He who is not against us, is for us

"He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; But he that harpeth on a matter separateth chief friends." (Proverbs 17:9)

that was the automatic verse on my sidebar yesterday ... it went along with my thinking over the last few days ... my thoughts over the last few weeks actually ... and now that another birthday has matured me (cough cough) ... i want to share these thoughts in my blog ... here goes ......

when my good old dial-up is working faster than a slinky making it’s way down stairs, i surf and read other blogs, besides my regular pick me up ones (you know that means you of course!) ... sometimes my soul gets cast down from the bitterness and hatred that i find out there ... believers beating up on other believers ... not about social injustice ... the plight of third world countries or how we can help ... but most times about imagined attitudes that "the church" holds ... by the way, the church is us - every single believer has a part in the church, which is the Body of Christ ... simple as that ... so i guess these angry folks are kicking themselves as well??? do you think? hmmmm

after a busy day of teaching, healing and generally being the stand up kind of Guy our Lord was, the Apostle John asked Jesus "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow with us," and Jesus replied "Do not forbid him, for he who is not against us is for us." Luke 9:49,50.

hmmmm ... Jesus spent very little time on the answer to that question! it seemed straight forward to Him ... He didn’t go into great detail - he just said FOR HE WHO IS NOT AGAINST US IS FOR US ... simple ...

we all have our job to do ... each in different areas in this walk of faith ... so isn’t it counterproductive to be dictating to our brothers/sisters how they should be doing their job? ... we each need to look within, to make sure we’ve got our own mission going in the right direction ... we are held accountable for our actions ... they are the only ones within our control ...

my view is pretty simplistic ... it is not stated with a fist pounding a desk for emphasis either ... just thoughts on the body of Christ ... which is the church ... which is every believer ...

1 John 4:20 sums it up ... "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?"