Beware the monster you kill… because you too will become that monster! [Friedrich Nietzsche].
I never thought that being a follower of Jesus Christ that I would ever be quoting Nietzsche…
But I now see this is what happens when we operate in the flesh, under our own steam, especially while applying the letter of the law (and not Christ) to others!
The one who doesn’t think himself guilty of this, merely deceives himself, and like a good lawyer or salesman deceives others around him.
One thing that most human beings are lacking in, is in extending grace to others – like our Lord did for us. I have beaten up on my own ghosts’ for years, believing it was the Lord who was showing me greater truth of why I am who I had become. Armed with the new truth I perceived in dealing with sociopaths, I then dove into others head first to slay who I perceived they were.
Although this was not my nature, I started noticing I tended to morph into those who I have been the victim of. It starts with the ones closest to you, and will move forward, unless you apply the brakes! Those who think that they are above reproach, will never concede to applying the brakes, as the pride of life, and often their own sense of justice, (legalism) only drives them further into a self-righteous fury!
Yet this IS NOT the way of the Lord, who is gentle, forgiving, and full of grace. No, not Mary, but rather our heavenly Father, who has graced us before the foundation of the earth in sending his only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ as our atonement for sin.
Grace, grace, grace, I say, which no man can boast upon! As much as I may wish Jesus be Lord of my life above all else, I am powerless in attempting any type of change within myself! Did you get that? Powerless in orchestrating any type of change, no matter how hard I may want to obtain it!
I have learned some fantastic (Armenian type) Bible passages about choosing to follow the “narrow way” these past dozen years, and that is a good thing in wishing to be firmly rooted in Christ, yet the danger comes in with the wrong type of judging of others hearts occurs, and should the tide turn by others, it may be you who is swept from such a rigid foundation of stone!
The problem is when that rigid stone foundation is confused with being The Rock, who is Only Jesus Christ, or Lord, Savior, and ultimate judge. Whoa be it unto men, who try to walk in those shoes: for only heretical hypocrisy, apostasy, and perhaps hell awaits them, and at the very best, the judgment of a teacher who taught many in error, or worse as a false prophet.
In my view, only a fool would seek such a spiritual position of authority and responsibility. But I digress, the point is to be humble and unassuming to another’s status which is strictly amongst him, and the Lord God of Israel.
Like the Galatians we must be careful not to fall into our own heretical forms of worship and celebrations, but at the same time we must be diligent to not overstep our own understanding and authority in the judgment of others – especially in being graced so much ourselves!!
Yes we must maintain good order amongst the brethren, but be wise in taking command and control over those whom the Lord has graced.
Lightship Ministries 