TGIF
“How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind,but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.”
(James 3:5–10 ESV)
I was on one of my infrequent passes through the land of cursing those made in the likeness of God, also known as Facebook.
One of my Facebook “friends” (who doesn’t like me at all) was joining in the popular chorus railing on undocumented migrants.
“Wetbacks” was the term he used.
Evidently, one of the ways some are making America great again is through the renewed use of ethnic slurs.
I could’ve been shocked, but nothing shocks me any more when it comes to how we use our tongues, or how our tongues express themselves through our communications.
Other friends (some who like me, and some who don’t) spend large chunks of their days posting curses against those who disagree with them politically.
Christians are upholding the faith once delivered by creating labels for people they don’t want to share space with that don’t contain profanity, but in reality are as profane as hell.
They are “godless” or “enemies of God” therefore anything goes, unless you cuss.
We’re too holy to cuss, but not to curse.
The world, the flesh, and the devil have conspired again to make Christianity and Christians less than they are.
They have sold us the lie that “those people” were not created in the image of God, that they are the work of Satan and they deserve whatever scorn we heap on them.
We demand the upholding of our sexual and social ethics by violating biblical ethics taught in passages we’d rather avoid.
Passages like this…
Brothers (and sisters), these things ought not to be so.
You can’t spread evil and poison mixed with the Gospel…the poison will kill both the Gospel and the hearer…and you.
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.”
(Proverbs 18:21 ESV)
Our “enemies” are people created in the image of God, people Christ died for.
Our job isn’t to make America great again, but to represent the kingdom of God and our King and His greatness.
We need to repent.
I’ll go first…
You should see some of the stuff I’ve deleted.
Make your own application…
“We’re too holy to cuss, but not to curse.” you said a mouthful… maybe we should all be tattooed with that 🙂
i blame our population less for the immigration mess than i do our convoluted and distorted government – rules and regulations and regulations to regulate the rules and regulations until nothing works for anyone…
Not being on Facebook has not made me immune to the bad tongue.
Dan,
I hear you…
I taught on this last week in church and needed to share the conviction with others so I didn’t feel lonely… 🙂
Taking a break from FB and the news in general has been a healthy choice for me. People become people rather than a walking opinion we get irritated with. Thanks for the good word.
I used my position as a teacher in a public school to address the same issue this week in my classes using and essay, a worksheet, and a follow-up discussion. I didn’t have to point fingers, blame anyone, or paint someone an unflattering color. I say this to state one must do more than disengage, but to engage for the good. Our light under a bushel still burns, but it doesn’t enlighten anyone else…
“They are “godless” or “enemies of God” therefore anything goes, unless you cuss.”
You forgot the worse one of all… “liberal”.
Duane,
I thought about adding it, but to be fair, my guess is that our liberal brethren are doing the same.
As a liberal, I know that I’m sorely tempted to join the fray myself…and I have an earned doctorate in cussing. 🙂
Regarding the word “liberal” used in the church, I always found it sad that that word causes just about more angst than any other word used (George Carlins 7 words included).
Lent starts Monday and it’s about more than eating a skimpy vegan diet for 50 days, it’s about loving people. I am terribly afraid that might include a yellow-headed politician I am not too fond of….. Welp, with God, all things are possible.
On FB, I am going to narrow my feed down to my immediate family.
And good-bye Twitter for the duration.
I’ll stay on the PhxP because after all these years, you guys are more than internet characters, you are real people to me, very dear, not people I can set aside for 7 weeks.
But saddest of all, I uninstalled Lord of the Rings Online where my Elf has almost leveled out.
Oh, the sufferings I shall endure!
I don’t even know when western Easter is this year. (vs Eastern Easter, or, as I like to say, Weaster vs Greester). If we observed Ash Wednesday, which we don’t, it would have been 2 days ago.
Xenia,
I am so very glad you’re staying on here…
Lent for the West starts on Wednesday…
#7/#8
I find it fascinating that the term “liberal” creates such a reaction. My tendency is to follow the old Anglo-Catholics – conservative theology allied to liberal social views. To me it seems wholly natural. Most fellow Christians, however, want you to be one or the other:
liberal theology with liberal social views, or conservative theology with conservative social views. As a result, you get it from both “sides”… very strange…
“conservative theology allied to liberal social views”
Yes!
Sola Fide, only faith.
Faith through grace from God.
“I have been saved; I am being saved, and God willing, I will be saved.”
(Orthodox writers perseverance statement.)
Paul writes to Titus, ” Not by works of righteousness that we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us by the washing of regeneration and by renewing of the Holy Spirit.”
Titus 3:5
“All our righteousness is as filthy rags,” Isaiah the prophet says, as though anticipating Paul.
We are all no better than the Facebook irritants, we like sheep have all gone astray, we’ve all gone our own way.
But the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
He bore our sins…
As long as we are receiving our just sentence, let us despair further:
“But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.”
Matthew 15:18 ESV
Surfer,
It blesses me greatly to see you back here and commenting.
