Today,
the reply is on foolishness as an operation of sin, rather than a
genuine display of ones fresh endowment of spirit imparted from the
makeup of GOD. Members of the church are not berated, bribed and
paid, coerced, physically forced, treated as chattel and slaves, or
made to maintain their covenant as followers of Jesus Christ by
mistreatment, threats and violence. Sinners who choose to return to
GOD showing repentance are to become “born again,” “grow up
again,” and become mature for harvest from the earth by the Lord at
his coming. The sacred process is one of commitment to fulfill
eternal purpose. Each believer is to acknowledge and put to work
their own deposit of the Holy Spirit, making demands primarily from
themselves, and not from others. Included are church attendance,
giving and making donations, intercessory prayer, and study of the
holy writings. Hilarity, levity, meddling, and practical jokes
typically emerge from immaturity, irreverence, lack of self-respect,
mockery, and disbelief. As a result, those who repeatedly present
such actions and speech within the church usually suffer censure,
great embarrassment, and shame. One
of the fighters in the “Yahoo! Answers” public forum on Religion
and Spirituality who uses the ID “Anonymous” (no profile is
shared) posted the following:
Would
it be a sin to bring a squirt gun to church, fill it with holy water,
and squirt people who gossip during church?
THE
GOLDEN ARROW: As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows,
and death, So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour,
and saith, Am not I in sport? (Proverbs 26: 18-19, King James
Version, KJV)
THE
DOUBLE DAGGER: Commitment To Jesus Christ (03/07/2019); Etiquette
Within The Church? (03/16/2018); Duties of a Christian? (03/13/2018);
Foolish People and Unwise (10/26/2017); From Dust Thou Art
(09/07/2017); Someone Who Is Kidding? (03/24/2017); Without Preaching
The Cross? (02/21/2016); Answer a Fool? (06/04/2015); Foolishness?
(09/28/2014)
“Anonymous”,
mature Christian believers rely on the holy writings for guidance and
instruction that includes sacred law provided for continuing covenant
relationship with divinity; principles and standards for attitudes,
conduct, and decision-making within communities of faith; and models
for sacred practices such as giving, praise, prayer, suffering, and
unselfish service. Branding, judging, and labeling others, quickly
becomes slander and the work of the devil. While all believers are
to display integrity, rule and self-government, at all times, the
church is to acknowledge accountability and duty to GOD. With that
in view, no one may command your behavior beyond your membership
agreement, and your heartfelt understanding of the needs and purposes
of the body. Such elements as arrogance, bias, defiance,
presumption, angry outbursts, the use of profanity, and violence have
no place in the church founded by Jesus Christ. Consider again the
following that uses language from the Bible:
1.
Proverbs 24: 8-9, King James Version (KJV): 8 He that deviseth to
do evil shall be called a mischievous person. 9 The thought of
foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination
to men.
2.
1st Corinthians 14: 39-40, KJV: 39 Wherefore, brethren,
covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. 40 Let all
things be done decently and in order.
3.
1st Timothy 5: 21-23, KJV: 21 I charge thee
before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that
thou observe these things without preferring one before another,
doing nothing by partiality. 22 Lay hands suddenly on no man,
neither be partaker of other men’s
sins: keep thyself pure.
There
is far more that should be said, correctly examined, and spiritually
apprehended. (For example, 4. Jude 1:
21-25, KJV: 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the
mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 22 And of some
have compassion, making a difference: 23 And others save with fear,
pulling them
out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. 24
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present
you
faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25 To
the only wise God our Saviour, be
glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.)
Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you
according to your faith.
THE
BLACK PHOENIX
Washington,
DC
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