The Right Fellowship

“I talk!”

In recent times people have become very easy to offend. It is rather effortless to stir up someone’s feelings and take his thoughts and actions in the wrong direction. I have heard a while back a quite interesting term which describes these kinds of people. In all fairness, I have found myself in this category. And perhaps by analyzing our entourages, we could easily notice that most of our friends from outside of the church or even those who are part of GOD’s precious family, are offended before even saying anything. There is one university professor who calls them ‘pre-offended people’. I must say I have experienced this and perhaps I am not alone. But my curiosity was sitting to understand why are we, GOD’s righteous people, so pre-offended of mostly anything someone has to say or already said.

It was quite interesting to notice how indignation and resentment are kept behind closed lips and expressed so much through a few words or none. And our attitudes, the manner of responding and weighing up an answer, to press on our peers’ cords. Leaving them with a sour and resentful image of who we truly are.

I am utterly surprised how, as Christians, make use of GOD’s love and preserve it on the highest shelf. Yet, when Jesus showed us His love, he was the last of losers. He ate with those the society of his days pushed to the desolate parts. And curious enough, those people were not the lepers. We can state that their values were changed, contrary to ours. They turn from GOD’s values and we have not turned to GOD’s values fully. Nowadays people have become very selective, which isn’t bad in itself. But it is wrong when we are selective with GOD’s principles. Jesus did choose who to die for. He died for all people, even those who rejected, beaten up, and mocked him. He died for the soldiers who nailed Him on the cross. He died for Pilate, for the high priests, for the Pharisees for the Sadducees. He died for Barnabas. And John 3:16 embroils this in its statement. To my surprise and admiration, I cannot see a selective sacrifice, but rather an all-inclusive. Christ had died for sin and sinners. And there is no one on this earth who isn’t one. Romans 3:23

“I am right, right?”

We might want, probably, to check our hearts and thoughts about where our respect and love towards other people may be. Having access to the gospel message and the great Salvation should be as we are with our backs to the wall. I have not deserved such a great redemption. No one did! Therefore, we should humble ourselves and fully understand, not to be led by feelings such as indignation or resentment. Moreover, we are already indignant towards our brothers and sisters. I believe we forget what Christ did for all of us, that is why we take it so lightly. Christians are lurking for unity in the church. But I would say we should aim for unity outside and in the congregation would be the result of that hard work of accepting one another.

Nevertheless, I was speechless and no words yet, can describe my awe, when I observed one very interesting thing. People, by people I meant our fellow brothers and sisters, are wanting to be right. Which again, it is not wrong to do. When they express their thoughts and feelings on a Bible principle they want to be right and to confirm what they have discovered from the holy book. This is where things turn the wrong way. They only want to be right, and not to find the truth.

The Bible is an amazing book, however, GOD works in more miraculous ways than we know. I have noticed in my life that I get to understand more of GOD’s word and one verse, or a few, or even a whole chapter speaks to me differently and at specific times. And I wonder why is this? It seemed like for the first time I was reading the Bible, though it was not. I looked again at those words, specifically challenging myself, and remembering the last time I read it, and could not remember seeing what I saw at that specific time. I asked myself and the Lord, why do the same words from the Bible, bring out a different and new principle, fulfilling my need and giving me bread so sweet?

The answer might not be amazing, but it is true. I noticed that the Bible has the same message, however, at times we will discover it speaks to our heart’s need, at a specific time for a specific issue. This happens in the intimacy of our inner universe. That is why, at times a verse from the Bible might seem as if we have never understood it. Because, when our heart is burdened with something, GOD provides his word with the perfect word to heal it.

Moreover, in the search for truth, we should be burdened to understand more, not to confirm more. Notice that, when people have their hearts burdened with something, the humbleness to take it to the Lord, might be missing. Therefore, they want to confirm their ideas and ‘truths’ rather than healing their need. The search for the truth is missing and their intentions are unknown even to themselves. In the search for the true Truth, we ought to have a humble heart, mind, and soul. Feelings are kept under control and we are fully opened to receive a different perspective about a biblical principle. Ready to analyze it and confront it with the Bible, with the intent to know more, not to refute it. Sadly, those people want to be right, when talking to them, you will notice that they are not there to say something but to enforce it. To themselves and on others, so that they fill the emptiness inside them. But, unfortunately, it will not be long term filled, only satisfied for one short moment. The saddest part of it is that they do not want to know the truth, rather they want to be right. Not caring what is true, but wanting to be right in their own minds. That is not what the Bible teaches us. That is not what GOD and hence Jesus did.

