Similar to the difficulties of defining 'love', perhaps it is problematic as most of life itself is. We often try to navigate our way through life by doing it ourselves ...when we should go to God first.
So, in defining evil ...I mistakenly went to 'Google' it, which first stated the pure definition of evil as "being bad ...". When I typed in 'Bible's definition, I was presented with the AI Overview. And that defined evil as "anything that is contrary to God's will and nature, often contrasted with good."
So, since anything that is contrary to God's nature, is in the largest sense separating us from God ---and that is sin, and we all sin and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) ---then it could be said that we are all evil.
Let's look at what the Bible says ...it's about time. I should have started here. Mark 7:20-23, says, "He went on (and He, speaks of Jesus here): What comes out of a person is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person's heart, that evil thoughts come ---sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person."
I once heard the statement, "I'm a good person ...I never murdered anyone." Yet the list that Mark quotes Jesus as saying includes much more than just that. How many of us can say we have never been envious, arrogant, or slandered anyone. And with slander, it is usually defined as 'false statements'. Yet, here is the part that makes it akin to gossip ...the statement may have not been a false statement, but perhaps it is now false about the person. Yes, we all make that list, but we don't want to be defined as 'evil'. And we do not decide who is sorry for what they did, and who is not. If a person is deeply sorry they had done something, and it is not a criminal offense that could be tried in court, then we should not attempt to be sitting in the Judge's seat. God is the One who judges, the One who we'd want to forgive us, and the One who does wait for us to come to Him for forgiveness ...and just like He is open to forgive us, He also forgives others.
So much to be said on this subject, but I am 'a work in progress'. And I need a break at this time.
God bless!!!
Be your own best friend ...then you can be best friends with another. But, we can be 'a work in progress' ...so it's best to look to Jesus as your best friend, then you can be a 'better' friend than you were to most everyone else. Cherish all those good moments!!! During difficult times, remember God's love for us.
And we can all work on these things ...
Okay, I'm back ...though I may be a bit more confused. Yet, again ...though I am not pretending to have the answers, I am going to present questions. And I am sincerely trying to not come across as arrogant, so I don't want you to get into trouble either ...for mistakenly slandering me.
I'm not picking on any person or organization ...it's just that perhaps I feel an organization may do better with explaining things, and not just wanting others to accept upon their authority of interpretation or discernment.
Anyway, here is what I found:
"All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ."
"The baptism of believers in the Holy Spirit is witnessed by the initial physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives them utterance ..."
"Sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil, and of dedication unto God."
"By the power of the Holy Spirit, we are able to obey the command: “Be ye holy, for I am holy” (I Peter 1:15,16)."
"Divine healing is an integral part of the gospel. Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the Atonement and is the privilege of all believers (James 5:14-16)."
James 5:14-16 states "Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed ...."
All of the previous quotes were listed together on a church's statement. And It has always been my understanding that God dispenses gifts, and not everyone has the same gifts. If we all felt we had the gift of leadership, then I sort of imagine it may lead to a few questions. You may not like to use the words 'rules over' or 'presides over', but instead prefer the words 'guides' or 'shepherds his flock'. And it would seem discernment would be key with doing this.
So, I have watched videos of when the 'Faith Movement' was gaining much attention as I was in college, but I didn't know it ...I was studying the courses laid out for my major.
So, when I got out of college ...that's when I began to get more information on this.
There were many people in this 'movement' who stood in the position of leadership ...and of course, the draw was much to seeing what these leaders were powerfully presenting, and of course, also viewing that as being close to God, and some signs that perhaps God saw us as special and did special things for us. And of course, God views us all as special and invites and accepts us to draw closer to Him ...yet, it is often disagreed upon how that is.
So, with that being said ...we look to those in leadership who we feel do know, and who often give us the affirmation that we seek.