Surfer,
How are you feeling?
Thanks Jean.
Michael I am feeling well.
Even though the oncologist tells me that I am “stage four” as far as he is concerned when speaking about the cancer.
I have had a living hell going to all the places and getting all of the test and feeling like a pin cushion.
I thought of you while at the cardiologist.
I like you will live day to day remaining in a position of trust that all is well in God’s hands.
The western medical doctors are all pushing chemotherapy with no guarantees that I would live any longer as a result than I would without the treatment.
My wife and I see a medical doctor who understands that there are other ways to go.
Through a radical diet change and several natural protocols many have beat cancer without needing chemo.
But the best treatment I have been blessed with is the prayers of the saints.
i love that the Body of Christ is so responsive in support and prayer, what a great family to be in!
Lord, have mercy.
Surfer,
David, we love you…you’ve been part of the family here for a long time and we pray that you will be for a long time to come.
Our beloved friend Paige is celebrating her birthday today…she beat cancer through natural means a few years ago.
Her prognosis was dire as well.
May God give you the wisdom and the strength and the resources to battle this and win.
amen to Michael’s #20…
BTW
if i don’t post until after June 4th, it doesn’t mean that i’m not praying for the PhxP family, or that i died and didn’t tell you 🙂 just that i’m occupied (mentally) elsewhere this spring – maybe God will raise up another pew sitter to give feedback from the hall, eh?
Em,
If you hadn’t said anything I would have been scared to death…hopefully you’ll still find some time to check in…
Surfer51, david, still praying for you my friend.
Surfer,
Good to see you! May God bless you with many more days filled with great waves to ride.
Captain kevin, still praying for you as well dear friend.
Em i will be missing you sweet lady
Michael,
What a great word! My toes are thoroughly bruised. Sadly, I have a childhood friend who unfriended me on FB for my conservative views. This was after referring to me and some of my friends as scum of the earth along with other names I wouldn’t repeat here. I appealed on the basis of an almost lifelong friendship and that I not only respected him for holding well-reasoned views but that we had much more in common than not. He would have none of it. I grieve over a lost friendship as well as my part in the destruction.
Still praying for you big brother
I have a dear friend who was just diagnosed on Valentine’s day with inoperable Stage 4 glioblastoma (brain cancer). She is 44. I’m so sorry you are going through this too, Surfer. My friend is exploring a mix of treatments too but just doesn’t know where to start. Paige, I’m so glad your natural treatments worked so well for you. God bless.
Dearest Dusty,
Thank you so very much!! In addition to the above situation, I’m sicker right now than I have been in a long time. Strep, sinus infection, inflamed ear canal, and the pain that comes when the fibromyalgia flares up in response.
Amen Michael. Learned some hard lessons in this area, but thankful for God’s mercy.
The tongue is powerful, capable of building up or tearing down. I’m focused on building up the Kingdom with word and deed, and in process on the political issues LOL.
As you have said and advised often, “speak so you can be heard”.
Thank you, Dusty. 🙂
CK, Alex…good stuff.
Thank you all for being here…
Thanks everyone!
Paige Happy Birthday.
Mine is this Sunday.
Happy birthday dear paige! Hope you had a lovely day
Facebook has become a stomping ground for rage and anger.
It’s a bit hard to see people who were seemingly kind, and aware, turn into monsters.
Any form of discourse with certain people is impossible. I never thought I’d lose friends over politics. And, this, in fact, is the first time in my life I have had people see fit to rake me over the coals, and tell me that I’m a fool for believing what I believe, and then quit communicating with me.
Surfer, here’s to the best for you.
Captain kevin, I’m so sorry you lost your long time friend. 🙁
Will be praying still for your health. And that your friends heart is softed toward you.
Duane Arnold (#12), you are right that it is fascinating. My frustration stems from the fact that some people just can’t seem to see past politics and think that to be a good Christian you have to be conservative theologically AND politically/socially, like you said. It has become almost comical that some people’s blood boils when so much as the word “liberal” arises. To them, Satan is not the enemy, but Democrats/liberals are the real enemy.
Anyways, to give myself a pat on the back in all this, long time ago I made up my mind to to dismiss someone and refuse a possible relationship because of their politics, unless they act like a total tool – meaning, their guy can’t do wrong, and the other guy can’t do right.
Ooops, typo in comment 38…meant to say “not to dismiss someone…” Thanks for your understanding!!!!
#s 22 & 26… thank you, but i’ll be tracking you all from time to time and praying – just not posting – unlike so many here, when i have too many irons in the fire, i don’t edit my thots well… and i am capable of hurting some feelings here, or at least insulting some, if i shoot from the hip
Michael – well written and I agree.
#4Joel – I too am taking a FB break…deactivated my account and deleted all other social media. I feel way less stressed.
DavidH – good words @ #36.
Surfer51 – joining in prayer…Amen to Michael’s #20.
Em – you will be missed.
Lurkie Lou – praying tonight for your friend.