Post by brianbomar on Apr 17, 2006 9:57:20 GMT -5
This is an article written by a dear brother, Brother Martin. It speaks of the callousness that most of us "enlightened" brothers have in dealing with the "deceived".
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…then where is the weeping?
by Alan Martin
If we have received wisdom from above, where is the sorrow that should accompany it? Ecclesiastes 1:18 – “For in much wisdom is much grief and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.” One way to test whether we are receiving wisdom from God or “knowledge that puffs up” is to ask ourselves how many tears have we been shedding.
Jesus wept over Jerusalem before He cleansed the temple and pronounced the woes upon the Pharisees.
Luke 19:41 “Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, ‘If you had known, even you, this day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.”
Dry humor may be appropriate, but dry criticism is not. Jeremiah pulled no punches when describing Israel’s harlotry, but he is remembered as “the weeping prophet.” Psalm 119:136 in the NIV states – “Streams of tears flow from my eyes for your Law is not obeyed.” Do our eyes flow with tears in describing the conditions we so clearly see around us?
Jesus instructed us to “Remove the beam out of our own eye,” in preparation to removing the speck from our brother’s. Most of us have experienced our eyes’ natural reaction to foreign matter, they tear profusely. Tear filled eyes are likely the best test to insure that we have first removed our plank, before launching our tirade against the specks we detect in others.
Do our prayers and attitude toward God resemble the Pharisee’s of the Publican’s? Are we more grateful that we are not like “other men,” or more conscious that we are not even worthy to lift our eyes up to heaven? Those keenly conscious of their own sinfulness and God’s mercy do not proudly give their callous criticism of others without the spirit of brokenness and sorrow. “Blessed are all who mourn, for they shall be comforted – but woe to those who laugh now – they shall be tormented.” Judgment without mercy will be given to anyone who has not been merciful.”
Carnal criticism pits “the few, pure, separated ones” against the “deceived” majority. The key word here is “against.” Wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, considerate – then full or mercy.
Wisdom that results in bitter envy and self-seeking does not descend from above, but is earthly, soulish, and demonic.” God’s wisdom is redemptive, it is given not to callously condemn men in the sinful state, rather to passionately plead for them in their sinful state.
Consider the heart of Paul, “I tell you the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh.” Notice – “my brethren” – “my countrymen.” Has the wisdom we received produced this same heart? There is no callous “we vs. them” mentality expressed here. Paul could not coldly walk away with dry eyes from the deceived, hardened, blinded condition of his brethren.
Again, hear Paul’s heart in his letter to Philippi, “For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ.” Many of us often tell others how many men live as enemies of the cross, but are we weeping when we do so?
There is one that will always speak with a dry eye to men’s sins – the Law! The Law declares “the wages of sin is death – the soul that sinneth it shall die!” The purpose of the Law was never intended to give life, rather it was added because of transgression, so that every mouth would be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. The Law curses disobedience – it was not given to cure it. Christ did not come simply to curse men’s disobedience; no, He became a curse for us to redeem us from the curse of the Law.
We should examine the wisdom we have received to see whether it is producing the curse of death or the grace of life in others. Both the Law and the Spirit are truth, but “The letter kills, - the Spirit gives life.” We might imagine ourselves to be “full of truth” – but our Lord was full of “grace and truth.” He became a life giving spirit with the truth He had. Is the wisdom we have received producing the curse of death upon others, or the river of life within others?
If we have wisdom – where is the weeping?
_________________________________________________
…then where is the weeping?
by Alan Martin
If we have received wisdom from above, where is the sorrow that should accompany it? Ecclesiastes 1:18 – “For in much wisdom is much grief and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.” One way to test whether we are receiving wisdom from God or “knowledge that puffs up” is to ask ourselves how many tears have we been shedding.
Jesus wept over Jerusalem before He cleansed the temple and pronounced the woes upon the Pharisees.
Luke 19:41 “Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, ‘If you had known, even you, this day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.”
Dry humor may be appropriate, but dry criticism is not. Jeremiah pulled no punches when describing Israel’s harlotry, but he is remembered as “the weeping prophet.” Psalm 119:136 in the NIV states – “Streams of tears flow from my eyes for your Law is not obeyed.” Do our eyes flow with tears in describing the conditions we so clearly see around us?
Jesus instructed us to “Remove the beam out of our own eye,” in preparation to removing the speck from our brother’s. Most of us have experienced our eyes’ natural reaction to foreign matter, they tear profusely. Tear filled eyes are likely the best test to insure that we have first removed our plank, before launching our tirade against the specks we detect in others.
Do our prayers and attitude toward God resemble the Pharisee’s of the Publican’s? Are we more grateful that we are not like “other men,” or more conscious that we are not even worthy to lift our eyes up to heaven? Those keenly conscious of their own sinfulness and God’s mercy do not proudly give their callous criticism of others without the spirit of brokenness and sorrow. “Blessed are all who mourn, for they shall be comforted – but woe to those who laugh now – they shall be tormented.” Judgment without mercy will be given to anyone who has not been merciful.”
Carnal criticism pits “the few, pure, separated ones” against the “deceived” majority. The key word here is “against.” Wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, considerate – then full or mercy.
Wisdom that results in bitter envy and self-seeking does not descend from above, but is earthly, soulish, and demonic.” God’s wisdom is redemptive, it is given not to callously condemn men in the sinful state, rather to passionately plead for them in their sinful state.
Consider the heart of Paul, “I tell you the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh.” Notice – “my brethren” – “my countrymen.” Has the wisdom we received produced this same heart? There is no callous “we vs. them” mentality expressed here. Paul could not coldly walk away with dry eyes from the deceived, hardened, blinded condition of his brethren.
Again, hear Paul’s heart in his letter to Philippi, “For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ.” Many of us often tell others how many men live as enemies of the cross, but are we weeping when we do so?
There is one that will always speak with a dry eye to men’s sins – the Law! The Law declares “the wages of sin is death – the soul that sinneth it shall die!” The purpose of the Law was never intended to give life, rather it was added because of transgression, so that every mouth would be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. The Law curses disobedience – it was not given to cure it. Christ did not come simply to curse men’s disobedience; no, He became a curse for us to redeem us from the curse of the Law.
We should examine the wisdom we have received to see whether it is producing the curse of death or the grace of life in others. Both the Law and the Spirit are truth, but “The letter kills, - the Spirit gives life.” We might imagine ourselves to be “full of truth” – but our Lord was full of “grace and truth.” He became a life giving spirit with the truth He had. Is the wisdom we have received producing the curse of death upon others, or the river of life within others?
If we have wisdom – where is the weeping?