Beloved,
This morning, in prayer, I was
almost paralyzed by my tears and sorrow over the pain in our world, country,
denomination, churches, families, and even on the corner of Lincoln and Main.
I recalled a terrifying/horrific
paragraph from William Barclay's The
Letter to the Romans (1955) about
16:17-20 that I first read back in 1976: "He
picks out...characteristics of men hurtful to the Church and to the Christian
fellowship. They are men who cause dissensions among the brethren.
Any man who does anything which disturbs the peace of a church has much to
answer for. A minister was once talking to a man newly come to his
congregation from another town. The man had obviously little of the love
of Christ upon him. He said to the minister: 'You know such and such a
congregation?' naming that of which he had formerly been a member. 'Yes,'
said the minister. 'Well,' said the man with a certain evil relish, 'I
wrecked it!' There are people who take a pride in making trouble and who
like nothing better than to sow the poisonous seeds of strife. The man
who has brought strife to any band of brothers will answer for it some day to
Him who is the King and Head of the Church."
Selah.
Calvin was right; remembering he got
it from Paul who got it from God.
We can't help ourselves.
We like to grumble, gripe, gossip,
banter, bark, bite, beat, batter, and...butcher.
It's our nature.
Uh, that's why He said we must be
born again and from above.
Blessings and Love!
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