Common Practice

Posted on October 7, 2015 by America's Keswick in Freedom Fighters

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Common Practice

“When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear Me, everyone, and understand: There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!” Mark 7:14-16 (NKJV) Common Practice

Ever since the arrival of “social media” the ability for people to voice their opinion has sky-rocketed. Sometimes we can see stuff that we agree on and press some sorta “like” button to show our solidarity but in those times where we don’t something else can happen…we retort! Something just takes over and we begin to type out stuff, we proof-read it (well this should happen more often in some cases), POSSIBLY edited it, then we hit SEND and WAA-LA!! Our statement has offended someone and then retort turns, then it twists, then it seems to enter in this insane kinda spiraling vortex that everyone participates in and what started out as a simple contrary opinion has turned into an angry mob of people sitting behind their techno gadgets hitting their SEND buttons (but I just gotta say this one thing) hoping no one comes to their house to beat them up!!

So with that said there is something that we are doing to each other as Christians on social media? We are treating each other as common and it has become a common practice. Disagree with me? Well you can send me an e-mail and I’ll be happy to work it out with you but from where I sit I see much in the way of Christians treating Christians as common or at times even worse, we demonize each other. It’s like we are so familiar with the things of God that we have elevated ourselves to be almost above Him and it therefore qualifies us to speak harshly and think we are doing this in Christian love and rebuke. Problem is if we really think we are familiar with the things of God we treat God as common and that my friends is not our God!!

Jesus says that what comes from our mouth is what defiles us…so what does this mean? Basically if we haven’t dealt with the lusts and idolatries that has taken up residence in our hearts, those wrathful thoughts and corrupt ideas that have taken up space in our minds and those moments of unforgiveness that “Occupy Conscience” we become those “unwashed on the inside” cups that Jesus said those wacky Pharisees were. We seem to forget that our heart can be deceitful, desperately wicked and full of pollution. If these issues aren’t washed clean at the foot of the Cross they bubble out of us like too much coffee in too little of a pot.

I also am reminded by what we read in 1 Corinthians 13:1, “If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.” (NASB)  In the King James Version the word love (in this verse) is charity. And in that charity John Gill explains that it isn’t in the giving of alms, which is something given for free, “but the grace of love is here meant, even love to God, and love to Christ, and love to the saints, which is a grace implanted in regeneration by the Spirit of God”, pretty much saying that we should be displaying the Holy Spirit that dwells within us as much as possible. As Paul would also say, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.”—Romans 12:18 (NASB)

So when it comes to this social media slandering that we are doing, let’s do what would make the Savior smile and KNOCK IT OFF!!! Our words should be seasoned with salt, displaying attitudes of grace and building up of our Brethren. So am I doing this? Even though I think that (at times) I preach a better Freedom Fighter than I live, I am doing what I can to be at peace with all Facebookers on my friends list. I love engaging in discussions that are more “Talking Torah” (a Pastor Joe Olachea term) than trash talking theology. I would also rather be silly than stupid but that is a grey area…it depends on the reader. But in any case, If you claim to name The Name then utter the grace of love in your life. It’s a better thing to click “SHARE” with and then press “LIKE”!! Amen? – Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and is a weekly Freedom Fighter blogger. You can email Chris at cphughes515@verizon.net

Daily Bible Reading: Ezekiel 42-44; John 19:1-22

Think About This: “Our great honor lies in being just what Jesus was and is. To be accepted by those who accept Him, rejected by all who reject Him, loved by those who love Him and hated by everyone that hates Him. What greater glory could come to any man?” —A. W. Tozer

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah Psalm 32:7

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