The characteristic attitudes, habits, etc, of an individual or group.
If love is not our guiding principle in our christian life then we need to examine the motives that define us as Christian. Not only for ourselves but for others who may be forming an opinion of the Christian life based on our attitudes and characteristics.
Consider Romans 12:9-21;
9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.
10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;
11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;
13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.
18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
20 Therefore
“ If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
If we are to abhor (hate) evil and cling to what is good, does that mean we should hate people we consider outside of God's grace, that perhaps we are in some way better than they are?
Or should we hate the fact that we are considered sinners too?
Consider Romans 3:9-20 when tempted to judge others;
9 What then? Are we better than they? not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.
10 As it is written:
"There is none righteous, no, not one;
11 There is none who understands;
There is none who seeks after God.
12 They have all turned aside;
They have together become unprofitable;
There is none that does good, no, not one.
13 Their throat is an open tomb;
With their tongues they have practiced deceit;
The poison of asps is under their lips;
14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness
15 Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 Destruction and misery are in their ways;
17 And the way of peace they have not known;
18 There is no fear of God before their eyes"
19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
No flesh will be justified. Another point that the bible makes is that there is only one denomination under heaven, well actually two there is the Jew and the Gentile (Greek) and we are either one or the other.
Lets go back to what ethos actually means;
The characteristic attitudes, habits, etc, of an individual or group.
As an individual you can hold attitudes and beliefs for yourself but as a group there is one understanding that Christ is the high priest for all men both Jew and Gentile and that no one comes to the Father accept through Jesus Christ.
If we are to be of the same mind to one another we need to get rid of denominational divergence and concentrate on what God wants.
And what is it that God wants from us you may ask. Well he wants us all, to love and honor Him and each other. The enigma of this is of course is we cannot love and honor God unless we first love and honor each other.
For God calls us a liar if we say we love him and do not love each other. And that means everyone people, we are to love everyone. Pray for this love to come from God for I know we cannot do it on our own. Pray that denominational divergences would become an awful thing of the past. Pray that we would stand in unity first in your neighborhood, then the world. Pray, Pray, Pray...for we cannot do it on our own
Consider 1 John 4:20-21
If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.
May...
The Lord bless and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
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All posts by M.A.C. © Bruce W. Moar
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