Speaking the Truth in Love

With all the divisiveness that is going on now in the political, and religious world we as Christians need to read a couple of verses from scripture. On both sides of the argument, it seems that all we hear is people screaming at each other. We as Christians need to sit back, and do more listening than talking, but at the same time, be like Paul, and Peter, and speak the truth in love, Eph 4:15-16, and 1 Pet 3:15-17.

In Ephesians Paul is speaking to Ephesians, and is talking about not using the gospel to beat people over the head. Remember, we don't have to defend God; He's been doing a good job of that over the millennia. We are called to obey what Jesus told us in Matt 22:37-39. Present the truth in love, and leave it to the Holy Spirit to work in the person's life. In 1 Peter, Peter is saying that we need to be ready to give a defense of the gospel. That means reading the Bible, which should be done daily for the rest of our lives. We should also keep our life pure; I know that's not easy, but we are called to. If we pray, and continue to flee from sin, then we will slowly continue on. Remember, we are commanded to flee from sin. Then sometimes, we are going to laughed at, and ridiculed, but remember we are being sharpened by the Lord, and in order to be sharpened, some of that steel needs to be shaved off.

These two verses are a couple of good reminders. Thank you Lord Jesus!!

Random Stuff for Sunday 9/26/10:

1. This is from Trevin Wax, some quotes translated from Victor Hugo's book by Julie Rose, "Les Misérables",  http://trevinwax.com/2010/09/25/les-miserables-quotes-to-ponder-3/.
2. In my Kairos ministry I do, there are a lot of people who like Glenn Beck.  I listen to him, and he's very right in a lot of what he says, but he is a Mormon.  That is the one thing that troubles me.  There is a good post in the Gospel Coalition blog by Justin Taylor, where he talks about Beck's,  “syncretizing Mormon and Christian understanding in the service of a civil religion,”.  It's worth reading, http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2010/09/16/andree-seus-tragic-mistake-on-the-gospel-of-glenn-beck/.
3. It's coming up soon for a political shakeup in Washington DC; we're all wondering what's going to happen.  Here's a good read, and turn around using the "driving the car into the ditch" metaphor, http://roadtothemiddleclass.blogspot.com/2010/09/they-just-dont-get-it.html.
4. Speaking of telling the truth, here's an article by Albert Mohler on the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America on their acceptance of homosexuals as ministers.  The apt title of the blog entry, "What Would Luther Say? — A Church Apologizes for Church Discipline."
5. Here's a city in Chino, CA. that decided it had enough of the PC talk, and their mayor had "In God We Trust" put up in the city council chambers, http://www.onenewsnow.com/Culture/Default.aspx?id=1181510.

Time to get ready for church.  Have a great day!