From My Perspective - - -
There is almost an endless list of words to which “in” is added. One that is bandied about frequently in the news about the government of the United States is the term ineptness. The term has a basic meaning: “a lack of skill and/or ability.” An illustration would include a faltering sports team whose coach lacks a skill to motivate and lead. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary includes in its list of Synonyms for ineptness the following terms: “inadequacy, incapability, incapacity, incompetence, inability and insufficiency.” In its section of related words, they include: “inaptitude, ineffective, ineffectual, inefficacy, and inefficient.” The way one views human government, colleagues, or authority persons is subjective. A great deal depends on the manner in which government is conducted, or how colleagues relate and interact, and how authority types lead – either by fiat or example. Most people in life have encountered those who are both incorrect (embracing or promoting error) and intransigent (completely unwilling to change; very stubborn). As a result, it foments an insufferable (very bad or unpleasant: too unpleasant to deal with or accept; difficult to endure) context for work and life.
If or when ineptness becomes the dominating display of governing, colleague interaction or being subordinate to authority types – what is one’s recourse? Is there a viable alternative? What are the places for non-compliance? Especially in the cases with which the follower of Jesus Christ finds himself/herself, what should govern ones actions or reactions? Is one obligated to obey the laws of man if/when those laws are contrary to the moral laws of God? Should a follower of Jesus Christ who is a Medical Doctor participate in either abortion or euthanasia because it is legal, or refuse on the basis of God’s Moral Law that requires: “Thou shalt not kill”? Should the Biblical Clergy participate in same-gender marriages because in is legal, or refuse on the basis of God’s Moral Law that condemns such behavior?
A display of ineptness recorded in I Kings 12:3-16. Rehoboam has followed Solomon as king in Israel. He is unequal to the task and unwise in his choices. His brother, Jeroboam, who returns from Egypt and approaches his brother accompanied by many from Israel with these words: "Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you." To his credit, Rehoboam seems sincere when he indicates he will seek advice for three days before reaching a decision. Verses 6-11 record his interaction with the Elders and the younger men: “King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. How would you advise me to answer these people? He asked. They replied: If today you will be a servant to these people and serve them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants. But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him. He asked them: What is your advice? How should we answer these people who say to me: Lighten the yoke your father put on us? The young men who had grown up with him replied: Tell these people who have said to you: Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but make our yoke lighter--tell them: My little finger is thicker than my father's waist. My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions." In reaching this decision, he demonstrated his ineptness – and the kingdom would soon become divided.
There is concern in our day because the “church” has allowed itself to become influenced and impacted by a Culture in Chaos. As a result, the “church” has displayed ineptness and incapable of communicating adequately to a generation who is in the process of losing its way and toppling down the slippery slope of failure, consequence and judgment. We need the insight and commitment of Paul in II Corinthians 2:14-17, “Thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.” Consider these things with me.
There is almost an endless list of words to which “in” is added. One that is bandied about frequently in the news about the government of the United States is the term ineptness. The term has a basic meaning: “a lack of skill and/or ability.” An illustration would include a faltering sports team whose coach lacks a skill to motivate and lead. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary includes in its list of Synonyms for ineptness the following terms: “inadequacy, incapability, incapacity, incompetence, inability and insufficiency.” In its section of related words, they include: “inaptitude, ineffective, ineffectual, inefficacy, and inefficient.” The way one views human government, colleagues, or authority persons is subjective. A great deal depends on the manner in which government is conducted, or how colleagues relate and interact, and how authority types lead – either by fiat or example. Most people in life have encountered those who are both incorrect (embracing or promoting error) and intransigent (completely unwilling to change; very stubborn). As a result, it foments an insufferable (very bad or unpleasant: too unpleasant to deal with or accept; difficult to endure) context for work and life.
If or when ineptness becomes the dominating display of governing, colleague interaction or being subordinate to authority types – what is one’s recourse? Is there a viable alternative? What are the places for non-compliance? Especially in the cases with which the follower of Jesus Christ finds himself/herself, what should govern ones actions or reactions? Is one obligated to obey the laws of man if/when those laws are contrary to the moral laws of God? Should a follower of Jesus Christ who is a Medical Doctor participate in either abortion or euthanasia because it is legal, or refuse on the basis of God’s Moral Law that requires: “Thou shalt not kill”? Should the Biblical Clergy participate in same-gender marriages because in is legal, or refuse on the basis of God’s Moral Law that condemns such behavior?
A display of ineptness recorded in I Kings 12:3-16. Rehoboam has followed Solomon as king in Israel. He is unequal to the task and unwise in his choices. His brother, Jeroboam, who returns from Egypt and approaches his brother accompanied by many from Israel with these words: "Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you." To his credit, Rehoboam seems sincere when he indicates he will seek advice for three days before reaching a decision. Verses 6-11 record his interaction with the Elders and the younger men: “King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. How would you advise me to answer these people? He asked. They replied: If today you will be a servant to these people and serve them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants. But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him. He asked them: What is your advice? How should we answer these people who say to me: Lighten the yoke your father put on us? The young men who had grown up with him replied: Tell these people who have said to you: Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but make our yoke lighter--tell them: My little finger is thicker than my father's waist. My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions." In reaching this decision, he demonstrated his ineptness – and the kingdom would soon become divided.
There is concern in our day because the “church” has allowed itself to become influenced and impacted by a Culture in Chaos. As a result, the “church” has displayed ineptness and incapable of communicating adequately to a generation who is in the process of losing its way and toppling down the slippery slope of failure, consequence and judgment. We need the insight and commitment of Paul in II Corinthians 2:14-17, “Thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.” Consider these things with me.
No comments:
Post a Comment