TRUCULENT TIMES

I Was Just Thinking About - - - 

There are all kinds of groups that speculate about world events as they unfold and predict what it means in terms of the end of the world. There is a webpage that calculates and speculates about events “Before It’s News” and wonders aloud what will occur if Nation A decides on retaliation against a Nation or Group B that has committed a dastardly deed that has caused the death of some of its citizens. For someone to be truculent means an action that is: “fierce; cruel; savagely brutal or harsh; vitriolic; scathing.” The “Before It’s News” speculation is headlined: “Breaking! Russian Nuclear Units on the Move, Non-Essential Civilians Told to Leave, Putin’s Ready to Nuke ISIS!” There are a lot of “what-if” scenarios as this tragic event of a downed Russian Airliner flying from Egypt to Russia unfolds. One can only wonder, if any of this is proven to be true, is the suggested response greater than the deed evoked? If limited nuclear weaponry of Russia or Iran is utilized, what will the collateral impact be in the Middle East?

While there is only speculation about what occurred to the aircraft and why the plane crashed at this point, it does raise a question on the ways by which human behavior responds to truculent events. The Sermon on the Mount contains the words of Jesus Christ regarding the law of retaliation. In Matthew 5:43-48, Jesus instructed: “You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on evil and good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous…” Jesus is instructing His followers of the necessity of entering into His love (agape) and adopting His actions or reactions when evil or injustices occur. Throughout the Gospels, there are several accounts where Jesus employs a logical response to the calloused adversary. He urged against retaliation and taught there would be times of suffering because of one’s righteous lifestyle and promulgations. 

Another concern pertains to how professing Christian people act or react in the routine interactions with other professing Christian people. Psalm 37:7-8 summarizes the natural tendencies with these words: “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil.” Four phases seem to leap out of these verses: “Be still before the Lord…Wait patiently for the Lord…Do not fret (worry, anxious)…Refrain from anger…Turn away from wrath (extreme anger, outrage).” When Paul wrote to the Ephesians about new life in Christ, he shared this instruction: “Be angry, yet do not sin. Do not let the sun set upon your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity” (Ephesians 4:26-27). The NLT paraphrases these words: “And don’t sin by letting anger control you. Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.” There are also the words in James 1:19-20, “My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires.” If this is the Word of God to His people - and it is - then why do we have professing Christians who refuse to talk or have fellowship with other professing Christians? Why is the carnal DNA of certain ones not addressed or dealt with? 

The word of God is very clear when it states the reality that a person can grieve the Holy Spirit by a lifestyle that ignores or disobeys the instructions for godly living. In Ephesians 4:30-32,“Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness (harshness, acidity) and wrath (rage, fury) and anger (irritability, ire, fury) and clamor (loud noise, shouting vehemently) and slander (statements that damage a person’s reputation) be put away from you, along with all malice (ill will, vindictiveness).” How then is the Biblical Christian to live? What should be the natural behavior and instinct of the child of God? Ephesians 4:32 states that we are to:“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” Any other behavior is unacceptable to God and should be to us as well. If we do not forgive one another as Christ has forgiven us, we should cringe in fear of the implication and consequence of the non-forgiveness posture and action. Too many professing Christians love to recite The Lord’s Prayer while ignoring the summary words of Jesus to all who would follow Him, Matthew 6:14-15, “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Pause and let these words resonate in you. What do you think they mean? The words of Jesus are not ambiguous but very plain and easily comprehended. Personalize it (put your own name where “you” occurs) as you phrase it slowly: If “I” do not forgive others their sins agains “Me” personally, then “My” Heavenly Father will not forgive “Me” of “My” sins against Him.” The Amplified Bible states Matthew 6:14-15, “For if you forgive others their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins], your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others [nurturing your hurt and anger with the result that it interferes with your relationship with God], then your Father will not forgive your trespasses.”

Individual professing Christians suffer from stunted spiritual growth because they lack a forgiving spirit and are too willing to respond to others with bitterness , wrath, anger, evil speaking and malice. The visible Church that allows this behavior to continue will also suffer from both stunted spiritual and numeric growth. There are no shortcuts around God’s required prerequisites. What do “You” plan to do about “You” in this regard? Consider these things with me.