Someone asked us recently about dealing with defending others publicly, especially his own family and friends, from unrighteous attacks from others. The question exposed a greater truth we thought worthy of sharing with the rest of the class. We hope and pray it will be a source of strength for many of you.Here is our answer:
It's a complex issue. Each situation must be assessed on its own merits. On one hand we can apply this verse:
¶He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.
Proverbs 26:17
In other words - we should mind our own business! But if the problem does pertain to us personally we are called to be salt and light in a dark and dying world. So then - what to do?
Again - each situation must be individually evaluated. We can easily weed out the situations which are clearly none of our business, just as Prov 26 tells us to. But what about the others? The very first thing to do is keep our cool. A peaceful existence is of the utmost importance. Try to picture your existential reality in compartments like rooms of a house. Mentally we can enter any room we wish. There's the angry room in which our mind is full of anger and wrath and we desire to solve all of life's problems by lashing out and throwing things. You've met that person, right? Not a very productive way to be is it? So we can choose to leave that room and enter the apathetic room of the mind in which we just don't care. Live and let live. Whatever will be will be. But guess what! That room has no passion and the destitute find no justice or help. There are many rooms in the mind but most importantly there is a room in which Jesus resides. He is there, waiting for us to join Him. It's a place of perpetual peace, where problems are solved, justice is served, prayers are answered, and peace is perpetual. That is the room to stay in and NEVER leave... because Jesus is there.
Hebrews 4:10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
11 ¶Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
It is from this place that we can make sound decisions with Jesus' help. We can access the mind of Christ from a position of peace... by remaining in that peaceful place where Jesus is. As soon as we leave this place of existence we get angry or uncaring. We have left the existential reality where Jesus dwells. It's a place of rest where we can be led by the Spirit of God.
Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
As soon as we learn to access this place and stay there we will be able to be led by the Holy Spirit in any and every situation... no problem.
¶And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.
Isaiah 30:18
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Romans 14:17
¶Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Romans 5:1
So, as we read in Heb 4:11 - let us labor to enter into that rest - and stay there... agreed?
PPSIMMONS
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