Scriptural Foundation:
Proverbs 12:14-16 – New King James Version (NKJV)
A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth, and the recompense of a man’s hands will be rendered to him. The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise. A fool’s wrath is known at once, but a prudent man covers shame.
Mark 2:17 – New King James Version (NKJV)
When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
1 Peter 4:17-19 – New King James Version (NKJV)
For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?
Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?” Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.
Reflection:
“You are just ignorant”, is a phraseology that is used often in our current political and global climate. Recently, I had to take a moment to reflect after a high school friend of mine called me ignorant. I sat down with the Lord and tried to figure out why the comment made me angry. Anger is not a fruit of the Spirit and not something that I wanted to take root in my heart.
If the truth be told, it was because I have used that same word to describe someone else at some point in time. Granted not to their face, but that is why long-time friends are in some regard, family. . . no filter whatsoever.
Ignorant is defined in the Webster dictionary as:
- Destitute of knowledge or education, lacking of knowledge or comprehension of the thing specified.
- Resulting from or showing a lack of knowledge or intelligence.
For those who know me, I have always had my head in the books. I have since supplemented that approach with Google and Youtube when I don’t know about something. When it comes to hot topics, I don’t tend to be adamant on one side or the other. I am able to see both sides’ perspectives and try to translate points that may seem one-sided to the opposing party. Yes, there are people that I have described as ignorant, not because they were stupid, but because they were so blind to their viewpoint it was staggering.
Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. – Matthew 7:5(NKJV)
I had another dear friend a couple years ago that told me that when we start following God the obvious sins don’t slip us up anymore. For example, if we have been delivered of alcohol, we avoid bars. If we don’t go to a bar, we won’t get tempted/caught up with the activities that happen in a bar. As believers, once we are delivered, we tend to create our own isolated worlds, we go to church/youth group/group fellowships and surround ourselves with like minded people. This is a good thing, we are following what the Word says:
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. – Hebrews 10:25 (KJV)
At the same time, we need to be awake and aware that the devil has been using the same playbook since the beginning of time.
Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” – Genesis 3:1(NKJV)
The serpent went into Adam’s and Eve’s Eden and eroded the voice of Truth in their souls from the inside out. His objective was to question the foundation of Truth. We as believers tend to cherry pick parts of the Bible that support our viewpoint or support our situation at the moment. The devil also knows the Word and he always cherry picks it for his purposes when dealing with God’s people. He did it with Jesus in the wilderness.
Then the devil taketh Him up into the holy city, and setteth Him on a pinnacle of the temple, and saith unto Him, if thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, it is written again, thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. – Matthew 4:5-7 (KJV)
By creating our own isolated/insolated worlds and eliminating anything that is counter to our viewpoint is like overindulging in one area. It makes us lazy spiritually and sets us up for temptation and ultimately sin. For example, King David decided not to go out to war, but stay back in the palace (his Eden) while his troops went out to war.
And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem. And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house. 2 Samuel 11:1-4 (KJV)
The devil may tempt us, but we have to own our own choices and repent where applicable.
Don’t let anyone under pressure to give in to evil say, “God is trying to trip me up.” God is impervious to evil, and puts evil in no one’s way. The temptation to give in to evil comes from us and only us. We have no one to blame but the leering, seducing flare-up of our own lust. Lust gets pregnant, and has a baby: sin! Sin grows up to adulthood, and becomes a real killer. – James 1:13(MSG)
If we knowingly stay in the worlds that we create and don’t choose to go out to battle or don’t choose to hold ourselves accountable to our words and our actions, then we will become satisfied with the kingdom we created instead of the Kingdom in which we serve.
Well-spoken words bring satisfaction; well-done work has its own reward. Fools are headstrong and do what they like; wise people take advice. Fools have short fuses and explode all too quickly; the prudent quietly shrug off insults. – Proverbs 12:14-16 (MSG)
I think the righteous and the sinners that Jesus were referring to in Mark 2:17 are one in the same.
But when Jesus overheard their complaint, he said to them, “Who goes to the doctor for a cure? Those who are well or those who are sick? I have not come to call the ‘righteous,’ but those who are sinners and bring them to repentance.” – Mark 2:17 (TPT)
The difference is if an individual chooses to love despite opposing viewpoints. That person is righteous/well. This individual in spite of any circumstance chooses to get up each morning and put down their flesh and pick up their cross to follow Jesus. That same individual can remove themselves from all challenges and potential for spiritual growth by manipulating their circumstances to fit their narrative, whereby isolating themselves in their sickness. It is really very simple. . .are you choosing to be well or sick?
Seeking Revelation:
Grab your notebook:
- What topics are you adamant about? Your non negotiables. Write them down.
- Look up at least three scriptures that support your viewpoint. Add them to your list.
- Now look up the counter arguments to your non negotiables. Write them down.
- Look up at least three scriptures concerning love that can be applied to those viewpoints and help you connect to your fellow human being.
If you are in God, we are on the same team. We are all ignorant to the Truth at one time or another. God is faithful when we pray to give us revelation. Treat family just as kindly as you would a stranger. Division never ends in peace.