“Some have said that the tragic events of the past two weeks oblige us to agree with each other more often. That’s wrong. Agreement is a form of mediocrity,” writes @arthurbrooks.
Government has its vital role in society. Likewise, the judicial system. Politics has its place and, as voters, we all, of course, have ours. But as the church—the collective of Jesus followers in this society—our voice would be woefully misplaced among those calling down fire from heaven on people and communities that don’t want Christ. (Or those who don’t want or share our view of Christ!) Jesus turned on his heels and rebuked James and John for this very thing. Yes yes yes, we preach and teach the gospel of Jesus and with passion and strong conviction but as those who have taken on the same attitude that was in Christ Jesus. This is required of us in Philippians 2. I’m not sure anything can be more challenging but it is our responsibility. We’re called to walk in the Spirit, crucified to the flesh.
This doesn’t mean we’re passive. It doesn’t mean we’re always silent. It doesn’t mean we don’t rebuke or reprove. It doesn’t mean we don’t grieve. It doesn’t mean we don’t get angry. But it means we catch ourselves when our anger starts turning into sin. It means we choose to act and speak from an attitude that reflects Jesus. It means we don’t play God.
@carnessv @PeteJHughes Excellent book! Hughes has built on the work of N.T. Wright and sparked our imaginations for what that mysterious reuniting of heaven and earth might look like.
@GingerSnapKid Many of those already listed. Also, I thought a “weenie dog” was a “doxen” and that Daschund was a whole other breed and pronounced “dash hound.” Didn’t learn the truth till college.