I see so many folks who seem to be members of the tribe “Christians” acting as if they are descendants of the tribe of “Pharisees.”
In the name of “Jesus,” they are some of the most throat-judgmental, pompous, politically driven, nasty-mouthed folks on social media.
I gotta tell ya, if I weren’t an apprentice of Jesus, who talks with Papa God daily and seeks wisdom from the Holy Spirit…
I’m not sure I would want anything to do with the separatist-sounding people who spew their rhetoric under the umbrella of “He commands me!”
It reminds me of Jesus’ words:
“On that day many will say to me, “Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name?’ Then I will announce to them, “I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!’” Matthew 7:22-23 CSBA
Jesus knew how easy it is for any of us to fall back into a separated worldview after we realize He wants to call us His Friend.
And yet, so many of us do it, ME INCLUDED! See, when you study my words, you realize I’m not speaking just of others; I’m talking to the man in the mirror.
Jesus went on in this chapter to talk about two foundations on which we build our lives:
“‘Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and doesn’t act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. It collapsed with a great crash.’” Matthew 7:24-27 CSBA
Notice, he starts with “THEREFORE.” He was trying to get across that we can live in our false identity, doing everything from that place, a poser living through a transactional relationship (“see me, see me…”), or we can discover our true identity through an experiential relationship with Him. He desires this so much. We see in John 15:15 -
“I do not call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn’t know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from my Father.” John 15:15 CSBA
So before we get all pompous as if we are some “chosen few,” let’s remember these words He left us with -
“You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor, and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven. For he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” Matthew 5:43-45 CSBA
“He said to him, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.’” Matthew 22:37-40 CSBA
I’ll close out with the words:
“For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.” John 3:16-18 CSBA
Jesus didn’t say “folks have to believe ALL you believe!” He said folks need to believe in Him. In fact, He didn’t come to CONDEMN; He came to REDEEM!