This week we celebrate the 247th birthday of our nation. As Christ follower, my eyes need to be on Him, and He, through His servant Paul instructed that first of all we should pray for our leaders – for our nation! Let’s do it! – PS
Month: June 2023
Word of Gracers,
I don’t know this blogger, but I appreciate her biblical and common sense testimony. Please take the time to read it as it makes the point I had planned to make this week, from a perspective I can’t make because my parents took me to church as an infant and I have never stopped going. 🙂
Pastor Scott
Scripture calls us over and over again to humble ourselves before God. We are also called to walk in humility here, whether among family, friends or strangers. But what does that mean practically?
Paul gives us one clue in Philipians 2:4 where he says simply “Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, also!” So one could say horizontal humility is being “other focused.” In Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis puts it this way: “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less”… except, according to a deeper search, he didn’t write that.
This quote has been making the rounds for years, since the publication of Rick Warren’s The Purpose-Driven Life, where it appears as part of Day 19, “Cultivating Community.” And it is to Warren this quote belongs, for indeed, it is his.
It’s a nice quote, and even a helpful one. But what Lewis actually wrote on this subject is far more challenging:
Do not imagine that if you meet a really humble man he will be what most people call ‘humble’ nowadays: he will not be a sort of greasy, smarmy person, who is always telling you that, of course, he is nobody. Probably all you will think about him is that he seemed a cheerful, intelligent chap who took a real interest in what you said to him. If you do dislike him it will be because you feel a little envious of anyone who seems to enjoy life so easily. He will not be thinking about humility: he will not be thinking about himself at all.
If anyone would like to acquire humility, I can, I think, tell him the first step. The first step is to realise that one is proud. And a biggish step, too. At least, nothing whatever can be done before it. If you think you are not conceited, it means you are very conceited indeed.
C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, Book 3, Chapter 8, “The Great Sin,” Kindle location 1665
Paul’s words, Warren’s words, and Lewis’s words are good reminders to care for the planks in our own eyes before we try to remove the rainbow splinter from someone else’s! 🙂
Because God is Still On the Throne,
Pastor Scott
I’ve been shopping at Target since I first could drive. Kelly has been using Kohl’s Cash since the program first started. Now stepping in either store makes us a bit uncomfortable. We aren’t alone. Target has lost mega dollars in recent weeks and that’s why I’m writing. Boycotts aren’t new. There was a boycott of the meat markets in both Corinth and Rome by Christians of strong conviction In the Apostle Paul’s day. Of course, not all Christians shared that conviction and the strongly convicted tended to judge them. The ones who thought the boycotters (vegans) were being silly tended to hold said abstainers in contempt. Thus there was division in the church circa 65 AD.
In 2023 AD, as the ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) movement gains more influence over investors, we may see more and more companies throw off all moral restraint. I don’t pretend to know what to do about where to shop and where to buy, but praise God I do know how we are to behave toward each other. Consider this application of Romans 14:1-4:
Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions. One person has faith that he may shop anywhere, but he who is weak boycotts. The one who shops anywhere is not to regard with contempt the one who boycotts, and the one who boycotts is not to judge the one who shops, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
Application of Romans 14:1-4
I don’t know what this will come to, but I do remember a time when some Christians weren’t wearing Levi’s (I don’t even remember why) and other Christians couldn’t afford not to wear the pants already in their closet. The last thing we should be doing is humiliating each other because of some corporation’s decision! Always choose grace!
Yours, together with Him,
Pastor Scott
Compare: 14 Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions. 2 One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only. 3 The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him. 4 Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
Romans 14:1-4 (NASB 1995)
Grace Notes 