Sunday, March 28, 2010

Mutual edification -- a debate

Christ says:
Encourage one another in the Lord, bear each other's burdens, confess sin to each other.

The Accuser says:
Who are you to speak words of encouragement? Hypocrite! You know struggles and discouragement as much or even more so than they. "Physician, heal thyself."
Christ replies:
God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong, so that no human being might boast in His presence. "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."
The Accuser says:
You don't really know them very well. Every man is an island, after all. Do they LOOK like they need your help? Their lives are probably fine without your help.
Christ replies:
All have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God. 
Deliver those who are drawn toward death, and hold back those stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, "Surely we did not know this," does not he who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?
The purpose of a man's heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.
The Accuser says:
Tellings others of your struggles or your sin just burdens them AND you.
Christ replies:
Cast your cares upon Him, for He cares for you.
Two are better than one, for they have a good return on their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!
The Accuser says:
 They will misuse the information and embarrass you or think less of you, or will avoid talking with you.
Christ replies:
In humility count others more significant than yourself. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also the to the interests of others. Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant. He humbled himself by being obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets. 
Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven.

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