Jesus claimed to be the Truth and not to be right. Though, he was right in all that he did and said, His purpose was for the people to be on true path, knowing the Truth. Which again leads us to remember that the Truth is someone, rather than something. So, we ought to rethink, perhaps, if, in the search of being right and not wanting to be true, we might offend the Truth. Jesus was so humble, that when Pilate asked what is the truth, His answer was silence. The Truth was right in front of him. Pilate was judging to decide if the Truth, was right to die for the claims made by the Jews of those times. This scene reminds me and encourages me, actually reproves me to be more careful in the search for the truth. Not to seek too far, because it is closer than I think. The Bible reminds us today that “Wisdom is before him that hath understanding, but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.” Proverbs 17:24

“I am not wrong!”

To solve a problem, the first step would be to admit there is a problem. By doing the contrary, is how we fail to receive GOD’s will and understand his plan for our lives. We want more to be right than to be true. Truth is humble, meek and not boasting. Being right is on the arrogance and pride side. As well, being right will end up eventually being lonely. The one who is always right destroys friendships and relationships and people will eventually disappear from his proximity. And in the end, he will be right to be lonely.

Perhaps, we ought to understand more why Jesus claimed to be ‘the Truth’. He went to be with the people and shared with them the deep feelings of his heart. For the people to come to know the true GOD and that everybody can be restored into a relationship with GOD, through faith. Jesus had to find the time to be lonely, He was always surrounded by a multitude of people. Many came for different motives, either to listen, or see Him doing a miracle of healing or even feeding the multitude. Jesus lived among people.

Do we want to do so? We do strongly claim we are followers of Jesus, and yet, in our struggle to be right and not true, we push people out of our way, rather than attract them into our presence. I am so tempted at this point to say that wanting to be right and not seeking to be true is the wrong thing to do. Mainly because these particular people do not care about the true truth. Their goals are far off from understanding and knowing what and how can the Truth impact their lives.

“Isn’t it?”

Jesus said another great thing about his true followers. A description which has been imprinted in the back of my mind and from time to time I am reminded of it. The more I meditate upon it, the more my heart is humbled with tears of gratitude.

Besides Jesus claiming that He is the Truth (John 14:6) he had also given us another foundational truth principle about what Christian life should be. In John 4:23-24 Jesus says that the true worshipers are those who bow before the Father in spirit and truth. Jesus said He is the truth. 1 Corinthians 6:19 reminds us that our body is the temple of the Holy Ghost. When Jesus spoke in John 4, the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because He was on the Earth. However, today, at this right moment, do we grasp the truth we are taught by the Bible? Perhaps we should start by asking GOD through a self-reflection moment ‘Am I a true worshiper Lord? ‘

If I am looking to be always right and confronting my ideas to confirm them, rather than understand and to know GOD more, I am questioning how can that heart be worshipping GOD in its fullness. Seeking to be right, might keep you far away from worshipping GOD and having that constant connection through the spirit in the truth.

I am humbled in my mind and heart, by grasping this foundational truth for our lives. Perhaps we need more and more to be reminded of what kind of worshipers we ought to be and the fellowship we ought to have, with one another. That fellowship is the result of having a constant connection with God in spirit through the truth.

One last thought, it is grace, we have this opportunity to know GOD. Whenever we bow before Him to have the certain confidence that He listens to our prayers and requests. And we raise our praise, he is pleased with our imperfect singing. God can be present everywhere, but there is one place He needs permission – our inner universe.

Seeking to be right might keep you from giving God permission to unveil His great love and care for you. Living to be true, opens the door for Jesus to dine with you and for Him to bless you. To enjoy the presence of your brothers and sisters with all their imperfections. Because when we dine with Jesus, more and more we understand who sits opposite Jesus and how great the Salvation God has given me.