Christians? Or Children?

Have you ever watched your children argue about something that was meaningless? I've done this a number of times, and each time I have a broken heart. I know that whatever it is, it really isn't important, but it sure seems important to them at the time. I know they don't really mean the hurtful things they say to one another, but I also know that what they say matters to the other person, and it cuts them to the core. Children will soon forget what they are arguing about and go back to their lives and to their playing.

Christians on the other hand are not quite as resilent, they not only don't go back to their business of "playing" but they don't forget what the squabble was about. Many churches have split over such important matters as, whether or not to build a new building. Do we really need padded pews--if they were good enough for my grandmother, then the unpadded ones should be good enough for you. And heaven forbid anyone ever what to change the type of music. Why everyone knows the hymns were written by the Saints of old.

Now don't get me wrong. I'm not a fan of change myself. I like my little comfort zone, and am quite happy living my life there. But sometimes we need to forget about our own comfort and start looking at what might make others, especially those outside of the kingdom, a little more comfortable. After all, it's not about us. Does God really care about buildings? Does he worry about whether or not we use padded pews, or heaven forbid, folding chairs? As long as the songs we're singing bring honor and praise to His name he really doesn't care when they were written. I'm sure he gets just as much joy from Our God Is An Awesome God as He does Great Is Thy Faithfulness.

Over the years Christians have trampled over one another's feelings so much that it's no wonder that so many have decided to stop looking and just worship God wherever they are (be it at the lake, on the golf course, or at home in front of the television). They've been hurt so many times they can't stand to be hurt any more, so they've given up. Oh, they haven't fallen away from the Lord, but they just can't find a group of people that they can trust.

As Christians, we are to encourage one another all the more as we see the day approaching. We are to fellowship with one another. If we isolate ourselves from other Christians, it's easier for Satan to attack us, especially when we are going through tough times. Several years ago my family was being attacked by Satan to the point that I was just ready to give up, stop fighting and let him have it all. If it weren't for the fact that I went to church every Sunday and Wednesday night and got prayed for, I don't think I would have made it. And just when it seemed we were stuck in a trap and couldn't get out, that's when God spoke to me through a friend after church one Wednesday evening. He didn't promise an end to my troubles, but He told me He knew where I was, in the middle of a long, dark tunnel, but He could see the light around the corner, that I couldn't yet see.

My friends, we need to stop are arguing. Our struggles aren't with our fellow Christians, they are with the devil. If he can get us to the point that we are squabbling with one another, we are so distracted that we become ineffective. We aren't worried about our unsaved friends, family, and neighbors, no, we're worried about ourselves, our own comfort, what we want.

The next time you start to argue with a fellow christian about anything (that is not in scripture) think about it. Is it going to hurt your witness? Is it really worth tearing people to shreds? What does God think about my bickering? Does it break His Father's Heart? Think about it.

Gossip

As Christians, we know we are not to gossip. However, do we really know what gossip is. Isn’t gossip the sharing of untrue stories about someone. Exactly how far is too far when speaking about someone else. How do we know when we have crossed the line?
The word “gossip” didn’t even enter the English language until Shakespeare introduced it. If you look it up in a dictionary, you find words like tattle-tale, or someone who spreads rumors about others (whether true of false). I once had a friend who told me that anytime you talk about someone else and that person is not around, then that’s gossip. I mean really? Is that true gossip.
If my friend was correct, that would mean the mere mention of another person, even a simple question such as, “How did Edith’s surgery go, did you hear anything?” would constitute gossip. Surely this is not what God intended. So where would you draw the line?
Growing up, I always thought of gossip as when two people were talking about a third person in an unflattering and even hurtful way—saying things that weren’t even true. But could gossip hold some truths or even be total truth, not intended to hurt anyone? I honestly don’t believe so. For if we examine the scriptures we start seeing gossip more clearly.
We can all agree that gossip is negative. Gossip is spread in order to make the person sharing the “news” better about himself, as well as, the person hearing the gossip feel better about “herself” (Proverbs 18:8, 26:22). Here are some more truths about gossip. Whenever you betray someone’s confidence, you are gossiping (Proverbs 11:13, 20:19). If you know of two people who are arguing and you tell one of them something about the other that is negative, something that could be used against that person, you are gossiping (Proverbs 16:28, 26:20).
In the New Testament, we see gossip associated with such things as wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity (Romans 1:29). Gossip is also associated with quarreling (as we saw above), jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, arrogance, and disorder (2 Corinthinans 12:20). It is also associated with idleness, and being a busybody, saying things that should not be said (1 Timothy 5:13).
If you find that you have been guilty of gossip, then take time right now to repent. In the future, do your best to avoid gossip. Gossip hurts, not only the person whom you are gossiping about, and yourself, but it hurts God. Just like all sin hurts God.

Life With No Regrets

For the past several years I've heard this phrase tossed around a bit. The first time I heard it was from the lips of a friend. She announced to me that she intended on living the rest of her life without regrets. But that was before her life started spinning out of control. Her husband divorcing her, her children turning their backs on her. Even the church where she worshipped stopped existing. Surely, this woman is not still living her life without regrets.

The other day I was in a Christian bookstore and I saw the phrase again. This time as part of a title for a book. I chuckled to myself, and thought something like, yeah a life without regrets would be great, but I really don't think it's possible. Or is it? Can a person live their life totally without any regrets?

Think about that for a moment. Never again regretting anything you've said to a loved one out of anger, or frustration? Never again wishing you had taken the time to visit your mother in the nursing home the day before she died? Never again wishing you could take back the words that offended a brother or sister in Christ? Never again wishing you could relive a single moment of your life? Is it really possible to live such a life?

A few days ago I didn't think so, but I think I might have found a way that such regrets are possible to avoid. Oh yeah, your heart may still hurt, you may still suffer the consequences of your behavior or words, but yes, you can be free of all regret, with the help of Jesus.

Romans 8:1,2 tells us, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death." We can live a life without condemnation. Once Christ has set us free, we are free indeed. Free from guilt, free from regret.

I wish I could tell you that a life without regret meant never making wrong choices, never saying a hurtful word, never missing an opportunity, but that would be a lie. We are all human, we all make mistakes, many mistakes. It's what we do upon the realization of those mistakes that makes all the difference. Do we justify our actions or words? Do we just say, "Oh well, I'm only human?"? No, if we are to live a life without regret we must do something else. We must look to the One who sets us free from all condemnation--JESUS!

Our hearts need to be so in-tune with Jesus that the very second we slip, we recognize our mistake and fall to our knees (even if it is only figuratively) and confess our sin and ask Him to forgive us. Only then can we feel the free flow of His grace sweep over us cleansing us from all regret.

Is a life without regret possible? You bet it is, but only because of the blood of Jesus!!!