The Chatroom

the MastersGroove.  Moriah and I regularly tune in to these live, inspirational broadcasts of Gospel House music, and join in the chats.  DJ’s that contribute to the MastersGroove also join the chatroom, regularly.  Last week I was inspired by a loving Word shared in this chatroom, from which resonates much of what the Word of God tells us.  Here's an excerpt from that chat:

We must lift each other up and stay encouraged . . . Part of the problem today.  We mind our business and don't want to be deemed a snitch...but you must stand up for righteousness or join in the devils army through silence. . . . Watch out for your neighbors child, help the elderly, share your wealth, bite your tongue, practice patience . . .

Oh how we must lift each other up and stay encouraged! We proportionately receive our own encouragement from being an encourager, ourselves – like we reap what we sow!! If we don’t heed this exhortation from the chatroom, we cannot effectively represent Christ and His teaching. In fact this exhortation is exactly HOW to represent that His Holy Spirit resides within us. We can positively and miraculously change our own neighborhoods and families.  However, without operating by the Holy Spirit (Love) and standing up for what is righteous and true, we will absolutely risk joining the devil’s army. None can combat and defeat wickedness in this world while sowing with the enemy’s tools; or silently allowing our friends and neighbors to remain engulfed in sin.

 “But instead warn, admonish, urge, and encourage one another every day, as long as it is called ‘Today,’ that none of you may be hardened, or settled into rebellion of sin; warn of the deceitfulness, the fraudulence, the stratagem, or the trickery with which the delusive glamor of sin may play on someone” - Hebrews 3:13

“And he set captains of war over the people and gathered them together to him in the street of the gate of the city and spoke encouragingly to them, saying:  Be strong and courageous.  Be not afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for there is Another with us greater than all those with him.  With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles" - 2 Chronicles 32:6-8

“Also David told Solomon his son, Be strong and courageous, and do it. Fear not, be not dismayed, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail or forsake you until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord" - 1 Chronicles 28:20

. . . Part of the problem today. We mind our business and don't want to be deemed a snitch...but you must stand up for righteousness or join in the devils army through silence . . .Watch out for your neighbors child 

“If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them” - Luke 17:3

“And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!” - Matthew 18:5-7

Here we learn that to “watch out for our neighbor’s child” doesn’t mean just for their protection. We must live as examples and role models, exemplifying the manners and behaviors of righteousness and truth. Our children should see and hear us proclaiming only truths and generously loving one another.  Should something about our actions, life-style, or our words cause a child to stumble into sin, or create a deception of some truth about God – Jesus has promised a woeful judgment.

. . . help the elderly, share your wealth, bite your tongue, practice patience . . .

“If anyone thinks himself to be religious (piously observant of the external duties of his faith) and does not bridle his tongue but deludes his own heart, this person's religious service is worthless, futile, and barren. Religion, as it is expressed outwardly, that is pure and unblemished in the sight of God the Father is this: to visit and help and care for the orphans and widows in their affliction and need, and to keep oneself unspotted and uncontaminated from the world.” - James 1:26-27

“Do not turn to mediums that have familiar spirits or to wizards; for you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God. Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the LORD.” - Leviticus 19:31-33

“In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility [as the garb of a servant, with freedom from pride and arrogance] toward one another. For God sets Himself against the proud, the insolent, the overbearing, the disdainful, the presumptuous, and the boastful -- and He opposes, frustrates, and defeats them, but gives grace, favor, and blessings to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” - 1 Peter 5:5-7

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously” - 2 Corinthians 9:6

“He who belittles and despises his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding keeps silent.” - Proverbs 11:12

“Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips and spreads slander is a fool. Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues.” - Proverbs 10:18-20

“Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. Depart from evil and do good; seek, inquire for, and crave peace and go after it!” - Psalm 34:12-14

“Finally, brethren, rejoice! Be strengthened, perfected, completed, and made what you ought to be; be encouraged and consoled and comforted; be agreeable one with another; live in peace, and then the God of Love - the Source of affection, goodwill, and benevolence toward men - and the Author and Promoter of peace will be with you.” - 2 Corinthians 13:11-12

Does God Hate Us? - Part 1

While researching and preparing this recent article -  "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it" - I stumbled upon this passage that provoked some pretty deep sentiments.

There are six things the LORD hates,
   seven that are detestable to him:
   (1) haughty eyes,
      (2) a lying tongue,
      (3) hands that shed innocent blood,
  (4) a heart that devises wicked schemes,
(5) feet that are quick to rush into evil,
  (6) a false witness who pours out lies
(7) and a person who stirs up conflict in the community. 

- Proverbs 6:16-19

My first impression was 'how uncanny' that I have been victimized by all but one of these, having often felt persecuted.  Yet as I deliberated over each, I recognized how I have not just felt victimized, but that we all are.  The entirety of our society is plagued by these things that God hates, and all of us are perpetrators. The significance to these seven things God emphasizes in this passage, is that they are not just personal, selfish acts of immorality.  These dysfunctions severely impact all social relationships, and sever our relationship with God.

"Haughty eyes" - what are haughty eyes? They are pride and being "high in one's own estimation;" peering down on others as less significant, or less knowledgeable. In its severity, these act out by shunning and ignoring others, turning arrogance into indifference and self-exaltation. This brings to mind Jesus' Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). Similarly, it is this pride that not only shuns our neighbors, but our Heavenly Father- refusing His Grace and provisions for us.