I had some friends who asking for prayer for their sick grandmother. The next week they were kindly asked how their grandmother was doing, and they said she was not improving. They told my friends that the church would continue to pray, but the family had to pray for their own grandmother ...in the correct way. They told my friends they were praying the wrong way ...and instructed them how to pray, and the following week even specified the precise words that had to be stated in their prayers. Yet, still the grandmother was not improving. So, the leadership then told my friends the reason their grandmother was not getting better was because they didn't have enough 'faith'.
I know of church leaders who say that the leadership my friends were being churched under (and I'm not referring to the definition of just soon after a woman gives birth to a child) ...no, what I mean is 'led' or 'shepherded by'.
I doubt any of those who profess to have the 'faith' which would enable them to 'name it, and claim it' ...well, I am certain their parents and grandparents are not as old as Methuselah was. People do end up getting sick, and we are not the Judges as to discern why. Yes, I believe the apostles were able to heal to show them as those Jesus gave authority to. But, their main purpose was not to heal ...it was to spread the Gospel of Jesus. And I don't believe Jesus healed to put on a show. Yes, He had compassion on their varying circumstances ...yet, Jesus also mentioned that it was to give glory to God, to show authority to His greater message of salvation ...His message of eternal life, a promise to be fulfilled for those desire to be with Him.
So, I sort of disagree that God was telling my friends, through their leaders, that they were to blame for their grandmother's sickness (leading to her death) because of their lack of faith. So, I see leaders disagree with other leaders ...and God is not disagreeing with Himself, so it would seem some leaders are false. And my guess is that on most occasions, those who have risen to a leadership role will likely say the other leader is wrong. And too often they try to show that they are right by dazzling others by either impressive shows, or a quick presentation of select verses to support their statements.
Yes, Jesus showed signs ...yet, while the crowds were thickly gathering together, He also said (Luke 11: 29), "This is an evil generation, It seeks a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet."
So, though the word 'leadership' may begin as 'guiding' or 'shepherding' ---there may suddenly emerge a stronger stance of 'ruling' and 'claiming' ---with a strong defense, and forbid slander would also enter in. When one's position is challenged, it may show some of its own signs. I know by reading the Gospels that the leadership that opposed Jesus and led to His crucifixion very quickly got their feathers ruffled. Maybe John the Baptist started it, with his introduction of standing for what is right and correctly address it ...yet, he addressed also the governmental leadership. Jesus focused on the dealing with how we should live our life with God, not to be concerned with the always potentially wayward government leadership (render unto Caesar what is Caesar's).
So, I believe God gifts us all with gifts, but not gifts us with all gifts. And we decide which leaders we want to follow. And when the Bible says there are gifts that are 'the least', that does not mean 'the most'. So, I do not see that one would be full by filling with the least. Though that does not mean we should not value the least, as it is still important ...as anything that God gifts is important.
Next month is Father's Day. Many Dad's wish they would at least get a card ...and if they do get a card, it may mean everything to them. But, it doesn't mean that the card totally fills their day ...if at all possible, perhaps some time visiting would be nice. The card is nice too ...as it often shows some forethought, that they were being thought of throughout the week. Dad's are humans too ...and they sadly also entertain wrongly, negative thoughts. "Well, at least he visited ...but he didn't stay long. He probably just heard it mentioned in church, or someone else mentioning it, and decided he'd better jam in a visit. He didn't buy a card."
Yes, we need to continually encourage and lift each other up. And though I could serve at a soup kitchen as a great thing to do ...there is a certain part that tells me anyone could do that, but only I can make Dad happy. (Well, my other siblings can too ...but, he knows when someone is missing, so we all need to.)
No one will be reading this blog any time soon, so no hints here. Yet, Mother's Day was only a couple Sundays ago ...and I encouraged our kids to do something and gather together. And I was also giving all my attention to the Mom who so lovingly brought them into this world. No kudos to me ...I'm just passing on what I was taught by my own parents.
Well, this time the dog needs a break ...
So, who knows whether I'll get back to this.
God bless!!!
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