinthians 15: 33-34). They will encourage you to follow the teachings of Christ (Luke 6: 43-45). They will not attempt to deceive, manipulate, steal from, slander, brutalise or betray you (2 Timothy 3: 1-9). Family will not inflict an evil act upon you when you seek their help and, if they do, you should not associate with them until they repent (Mark 9: 42-50). They will not force you to conceal and enable things that are contrary to the teachings Christ (Mark 4: 21-25). They will not insult, persecute or defame you (Matthew 5: 1-12).
Some people even claim that I have broken the fifth Commandment (Exodus 20: 12), but they are wrong (Matthew 12: 46-50). In the same way, there is a difference between family and relatives. Relatives are those to whom you are related by blood, but family are those who share your beliefs and attitudes, who will work with you to accomplish things and help you when you need them. They are, most definitely, not people who brutalise you, break faith, slander and defame you for doing what is right. Family, to Christians, are those that hear and obey the teachings of Christ.
Family will not lead you astray (1 Corinthians 15: 33-34). They will encourage you to follow the teachings of Christ (Luke 6: 43-45). They will not attempt to deceive, manipulate, steal from, slander, brutalise or betray you (2 Timothy 3: 1-9). Family will not inflict an evil act upon you when you seek their help and, if they do, you should not associate with them until they repent (Mark 9: 42-50). They will not force you to conceal and enable things that are contrary to the teachings Christ (Mark 4: 21-25). They will not insult, persecute or defame you (Matthew 5: 1-12).
Relatives, unfortunately, are often
corrupted by their desires for earthly things like inheritance, more than
willing to destroy the reputations of one another and bully or deceive their
parents and grandparents to gain a greater share. Others commit vile acts and
demand the support of relatives, as well as their silence, both acts designed
to ensure they only hear what they want to hear and get what they want (2
Timothy 4: 2-5). Their
greed and lusts know no bound and they are more than willing to sacrifice one
another’s lives, hopes and dreams to satisfy their own. These people are not
family. These people are damned and will drag others down with them whenever
they can (Galatians 6: 7-10). These people, be they relatives or members of a
corrupt Church that refuse to repent, should be avoided (1 Corinthians 15:
33-34).
The advice is equally as sound when
dealing with anybody who behaves badly. If we affiliate with those whose
attitudes are unhealthy, or who go out of their way to use and mistreat us,
their treatment of us will have an adverse influence. It is all too easy to
become angry, frustrated, resentful, and embittered. And from there just a
small step to responding in kind or escalating to something worse. Admittedly,
efforts to obtain justice through appropriate authorities is a waste of time
and effort. The sad truth is that nobody in a position of authority will give a
damn about injustices unless they stand to benefit in some manner. Even family.
That’s human nature.
How many times have we heard of ‘honour killings’, the
murder of a young female by a disgusting wretch who claims it’s his right as a
male relative for some self-centred perceived slight to his ego? The belief that
her value in goats has been decreased by behaviour that misogynistic douche
finds more offensive than his own act of brutally murdering her. How often have
we been repulsed by the genital mutilation of a young girl by her sexually
deranged male relatives as they violate her under the sick and twisted belief
their vile act will prevent her becoming promiscuous, because under their rule
she has no rights of her own? We are equally horrified by the brutal murders of
young, gay males, and the joy the murderer’s take in the act.
We
shake our heads in dismay, and express our anger and outrage at this barbaric behaviour.
This is not the way family should treat those they claim to love. This is not
civilised. But while the way foreigners inflict their own warped, perverse and
depraved desires on others appals us, and we use those actions to justify a
response that demonstrates our displeasure, our own society isn’t much better.
We may not torture young gay men to death, but we discriminate against them and
let them know in no uncertain terms that they are evil, that God hates them and
they are going to burn in hell. We make damn sure they are denied the same
rights we believe we are entitled to, like marriage and fornicating with
whoever we want even if the Bible tells us adultery is a sin. Some parents even
disown their sons or daughters for being gay.
If we discover someone was born both male and female, we treat them as freaks. Some ‘Christians’ even insist that men and women were made by God, by those folk who are born both were made by Satan. They even treat the deformed with the same contempt, claiming it is a punishment for some sin they committed, or one committed by their parents. Young women are still denied equal pay, equal opportunity, and forced to suffer the discriminatory treatment of relatives and the systemic failure of authorities who, instead of helping them obtain justice when they suffer rape or domestic violence, blame them for what was done to them. How are we any better than those we hold with such contempt for mistreating others?
If we discover someone was born both male and female, we treat them as freaks. Some ‘Christians’ even insist that men and women were made by God, by those folk who are born both were made by Satan. They even treat the deformed with the same contempt, claiming it is a punishment for some sin they committed, or one committed by their parents. Young women are still denied equal pay, equal opportunity, and forced to suffer the discriminatory treatment of relatives and the systemic failure of authorities who, instead of helping them obtain justice when they suffer rape or domestic violence, blame them for what was done to them. How are we any better than those we hold with such contempt for mistreating others?
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