An 'Us vs. Them' Logical Error Some Well-Meaning Christians Think Is Right
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” —Matthew 22:37-39, Mark 12:30-31, Luke 10:27, (Leviticus 19:18) & Deuteronomy 6:5
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” —John 13:35
Love is the characterizing feature of those who truly follow Christ, but us vs. them thinking prevents much of the body of Christ from entering what God has for us.
This is one of the most important lessons people eventually must learn. Be filled with love and compassion for all, especially those small souls who are hopelessly in the grip of thinking they must be evil to survive.
Love for Enemies
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. —Matthew 5:43-48
The fallacy of being against people on behalf of God
When a YouTube prophet had a live stream cut off by YouTube for violating its rules, he unbelievably came back on a second live stream saying, "I'm not apologizing. We believe what we believe. I am attacking other denominations and religions that are against Jesus Christ." But that’s not at all what we believe as far as I’ve ever known. He’s needlessly running afoul of the US Constitution’s guarantee of freedom of religion for all. The ignorance, massive ego and toxicity are just that deep.
In fact, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam and even New Agers all highly revere Jesus! There is but 1 religion that really is against Jesus and even openly contemptuous of Chist: Judaism. Against all logic they spit at Christian pilgrims — paying tourists — on the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem. Easter was cancelled this year. And Israel continues to ban the gospel from being disseminated in Hebrew to this day, despite claiming to be a ‘democracy’. And yet this confused prophet totally contradicts himself by being very pro-Israel.
Is God not able to take care of his own enemies whoever they might be? Our job is to love and trust and obey God’s will for our lives and put the rest of it at the foot of the cross for God to handle in his own time, which he very clearly is doing!
Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. —Isaiah 59:1
Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord. —Romans 12:19
Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; their foot shall slip in due time; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things to come hasten upon them. —Deutoronomy 32:35
It seems the YouTube prophet’s ignorance problem stems from his non-denominational and Pentecostal background. The authoritarian denomination started in the Deep South in the late 19th century, inevitably linked in that time and place to the KKK that dominated all institutions there until the 1960s or 70s. They believe in the guidance of the Holy Spirit while many churches do not. This is the same religious pedigree of most Christian TV broadcasters in the US. But there are flies in the ointment.
More and more I see that non-denominational churches are accountable to no one and vary widely, from lawless fiefdoms to pretty good. They are too often hot beds of narcissistic leadership and all kinds of abuse, especially in places where religion still holds prestige, like the South.
Dr. J. Vernon McGee got it right: “If Satan were to incarnate on earth, he would hide behind religion.”
“It’s not about what you believe, but about how you treat each other.” --Skye Seignior
Prayer
Join us in prayer for at least 1 minute everyday for our countries and our leaders, including religious leaders .
Love in Action - Romans 12
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “Vengeance is mine; I will repay,” 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.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
This may just be the most important lesson of all.