During my second visit to a
church the pastor mentioned the article I’d written about my first visit. He
told me that someone in his congregation had later asked him if he was mad
about what I’d written. I understand. I too hate it when someone takes a
picture of me that exposes how I’m actually seen by others…warts and all.
However, I can’t very well go to the photographer and ask him why he didn’t
airbrush away the imperfections, photo shop the roll around my middle, or
brighten the color of my hair. The Lord told John to write to the seven
churches in Revelation and according to the footnote in my NIV Bible it appears that the church letters, along with the entire
book of Revelation, was sent to each church. I have to wonder if some of the
people in the seven congregations weren't a little bit tweaked about what John had
written.
1 comment:
Gail;
-----God can do anything He chooses (and I thank Him for choosing righteousness.) So when I think about history, sometimes I’ve gotten a little perturbed at Him. There’s so much developmental type history completely lost in time’s layering of dirt. Often little more than foundation stones are left of once great cities. Sometimes little more than trinkets and a few potshards are left of once great cultures. Knowing the history from Noah through Abraham in more depth seems to me would be quite beneficial. And many seemingly important questions are left to languish in ambiguity, for example, was Constantine really a Christian? Some say yes. Some say no. But God knows for sure. And that He did not, by His ability to do anything He chooses, make available the information of such lost history used to rather perturb me.
-----Then I began to realize, I’ve done things that I dog-gone well am filled from the top of my head to the bottom of my heart with pure and intense thankfulness nobody knows but me. Time and ability to do anything about them are as gone as some of those ancient cultures. And the fact some of these things haunt me until today, because there’s nobody left to apologize to (kids: never, ever grow old without making your apologies,) assures me that I’ve learned my lessons of behavior, psychology, and spirituality well. And what of those lessons needing shared with others for their up-building I can do and do without involving the aggravating circumstances I caused myself in making “the lessons“. Moreover, what I am telling you and sharing with your readers is sufficient confession to the human types. Confessing to the Lord I practice moment by moment; note “practice”, not “perform”. I’m yet learning. So I am thankful to God that there is both no reason for anyone to know some of the trash buried in my landfill, and that He has kept the information of it between Him and me.
-----That’s when I realized He has provided the folks of the past, who are as pitiable as am I, with the same dignity of silence regarding what needs not be known. If truly we are meant to build one another up, some things others have done simply have no good purpose whatsoever in becoming public knowledge. Those events that provide necessary object lessons of important teaching and those that compel as yet not given apologies and not yet done repentance are a different matter. Who should or should not know details of folk’s issues is a part of the “gentleness” matter of restoring someone who’s erred (Gal 6:1;) it’s part of the “…pleasing his neighbor for his good, to edify him…” matter of “…bearing with the failings of the weak…” (Rom. 15:1-2)
-----We are stewards of all God’s property entrusted to us. Over the years, as a practicing CPA, I have acquired a great appreciation for the property aspect of information. God has a purpose for all information, too. Some purpose is for the deed-doer and the deed-got-done-to’er alone. Other purpose is for public example. As always, good stewards must act from sincere discretion.
Love you all,
Steve Corey
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