Aganst filth, odure, and those who say these are right. [Mt 22]

I am going hut crazy. One walk with the air pollution that exist in Manitoba now and I was flat on my back with breathing difficulties. Something there set off my hayfever. I want to get some photos taken today, and I’d really like to get to a service but (a) the only church where i am is the military chapel and (b) I don’t drive in Canada. So I am looking at the text for today, and wondering what the robes we have to be clothed in.

I think it is righteousness. I think it is not something we necessarily want to wear. It is a bit like wearing a suit in high summer when you would rather wear shorts and Jandals. And I do not think, despite modern theology, that we can set the conditions for our salvation. That we can legislate that this is good or that is bad.

God owns the church and he will make it his.

And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.”’ But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.

“But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.”

(Matthew 22:1-14 ESV)

We are told that life must be easy, and that we must live in a way that makes us comfortable. That everything will be happy ever after. That the world is controlled by Disney, and regardless of what you do all will be forgiven.

I am not so sure. Today, I am shamed by Grerp, who is hanging through the living hell of severe mental illness in her spouse. Who feels that all are mocking her, for she is failing: her husband does not work, se cannot walk down a fashion show runway, she struggles with her moods and like many introverts, withdraws into herself.

Pray for her.

And note this comfort from Cecil, who speaks wisely here

Its easy to say, but please do not despair. Remember your marriage is a) bigger than either spouse b)held together by husband, wife and God.

Many people are in similar hardships, and strangely even with decent jobs things are difficult economically for many. The MSM will never show this–its not profitable.

I didn’t see this at first, but our society and civilization is under satanic attack. The enviousness, the coveting, the grasping after attention, power, manipulation of others, tearing them down. This is prevalent– often delivered with a smile. Don;t let it get you down: look past it, keep moving.

The anti-family, anti-white, anti-male and anti-Western denigration of everything people hold dear is meant to destroy your faith. Government encroachment and control of every aspect of people’s lives is destroying freedom.

This is a spiritual battle, this attack on a whole people. Do not doubt that. Its saddens and angers me–but we will win.

Do not focus on those who are negative, engage in envy and schadenfreude for your problems. Look for the good, and head towards it, Let God guide you.

What worries me is that I will be too clever. I will think that I am clothed in righteousness and have an invitation to the feast of the lamb when I am living in grievous sin and damning not merely myself. And I see the consequences of liberal education up close, personal, and the progressive poison while I am with my daughter — who I did not raise — and with my grandchildren, who are too bright to fit into the straightjacket which is the Manitoba educational system.

If we forget that Christ calls us to purity and righteousness, we lose a great truth. It is true that our salvation is not our work. It is the work of God. But it is also true that we see the salvation of others not in what they say but what they do.

So I pray that we do our duty today. Lest we turn up to the wedding feast at the last day clothed in filth and ordure.

4 Comments

  1. bike bubba said:

    Hang in there. I am ~ 10 hrs. from you and am watching with dread at the amount of weeds I’m seeing….especially the ragweed. August could be tough, looks like I’m going to the doctor to get a prescription for something tougher than “Claritin.”

    July 7, 2015
  2. bike bubba said:

    Forest fire smoke arrived in Rochester yesterday. Now I’m getting what you’re getting at–it was surreal to leave my (windowless) office to all that haze. Thought that something major must have happened around the Twin Cities–hadn’t seen a smoke plume go that far except in California and Nevada before.

    July 8, 2015
  3. grerp said:

    This was our second reading this past Sunday:
    “Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. 9And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.”

    I found it very meaningful. I memorized it when I was little, but it was good to have a refresher.

    Some days are easier than others. I’m trying to learn to grade myself on a curve and go easier on myself while seeking out joy.

    Thanks for caring, and don’t for a moment feel shamed.

    July 8, 2015
  4. Chris Gale said:

    @Bike
    The fires in the Canadian Priaries are about as bad as they have ever been, and, although I generally don’t have asthma attacks now, I got it bad. Chest is clearing now back in the frozen south.

    @ Grerp. Liked your podcast. Particularly “I wanted to remain comfortable in my obscurity”. And thank you.

    July 10, 2015

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