Living your faith authentically.

[obxemt]

This is a major struggle for me at times, and I hope we can get some real discussion going here. Whether you agree with me or not, I'd welcome your commentary if you have the time to carefully read what I wrote in the thread linked below. I think what is being missed by some is that I understand their position fully, I just don't like it, and I think they're wrong.

However I'm not writing this thread or those posts out of my own guilt or to condemn others, but to continue to try to become who I am called to be by our Lord by gently pointing out some widely accepted flaws.

http://www.glocktalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1137342

Within the wider context of parabolic teaching in Matthew 25.31-46, our Lord says

"Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me . . . just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me."

I don't think this is limited just to one-on-one actual interaction. I think we are ultimately responsible for our thoughts about others. For example, the "new law" in Christ isn't one of bodily adultery, but one of intellectual adultery. We can't be generally "good guys" and then mock obviously troubled people. Of course we aren't called to be doormats either. We are, however, called to be "pure of heart" and not just on certain days or when it suits us. Reconciling my work with my Christianity and my ministry has, at times, been tough. And that's putting it mildly. :faint: :crying:

I'd welcome thoughts and comments, and, of course, prayers!

[Brown Hawk]

You certainly don't ask the easy ones, do you?

The thread: We are supposed to have empathy for people who are hurting, but we are also supposed to hold them accountable for their actions and decisions.

I would suppose that most of the people on the thread would not respond that way if they were notifying the family. They wouldn't use those words or those attitudes.

In Cop Talk, they can let their hair down, give vent to their feelings, get it out of their systems, and thus go back and do a better job. Most of the real cops over there have seen enough, and this kind of thing generally sets off their "Somebody got what they deserved" feelings.

As christians, we're supposed to real the world, which means that we have to go out from our small group. To reach, we have to understand, and a lot of the comments are understandable in that context. They are being human, which Christ understands and forgives. So I probably wouldn't upbraid them for comments made among friends and fellow professionals. Also, remember that we can't hold sinners to Christ's standards.

As to how we as christians react? In that context (Cop Talk) maybe "Deserved for her actions, but I feel for her children right now, even if they might be better off without a drug addicted mother."

As for our personal feelings, God doesn't ask us to stop being human, so the natural reaction of "Another druggie gone through her own stupidity" is probably normal. BUT we're not supposed to dwell on it, in glee or any other mode. What we are supposed to THINK about is that the family needs prayers.

I think maybe you are also feeling guilty about having the same kind of feelings while being a christian. Again, you are human, and human reactions are still normal. It's what you do with them that counts.

The intellectual adultery is about dwelling on it, not having the temptations flash into your head. It's what you do with the thought after the temptations pop in that shows how you are growing.

More later,

Hawk