I said a couple of days that I usually blog first thing in the morning. But toda y was busy, and so I am looking at the lectionary while dinner is being prepared. Now Grerp said something yesterday which is quite appropriate.
I agree that anger is a very natural reaction. Sometimes I have to fight its inevitable progression into anxiety and despair. I work on this. All three emotions take their toll, so I try to take a lot of gratitude breaks; I find it helps.
Which feeds into something I see at times here but more frequently over on the relationshipsphere (I am thinking here of Dalrock, Susan and Haley) At present, Susna is fighting Dalrock, because she as called out on one issue. Well… calling each other out is part of what we should be doing.
1Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, 2and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
3But fornication and impurity of any kind, or greed, must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among saints. 4Entirely out of place is obscene, silly, and vulgar talk; but instead, let there be thanksgiving. 5Be sure of this, that no fornicator or impure person, or one who is greedy (that is, an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes on those who are disobedient. 7Therefore do not be associated with them. 8For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light — 9for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. 10Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. 11Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly; 13but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14for everything that becomes visible is light.
Some very simple thoughts.
- Morality is not merely sexuality. Yes, we are extremely good at breaking the rules, and the current (post Christian) dating scene is toxic. But so is the business world, where honesty is becoming rare, and ethics is seen as a game to legalistically play rather than the way to ensure that what one does is right.
- If you do not have a sure sense of the gospel and you are lying to yourself about your situation (that is, if you have any rationalisation hamsters running) you are vulnerable to deception.
- As we are all flawed fallen and human (which is a truly redundant phrase, by the way) we should thank those who correct us. And in the blogosphere, we should accept that we will be called out at times. By those who respect us. For we can make errors.
For we should expose corruption to the light, not cover it up, or spin it.
We make errors. Meh. Correct them. And in doing this. we pray that love and light will drive out snark, rebellion and expose evil.
I’m not sure if endorsing “correction” is the best idea. It will probably just lead to Christians using scripture as an excuse to attack others.
I mean, My inbox is full of vicious “corrections” sent to me by pious Christians. All of the awful hateful things said to me by Christians – and they don’t even bat an eyelash. Apparently it’s okay to treat people badly, if they believe in the wrong denomination of Christianity/doubt Christianity. [It's a shame the Christian blogosphere puts so much effort into pushing people away from Christ...]
&, um, a belated Happy New Years [I was on vacation].
BF: That is not correction. (there is a cure. it is called fitering… one snarky email… OK. two perhaps, but the third and all email from that person is filtered directly to trash).
That is Saint Sally.
Saint Sally disapproves of Will S (he is far too rude) Herr Dockor Svar (insensitive to Germans) and BF (how dare she talk about doubts). Saint Sally also disapproves of Jesus Christ (Isnn’t he supposed to be married now and not haniging around with that whore Mary Magdeline).
Saint Sally definately disapproves of me (if he was more spiritual his wife would not have left him) and Alter (far too pretty and concerned about fashion and pleasing her husabnd) and despies Elspeht and Morticia as they have more than 2.5 children.
Saint Sally lives everywhere. She is more snarkily effective in elite congregations as she has there the control fo the power clubs. But she is just as likely to be in a Pentecostal church.
And you have to kgnore her. For she preaches false religion. If someone looks too perfect, they are not real.
Um, surely your comment was meant to be sarcasm? I mean, you only named individuals who’ve used “godly guidance” as a guise for bullying me…
It’s just, since I’ve gotten engaged, it’s hard for me to not encounter Christians who tell me I’m a horrible awful person who does everything wrong and will burn in Hell forever. For example, apparently hiring an astrologer to help me manage my stock portfolio [a fad in Japan] will doom my future marriage.
According to my astrologer, Mercury is coming out of retrograde this week [i.e. a period of chaos and frustration] and I’m a Libra ascendant [i.e. I unrealistically expect the world to be righteous]. & I guess, IRL, other women are jealous of my engagement? I didn’t think I’d encounter that attitude among pious Christian women.
Dalrock’s most recent posts ring true. I’m expected to date a string of men until my late 20′s/early 30′s, then settle down and get married [& become a pious Sally].
Saint Sally would condemn us all. Yes, I am using hyperbole and sarcasm.
And best wishes to you and your affianced. Congratulations and Best Wishes.