 . . . he who has a haughty look and a proud and arrogant heart I cannot and I will not tolerate. -- Psalm 101:5

A man's pride will bring him low, but he who is of a humble spirit will obtain honor. -- Proverbs 29:23

Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. -- Proverbs 16:18

"A lying tongue" - very little can be added to this meaning. It causes pain, destroys trust, corrupts family and social order, and represents the antitheses of Love and Truth - two profound characteristics of God. Jesus states that Satan "is a liar [himself] and the father of lies and of all that is false" (John 8:44). It was because of a lie that sin - death and decay - came into human reality.  This sin infected every creation on earth - even initiating the destruction of the earth itself.  (ATTN:  Global warming buffs!)  Satan deceived Eve in Genesis with this lie.  "God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ Then the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die.’"  A lie caused the fall of humanity, introduced death, and established a physical separation from God that only He can redeem for us.

Whoever says, ‘I know God,’ but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his Word, love for God is truly made complete in them. -- 1 John 2

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. -- 1 John 1

"Hands that shed innocent blood" - for this I spent much time meditating.  Murder, as what's implied here, is understandably something to despise.  The death of the innocent is always grievous and incites vengeance - whether that death by malice, negligence, or accident.  After the Hebrew people made their exodus from Egypt, and while establishing themselves as a nation, elaborate laws were created to punish the "shedding of innocent blood."  Murderers were legally avenged by their own death; while accidental man-slayers were provided safe havens, or cities of refuge.  The laws regarding the cities of refuge were to protect the accidental murderer from being killed, where they could flee from an avenger.  These laws were literally dictated by God's instruction.

Today our culture has severely perverted God's intent to avenge the "shedding innocent blood."  Murder is legalized in the tolerance of abortion (of the innocent); yet the punishment of premeditated murder is no longer avenged by death.  As the nation of Israel grew in apostasy (falling away from the truth) and practiced pagan worship, the sacrifice of infants became common.  God venomously rebuked them, and justified His severe wrath against the nation of Israel for accepting that very practice of murdering the innocent.

Today our culture tolerates murder, yet will punish the "shedding of innocent blood" from negligence, somewhat to our credit.  Murders caused by drunk driving accidents, industrial accidents, or abuse are prosecuted.  So what can we learn from the Scriptures about murder by negligence?

"Son of man, speak to your people and say to them, 'When I bring the sword upon a land and the people of the land take a man from among them and make him their watchman,  if when he sees the sword coming upon the land, he blows the trumpet and warns the people, then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. . . . But he who takes warning shall save his life.  But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, he is taken away for his perversity and iniquity, but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.  . . . I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear the word at My mouth and give them warning from Me.  When I say to the wicked, O wicked man, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his perversity and iniquity, but his blood will I require at your hand.  But if you warn the wicked to turn from his evil way and he does not turn from his evil way, he shall die in his iniquity, but you will have saved your life." -- Ezekiel 3

From this we perceive how God not only holds us accountable for our own sins, but even the death of others caused by our negligence - our double jeopardy.  Deaths caused by drunk driving, drug abuse, reckless violence, and even chronic emotional abuse (to name a few) are doubly avenged.  Yes, the drunkard, the needle pusher or pill pusher, the angry, and the arrogant all have their day "in court."  Those of us foolish enough to "not blow the trumpet" are also held accountable. Naivety is no excuse, for even a child knows that these ways are wicked, especially when they see what results in death.  Even our courts do not differentiate whether that death is prolonged, or an immediate accident; nor do they distinguish between intentions and consequence.

Now consider Jesus teaching in Matthew 5:

 "You have heard that it was said to the men of old, 'You shall not kill, and whoever kills shall be liable to and unable to escape the punishment imposed by the court.  But I say to you that everyone who continues to be angry with his brother or harbors malice (enmity of heart) against him shall be liable and unable to escape the punishment imposed by the court; and whoever speaks contemptuously and insultingly to his brother shall be liable and unable to escape the punishment, and whoever says, You cursed fool! [You empty-headed idiot!] shall be liable to and unable to escape the hell (Gehenna) of fire." -- Matthew 5:21-22

We are a culture being deceived.  For not only is murder a physical action, but taken from God's Word, emotional and spiritual assassination is murder.  Ironically, there is debate all around the World about hate crimes, but we ignore what God teaches us about every sin that leads to the "shedding of innocent blood."  Ultimately, God judges each of us by His standard, true to His character, and never according to the laws established by man.  Each of us need take these to heart:

A consistently righteous man hates lying and deceit, but a wicked man is loathsome, his very breath spreads pollution, and he surely comes to shame. -- Proverbs 13:5

But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.  For your hands are defiled with blood and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue mutters wickedness.  None sues or calls in righteousness, but only for the sake of doing injury to others--to take some undue advantage - no one goes to law and honestly pleads his case in truth; they trust in emptiness, worthlessness and futility, and speaking lies! -- Isaiah 59:2-4

The thoughts and purposes of the consistently righteous are honest and reliable, but the counsels and designs of the wicked are treacherous.  The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them and the innocent ones that are endangered. -- Proverbs 12:5-6

For if you thoroughly amend your ways and your doings, if you thoroughly and truly execute justice between every man and his neighbor, if you do not oppress the transient and the alien, the fatherless, and the widow or shed innocent blood by oppression and by judicial murders - or go after other gods to your own hurt - then I will cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave of old to your fathers to dwell in forever.  -- Jeremiah 7:5-7

 . . . to be continued, Does God Hate Us? - Part 2