Category: About

Sepsis is overwhelming and often if left untreated leads to death. Unfortunately most people who attend church need not fear sepsis. Most church members have been immunized and not at risk of sepsis.

A better explanation is needed. Immunity is good for our bodies. We have been vaccinated. A small dose of a portion of a potentially dangerous germ is given causing our immune system to fight off any and all germs, bacteria and viruses and not succumb to infection.

Many if not most church members are immune to salvation. They have been exposed to just enough religion that we are able to resist being overwhelmed. We won’t die. We continue to live like we always have. We have some changes. We are nice, mostly. We are polite, properly. We don’t use profanity publicly. We don’t die to self. We are immune to salvation. We fight it off.

We are ushers, choir members, Deacons, even preachers. These can serve to immunize us against salvation. We do enough to recover. We don’t die.

A life surrendered dies. Salvation means I must die. Once dead, I can be born again.

John 3:3 KJV
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

John 12:24 KJV Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

Galatians 2:20 KJV
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Can hatred be holy? Can the wrath of God be meted out by the hand of mankind? Can I strike and harm those whom I deem enemies of God. Can I practice holy hatred?

Psalm 139:22 records this: I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.

This is the psalmist expressing his sense of outrage against people he sees as God’s enemies. He says his hatred is perfect. Perfect is an adjective meaning lacking nothing. A perfect hatred means the examined object or person has been determined of no redeemable value. It means that the hated thing, or person is worthy only to be destroyed.

For me to have that opinion about anything or anybody would make me the final judge. As a finite person, with finite knowledge, how could I justify an opinion that has infinite dimensions about anyone?

Left unchecked, I could justify doing anything I wanted to hurt or even destroy this person. This would be especially so if, as the psalmist states earlier in, Psalm 139:21 Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?

He feels justified in executing the wrath of God on a person or persons who are as finite as he is. They are mere mortals as he is, but he is allowed special dispensation because he knows the heart of God better than they. He has holy hatred.

My reading of the Bible does not justify the psalmist’s opinion on this matter. In fact, quite the contrary, I am reminded that my anger cannot undermine the work of God’s grace. I am instructed that I cannot judge which means, I cannot condemn. Judging is beyond giving an opinion. A judge is one who condemns. I may discern or perceive right from wrong. That is not judging. I am instructed that Christ will return to judge. My wrath does not work the righteousness of God.

No matter what side of any issue I may find myself, I dare not say my hatred is holy.

James 1:19 Let every man be quick to listen but slow to use his tongue, and slow to lose his temper. For man’s temper is never the means of achieving God’s true goodness.

The Holy Spirit gave me this word
I am sure it came from God
Never write when you can speak
Never speak when you can nod

If you must put pen to paper
Once the ink has left its stain
Consider the heart of who is reading
It is hard to erase the pain

If you must speak do so softly
Draws attention to each word
Makes everyone listen very closely
They are clear about what they heard

Be aware that your opinions
Don’t have the gravity of God
Hold your tongue put the pen down
Never speak when you can nod

I want to confess You are Lord
I want to confess you as King
But just when I am ready to speak
I discuss the next shiny thing

You are worthy of all honor and glory
More worthy than any gift I can bring
Your majesty and splendor obscured
As I admire the next shiny thing

I want to adore You and worship
With words that I speak and I sing
But just as I open my mouth
I speak only of the next shiny thing

Creator God, Sweet Savior, Sustainer
Holy Ghost sending angels on wing
Please protect me from even myself
So I don’t chase the next shiny thing

1 Corinthians 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

1 Timothy 6:18 “That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;”

Proverbs 23:4
Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.

Matthew 13:22

He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.