With all the deluge of bad news in the air today, I'd really rather be snuggling up under a blanket and watching some mind-numbing comedy rather than writing. I'd rather hibernate until the airwaves and media becomes a little more watcher-friendly. However, somewhere in the crevices of my mind, I know that won't suffice. Today, the world is different than it was yesterday. Today, it seems that hatred and evil have risen to the surface like a foul dross that covers the gold in our hearts. Hatred from all sides: hatred directed toward Americans and hatred directed from one American to his brother American. It feels like it's becoming a civil war fought over social media and television.
Today, during a social media volley, the topic of Christian love and compassion came up. This question was asked: "It's just that people are always limiting kindness and help. So I suppose wisdom is good in everything - yes be wise - but is it meant to be limiting?"
According to James 1:5, God is the giver of wisdom - and He gives it "generously to all without finding fault.." The Bible is full of scriptures about wisdom. Psalm 3:14 says that "wisdom is worth more than silver; it brings more profit than gold." Verse 21 says, "My child, hold on to wisdom and good sense. Don't let them out of your sight." Humans have a lot of knowledge, but without wisdom that's all it is: facts and data. Wisdom is knowing how to put that knowledge to use,
Wisdom is not the only trait that Christians are to mirror. Kindness, compassion and love are foundational Christian tenets. The most basic description of God is that He is love (I John 4:16). In many instances, it was compassion that moved Jesus to heal, feed the hungry and teach. So, how are we to use wisdom and still love?
Christian author and teacher, Danny Silk, talks about boundaries. When discussing relationships, he insists, that healthy boundaries establish value for what's "inside" the boundaries. There's a line; a line of demarcation where healthy ends and damage begins. and where safety end and harm starts -where protection stops and recklessness starts. Where is that razor thin edge between loving with abandon and wisdom? Where is cut-off? How lavishly can we love without losing ourselves? The Bible tells us to be" harmless as doves and wise as serpents." (Matthew 10:16) How do those two opposites work together?
We are to be Christlike. That means we are to be helpful, moved with compassion and love. The enemy is completely aware that most Christians will be compassionate.Yet, he will use any ploy for our destruction - including our compassion and kindness. He does not play fair. He is a schemer; a deceiver. His plans for each of us us are very detailed. He is patient and strategic. One of his unchanging ploys is to weave lies into the truth. The truth seems unchanged. In our quest for truth we unknowingly swallow the lies.
Taking this to Paris and the refugees. 10,000 of these refugess are coming into the U.S. The enemy knows that not all, but some of these people are brutal, evil killers. Even if only five of the 10,000 proposed entry to the U.S. Would allowing them entry be compassionate or foolish?
The following clip is from CNN. CNN is known to be very accepting of all ideas/relgions/lfestyles. Watch it. http://www.cnn.com/.../playlists/the-fight-against-isis/ (No, go ahead and watch. I'll wait.)
Do you see how intent and serious these people are about their mission? I understand that the percentage of terrorists hding among the refugees could be miniscule. (2 confirmed so far.) But, do these look like the exercises of friendly and downtrodden refugees?
Flinging the doors open wide could be dangerous. Look at Paris. Just overnight, part of the city was in lockdown due to that miniscule amount of danger mixed in with the safe. Do you want this danger in your city? Citizens of Saint Denis were told to evacuate. Others were told to stay inside! People who adore their city and their life there; people who work, raise their families in Saint Denis - yes, those are the people who were forced to leave their homes. Do you see that? The citizens of Saint Denis suddenly became the displaced ones in their own city! They became the refugees. A portion of their city was thurned into a military zone, complete with bombs, swat teams, armed soldiers lining the streets. Do you want to risk your safety all in the name of being kind?
We have no idea; we can't fathom the sinister and nefarious "normalcy" of terrorists. So, after watching the video, tell me honestly that you would welcome this into your home. Even CNN considers it "a group hellbent in spreading a reign of terror." The refugee issue isn't about kindness or having a Christian heart. This is about the very survival of our "house."
