Tuesday, April 10, 2007

HARD FEELINGS DON'T BELONG

One of Satan's greatest and most effective tools sprinkled throughout the kingdom are hard feelings. We actually can become so desensitized to our own villainous hearts we can smile while we say we don't like someone(s). Such is a mistaken doctrine. It's based on self-protection; not self-dying. It shows no mercy and doesn't want to discuss the opening regions of merciful ways.

Our brotherhood would find old wounds evaporate if we could get at actuality rather than hard feelings. As cotton candy is pure sugar, hard feelings are pure emotion. Emotion too often rules.

I've often wondered about the famous heritage names of ours: Nichols, Tant, McGarvey, Campbell (both), Stone, and Raccoon John Smith, etc. Do you suppose any of their stances ever took form because of heated debate with a brother they "didn't like"? I believe we'd be most naive to assume such never happened. I've been around enough of our present-day famed preachers and I'm telling you it goes on.

What happens is we divide up into camps; each has a banner over it, "The Truth". Yet, emotions have led many to their conclusions. I've been caught there. We are more than Republicans or Democrats...who by the way....seem to reach many of there positions due to emotion, as well. We are in the True Kingdom, where He's building his True Church. Such isn't to be hateful, spiteful, nor divisive at a touchy whim.

I meet too many people at funerals who don't seem to be as roughly poised about their old stances as they are---and finally---positioned to find a reason to be warmly united.

If you have anyone in your life with whom there is blatant distress over hard feelings, I encourage you to develop a prayer life to benefit the one whom you regard as your enemy. And....watch out, God will do some of His best work!

5 comments:

Shawn said...

Great stuff again this morning, Terry. This is one of those areas that I would rather muffle and ignore but for some crazy reason, God ever puts it in the front of my mind. Emotions can get the best of us way too fast. Thank you for reinforcing this in my mind and heart. Let the healing continue.

Shawn

Paul Straw said...

Terry,

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”b says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”c
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

I guess what I am trying to say is that is my goal in life. Especially with the people that are closest to me.

Be encouraged,
Paul

Dana M. said...

Thanks for these words, Terry. I've been struggling with how to get past myself on something similar to this. I've been "feeling" stuck inside my emotions, but knowing that's a bad place to stay. I needed the encouragement of this teaching.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Liz Moore said...

Emotions can definitely get the best of us. Thanks for the great reminder!

Leon Mission Effort said...

Hey Terry. Hope Mary is doing better. I had heard that she's struggled with her health. I'm really glad to hear the workshop went so well. I heard a lot of people were really blessed. I miss those days, but it's a serious drive from Leon, GTO. I wanted to ask you for permission to share your article "hard feelings don't belong" on my blog? I thought you had some good things to say and it spoke to me. I was hoping that I could pass it along. Thanks, shawn