Don't Be A Bully For God

How are you at handling conflict? Most of us are not very good at it and so try to avoid it. It is good to avoid conflict where possible but it is not always possible. Sometimes we have no choice but to face up to it and it is in those times I am wondering about. How do you handle those conflicts that cannot be avoided?

Many of us steel ourselves so that we can be protected against what is coming at us. Sometimes we allow anger to become our defense. We allow anger to become a wall that prevents anything from getting at us. But anger is also a weapon that causes injury. Conflicts do not have to end in hurt.

The problem with conflict is that we allow it to become personal. We keep getting in the way. A conflict does not have to be about us. We don't have to own it. It doesn't have to be part of us. We do not need to allow it to consume us or to even touch our heart. If we understood Jesus correctly we would know that there is nothing in this world that we value or that we should feel attached to. If we understood this then there would be a lot less hurt in conflict. People cannot offend us when our value and worth is not found in us but in Jesus alone. This is how Paul was able to instruct Timothy:

Be humble when you correct people who oppose you. (2 Timothy 2:25)

Everything is done in humility, even correction. The way this is possible is when we respect a person's right to choose. Some people say that they love people too much to respect their decision to reject Jesus. Funny, God has done everything he can to rescue us and his love for us is of far greater worth than ours for people, but he leaves the choice to us. He will never force his will upon us, but we must understand there is a day when we will face the consequences of our decisions. This is what people need to understand but we must it explain it with the same attitude as God's; we have to respect a person's right to choose.

I know we love people and we want them rescued from the destruction of hell. We have the truth and we want to convince people but forcing them into something is wrong and will not last. It is not enough to pray a prayer; it has to be the conviction of the heart. The only way we can obey God is through love. The only way repentance is sincere is through love. The only way we can work out our salvation daily is through love and love does not happen when someone is forced into something that they are not convinced of.

Salvation does not belong to us; it is the work of God. We are only messengers, conveyors of the good news, and trophies of God's grace. Arguing with someone over salvation will not work. Becoming angry and shouting at someone about their actions and attitudes will do nothing but convince them you are a bully. Read Paul's instructions to Timothy and see who is actually responsible for touching the heart and mind of the person you are speaking with:

Be humble when you correct people who oppose you. Maybe God will lead them to turn to him and learn the truth. They have been trapped by the devil, and he makes them obey him, but God may help them escape. (2 Timothy 2:25-26) 

We have the responsibility to always present the truth but it is God who changes the hearts of men. So we speak the truth in humility, avoiding senseless arguments, presenting Jesus and allowing the Spirit to do the rest. We must go. We must present. We must tell others, but do it with an attitude that pleases God.

God does not need bullies. He does not need those who will allow their emotions to control their mouth. He needs warriors, controlled by the Spirit who are willing to go anywhere and speak to anyone about Jesus, in humility and love. If people decide not to listen, it is their decision. Salvation is by the conviction of the Spirit. He will use your words that he gives to you to speak but he will not use your persuasion. Just speak the truth plainly and allow the Spirit to do the rest. Don't take their rejection personally. It is not you they are rejecting. Trust God in this as you trust him in everything else.

The Only Thing That Matters Is ....

Here's a fact: All that matters is your relationship with Jesus Christ. It doesn't matter about your looks, your style, your possession, your job, your friends, even your family. It doesn't matter how many times you go to church, how well you sing, if you are in the worship group or lead a Bible Study. It doesn't matter how many hours you spend feeding the poor, visiting the sick, building homes, giving out clothing. It doesn't matter how many storms you quiet, dead you raise, blind you give sight to, lepers you heal. All that matter is your relationship with Jesus Christ.

When this relationship is right then everything else falls into place. Your motivation is right. The power is present. Your energy is good. You sleep well at night. Peace is your constant possession.

I say this because many of us are too worried about the opinions and ideas of other people. We are swayed too easily by what the world thinks and says. We worry too much about fitting in and doing the right thing. Our confidence is low and we often just want to "get by". No expectations. Nothing accomplished. Just another brick in the wall.

Understand what the Spirit is saying:

Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. (Colossians 2:16-17)

Repeat that: "The reality, however, is found in Christ". Keep repeating that until the truth of it hits you.

So many Christians try to live an Old Testament type of Christianity not understanding that those things were just shadows of the reality we find in Jesus. There is something wrong with us. We have a tendency to try to take the things of God and translate them into something we better understand. Look at Israel and the golden calf. In fact, look how easy it was for Israel to fall prey to foreign gods. They just wanted something they could see and touch.

We still do that today, trying to make the things of God human in nature so we can better understand. But anything we try to translate becomes twisted and deformed and becomes a distraction from Jesus just like the desert snake became an idol for the Israelites in generations to come.

All that matters is our relationship with Jesus. That is our reality because everything finds its reality in him. Do not allow anything to distract you or persuade you to take your eyes off of him. Do not let anything become a substitute for your relationship with him. Do not fall for any lies or any deception that would try to tell you that you need something more than this relationship with Jesus. There is nothing you have to do other than love him with all your heart, mind, soul, body and strength. When you do that everything else falls into place.

All that matters is your relationship with Jesus.