To the person who asked if wisdom should limit love, of course wisdom is meant to be limiting! Without it you would act on EVERY thought and impulse that ran through your head! Jesus had enough wisdom to call out vipers, fools and blindness. All the while He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and forgave. He also sent away the rich young man. He knew, by Godly wisdom, when to extend compassion and when it was wise to withhold it.
Today, during a social media volley, the topic of Christian love and compassion came up. This question was asked: "It's just that people are always limiting kindness and help. So I suppose wisdom is good in everything - yes be wise - but is it meant to be limiting?"
According to James 1:5, God is the giver of wisdom - and He gives it "generously to all without finding fault.." The Bible is full of scriptures about wisdom. Psalm 3:14 says that "wisdom is worth more than silver; it brings more profit than gold." Verse 21 says, "My child, hold on to wisdom and good sense. Don't let them out of your sight." Humans have a lot of knowledge, but without wisdom that's all it is: facts and data. Wisdom is knowing how to put that knowledge to use,
Wisdom is not the only trait that Christians are to mirror. Kindness, compassion and love are foundational Christian tenets. The most basic description of God is that He is love (I John 4:16). In many instances, it was compassion that moved Jesus to heal, feed the hungry and teach. So, how are we to use wisdom and still love?
Christian author and teacher, Danny Silk, talks about boundaries. When discussing relationships, he insists, that healthy boundaries establish value for what's "inside" the boundaries. There's a line; a line of demarcation where healthy ends and damage begins. and where safety end and harm starts -where protection stops and recklessness starts. Where is that razor thin edge between loving with abandon and wisdom? Where is cut-off? How lavishly can we love without losing ourselves? The Bible tells us to be" harmless as doves and wise as serpents." (Matthew 10:16) How do those two opposites work together?
We are to be Christlike. That means we are to be helpful, moved with compassion and love. The enemy is completely aware that most Christians will be compassionate.Yet, he will use any ploy for our destruction - including our compassion and kindness. He does not play fair. He is a schemer; a deceiver. His plans for each of us us are very detailed. He is patient and strategic. One of his unchanging ploys is to weave lies into the truth. The truth seems unchanged. In our quest for truth we unknowingly swallow the lies.
Taking this to Paris and the refugees. 10,000 of these refugess are coming into the U.S. The enemy knows that not all, but some of these people are brutal, evil killers. Even if only five of the 10,000 proposed entry to the U.S. Would allowing them entry be compassionate or foolish?
The following clip is from CNN. CNN is known to be very accepting of all ideas/relgions/lfestyles. Watch it. http://www.cnn.com/.../playlists/the-fight-against-isis/ (No, go ahead and watch. I'll wait.)
Do you see how intent and serious these people are about their mission? I understand that the percentage of terrorists hding among the refugees could be miniscule. (2 confirmed so far.) But, do these look like the exercises of friendly and downtrodden refugees?
Flinging the doors open wide could be dangerous. Look at Paris. Just overnight, part of the city was in lockdown due to that miniscule amount of danger mixed in with the safe. Do you want this danger in your city? Citizens of Saint Denis were told to evacuate. Others were told to stay inside! People who adore their city and their life there; people who work, raise their families in Saint Denis - yes, those are the people who were forced to leave their homes. Do you see that? The citizens of Saint Denis suddenly became the displaced ones in their own city! They became the refugees. A portion of their city was thurned into a military zone, complete with bombs, swat teams, armed soldiers lining the streets. Do you want to risk your safety all in the name of being kind?
We have no idea; we can't fathom the sinister and nefarious "normalcy" of terrorists. So, after watching the video, tell me honestly that you would welcome this into your home. Even CNN considers it "a group hellbent in spreading a reign of terror." The refugee issue isn't about kindness or having a Christian heart. This is about the very survival of our "house."
To the person who asked if wisdom should limit love, of course wisdom is meant to be limiting! Without it you would act on EVERY thought and impulse that ran through your head! Jesus had enough wisdom to call out vipers, fools and blindness. All the while He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and forgave. He also sent away the rich young man. He knew, by Godly wisdom, when to extend compassion and when it was wise to withhold it.