Tuesday, September 29, 2009

God's Bulldogs

I am always amazed at how people who claim to be believers can be filled with hate and be so critical and mean-spirited. When we become Christians, we are to be characterized by our love. Sure, we can correct one another and reprove one another. Sure, we are to be careful and discerning. But we can do these things in a loving way.

I have seen believers harshly criticize others and their actions, and meanwhile, they are doing nothing at all for the kingdom of God. They are quick to criticize everyone else's efforts, but they are doing nothing themselves other than critiquing. I like to call these the “Bulldogs” of the faith but realized that they are neither animals nor are they practicing our faith and attempt to be like the Christ we claim to serve. In fact I have found that most criticism of others comes from a deep seated need to build ourselves up. It is almost always self-serving and seldom redemptive.

(I also realize that I could be seen as guilty of doing and being exactly what I am writing about now.)

As Warren Wiersbe has said, "Impatience with God often leads to impatience with God's people. . . . If we start using the sickles on each other, we will miss the harvest." I have seen Christians divide over minor issues rather than pull together for the sake of the gospel.

The difference in attitude can be seen in the Jewish zealot Saul and the Apostle Paul. Both are the same man, at least in the skin they wore. However, Saul full felt he was doing the Will of God by eradicating the misfit followers of Jesus. He was so sure that God wanted this done that he went out of his way, put in extra effort and got permission to go all the way to Damascus to round up these wrong-doers.

On his way though he met Jesus and soon his whole attitude changed. Not just in the fact that as Paul we was no longer persecuting the “Christians”, but that He now saw the positive and strove to concentrate on that.

Saul was a religious man, but he was a godless man. He was running from God. He was attacking Christians. He was thinking he would successfully destroy the Christian faith. But he had a surprise in store on the Damascus Road. How can we hear Paul speak these words “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Phil. 4:8 NIV) and think that is our God given responsibility to be God’s Bulldogs?

Give me wings and a beak. I would rather be a dove!

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