Have you ever heard someone say, "There's a special place in hell for that guy!" Have you ever heard someone say, "Go to hell!" How about, "Lock her up and throw away the key!" I'm sure you have heard someone say those things. Have you ever been driving and someone cuts you off and you say, "That guy's a jerk!" or "What an idiot!" Why do people say such things? Why do you say those things? And what does it really reveal about our society. What does it reveal about you?
Most people who say those things do so out of frustration and a sense of wanting to somehow participate in righting a wrong. Being verbal is about their only opportunity to do so. Others might say such things to show that they understand what is right and what is wrong and they want everyone to know that they are standing on the right side. But are they? Are you?
When you see someone on television who has committed a crime and the newscaster talks about it, what is your response? As a Christian your response should be the same as God's, one of compassion and sorrow. After all here's a person that God created in his image and he has gone down the wrong path of life. God doesn't hate them, he loves them. He's always loved them and yes even while they were committing the offense God was loving them. And as a believer in Christ so should we. After all God says, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 6:23) God doesn't want anyone to go to hell and neither should we - what a horrible thought that is! We should not wish that on anyone after all God says, "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:39). If you don't want hell for yourself then do not want it for someone else either.
People and even Christians who have these bad attitudes toward others have failed to understand that there is a real devil who wants to steal, kill, and destroy people's lives. When you see and hear about someone who has done something wrong are you glad or sad? You should be sad knowing that the devil has gotten the best of that person. They have been lied to by him and conned and swindled into believing a lie and now they have acted on it. The devil is laughing and rejoicing over this - is that whose side you want to be on? Then do not join him in condemnation, but rather join Jesus in mercy and compassion after all God says, "Has no man condemned you, neither do I". (John 8:10-12) Forgiveness and restoration is what God calls for not condemnation and death.
There is a place for justice in this world through the courts, but I am not talking about that in this article. I am asking, "Whose side are you on?" Whose side should you be on? God and we love the sinner but hate the sin and the devil who has brought about sin in our lives. There is a war between good and evil between God and the devil and we have been caught in that war since time began. When you see such a person on television you should be sad that another person has been captured by the enemy of their soul. Pray for them to find the forgiveness that God offers. Pray that they be able to forgive themselves with genuine repentance. Pray that they be fully restored to live a life that is pleasing to God, a life of faith and love for God and others, just as you are seeking to do, right? And the "jerk" that cut you off? Bless him instead of cursing him. Pray for them that they would be a better driver and not cause an accident and hurt someone. Pray for them that the pressures and problems they are facing would disappear in the light of a new life in Christ and that they would have the peace that he offers. After all God says...
Therefore all things whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do you even so to them: for this is the Law and the prophets. (Matthew 7:12)
Most people who say those things do so out of frustration and a sense of wanting to somehow participate in righting a wrong. Being verbal is about their only opportunity to do so. Others might say such things to show that they understand what is right and what is wrong and they want everyone to know that they are standing on the right side. But are they? Are you?
When you see someone on television who has committed a crime and the newscaster talks about it, what is your response? As a Christian your response should be the same as God's, one of compassion and sorrow. After all here's a person that God created in his image and he has gone down the wrong path of life. God doesn't hate them, he loves them. He's always loved them and yes even while they were committing the offense God was loving them. And as a believer in Christ so should we. After all God says, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 6:23) God doesn't want anyone to go to hell and neither should we - what a horrible thought that is! We should not wish that on anyone after all God says, "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:39). If you don't want hell for yourself then do not want it for someone else either.
People and even Christians who have these bad attitudes toward others have failed to understand that there is a real devil who wants to steal, kill, and destroy people's lives. When you see and hear about someone who has done something wrong are you glad or sad? You should be sad knowing that the devil has gotten the best of that person. They have been lied to by him and conned and swindled into believing a lie and now they have acted on it. The devil is laughing and rejoicing over this - is that whose side you want to be on? Then do not join him in condemnation, but rather join Jesus in mercy and compassion after all God says, "Has no man condemned you, neither do I". (John 8:10-12) Forgiveness and restoration is what God calls for not condemnation and death.
There is a place for justice in this world through the courts, but I am not talking about that in this article. I am asking, "Whose side are you on?" Whose side should you be on? God and we love the sinner but hate the sin and the devil who has brought about sin in our lives. There is a war between good and evil between God and the devil and we have been caught in that war since time began. When you see such a person on television you should be sad that another person has been captured by the enemy of their soul. Pray for them to find the forgiveness that God offers. Pray that they be able to forgive themselves with genuine repentance. Pray that they be fully restored to live a life that is pleasing to God, a life of faith and love for God and others, just as you are seeking to do, right? And the "jerk" that cut you off? Bless him instead of cursing him. Pray for them that they would be a better driver and not cause an accident and hurt someone. Pray for them that the pressures and problems they are facing would disappear in the light of a new life in Christ and that they would have the peace that he offers. After all God says...
Therefore all things whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do you even so to them: for this is the Law and the prophets. (Matthew 7:12)