By It’s uncanny how that in today’s times, we’ve seen an increase in those who want to declare themselves as Christians but yet when you take a step back and look at how they’re living their lives, you’re left pondering if they’re even aware that the way they’re living their lives isn’t very Christian like at all?
Yeah, I know this is the elephant in the room that many of us don’t want to encroach upon because we don’t want to be deemed politically incorrect, or we don’t want to lose friends. But the harsh reality is it is often those very same people that are leaving such a trail of hypocrisy and causing the discourse due to the hatred they are exhibiting… something needs to be said. We see an increasing amount of folks claiming to despise and hate this and that, all the while being politically charged against so many things and showing hatred to others while hiding behind their religion and/or their religious beliefs.
We’ve continued to watch as a division is being created, especially within the Christian community over things that are well out of our control. And to some of us, this truly does break our hearts as we know this is not the way things were intended to be.
All of this thinking brought me to when Paul wrote to the Galatians when he heard there were agitators amongst them causing a division. When you read Paul’s words, you can truly see how they are comparable to our own modern-day problem. We jump to where Paul states in Galatians in Chapter 5, verse 6… “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” Well, I don’t want to be the one to point this out, but so many of us are failing in this, and in a huge way.
Jesus never intended for hatred to be utilized as the basis for His platform to be preached upon. He never intended people to exhibit anger, hostility and rage in relation to things that they claim fall under His values, beliefs and what the Christian “agenda” is all about. How can we expect anyone to value or respect who we are when so many are out here making a mockery of everything that Christianity is built upon?
Anyone who even has the beginning knowledge of Christianity and what the message of Christ was all about will tell you that it was all centered around God’s love and God being love. So, this mentality that is being exhibited by so many, while claiming Christianity as their religion is a falsehood that we as true believers absolutely should not be sitting by idly or quietly.
He goes on to say in verse 7-8, “You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.” So many of you have good intentions, but you are truly going about it in the wrong ways. Truly I tell you, hatred fueled motives are not the answer to anything, nor are they going to be welcomed by or blessed by our Father. Nor is allowing yourself to stay rooted in that mindset going to allow you the freedom to usher in the goodness He has in store for you. How can we expect God to hand us blessings when we have our hands full of so many negative things?
I promise you that no where will you find anything that will tell you that God agrees with using hate as a motive for anything. Nor will you find anything that will justify your anger towards those that don’t live as you do or agree with your ideals. At the end of the day, we are still commanded to love thy neighbors as we love ourselves. Verse 13-15, “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.”
Paul goes on to to tell them to walk by the Spirit so that they may not be gratified by the desires of the flesh. It’s apparent that a bunch of folks need to return to their home churches and invite the Holy Spirit back into their lives because they sure are living lives lead by everything but the Holy Spirit. A life lead without the Holy Spirit is one filled with sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery, idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy, drunkenness (verses 19-21).
Whereas “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. Against such things there is no law.” (Verses 22-23) Do you see the stark difference? A God lead motive would never be a hate driven one, passionate perhaps, but never one that is hate inspired. In verse 5:26 Paul reminds us “Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.” Let that just resonate and stew in your thoughts for a few moments as you think upon how much we see daily of each of those traits from our fellow brothers and sisters. I would garner that it’s safe to say Paul would most likely shake his head in disbelief over how common it takes place today.
In chapter 6, Paul wraps up his letter by reminding them of their responsibility to bear one another’s burdens as in verses 1-2, “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught up in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” He goes on to say that a person will reap what they sow and that if they sow to please their flesh they’ll reap destruction. However, for me, I found a peace and purpose in verses 9-10 when he states, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially those who belong to the family of believers.”
So, it is my duty and your duty in our own walk with Jesus to “attempt” to set right the wrongs we personally see others that belong in our Christian family partaking in, and we can’t do that by sitting by silently out of fear of who’s toes we are going to step on. It’s time that just like Paul, we start calling out the behavior of those that are making a mockery of what it is we actually do value and live for. How the masses portray Christianity to be is not an accurate representation of such and I know I for one am exasperated by it. It saddens me to watch so much hate continuously shared under the false pretense of Christianity when Christianity itself is built and centered on the love that God has for each of us.
Remember folks, “…God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.” (1 John 4:16)
Billie is a 40-something stay-at-home momma of five beautiful children and Grammy to three grandchildren. When not wrangling the littles, she babysits for her two adult children. You will find her gardening, canning, baking, and making the most delicious meals for her family. Billie is a multitasker juggling a team of miniature tyrants, a cat, a snake, two dogs, two rats, and nine chickens. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and studying her bible. Her passion is sharing the gospel through her writing! So, whether she’s feeding your body with delicious meals or feeding your soul through her writing, join Billie as she takes you on a journey providing you with “Food for Thought.”
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