"HYBRID CHRISTIANITY"
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Warriorhood: The Dirty and Sweet of It
Two weeks ago, a ghoul from my
childhood
emerged into full frontal nauseating
view
replete with biting serpents
and
slinging swamp slime. So what
did I do, I
rose up and slew the dragon,
gleefully, I
might add. There is a misconception
in the
church: that we are to accept
the onslaughts
of others, regardless of how
fraudulent or
unjust such may be, just to be
what they
teach is "Christ-likeness."
But
I have to expand upon that characterization
because it is simply too narrow
of an understanding,
and one that has left the church
weak and
defenseless in the face of vile
and contemptible
enemies.
You see the Messiah is indeed
a gentle lamb,
but He is also a ferocious warrior
who will
come again in glory to judge
the
living and the dead, and who's
kingdom is
without end! He is the Lion of
the tribe
of Judah, and descendent from
the throne
of David. He will turn the wicked
into his
own personal winepress, and every
knee shall
bow. For all such things there
is
a season and a time, for peace,
but also
for war. Now, we are called to
walk in peace,
which is what I generally do
and highly recommend.
But what happens when war knocks
on your
door? I say, be prepared to win
every contest
on whatever battlefield is laid
out before
you with whatever weapons, both
spiritual
and physical, are necessary to
accomplish
this. If they make your space
into a battlefield,
beat them there. Or if they try
to drag you
into their battlefield, a place
of
comfort and familiarity where
they have set
traps for you, annhilate them
in it without
remorse. This is the only way
to walk victoriously
with the honor and authority
we are called
to wield. Of course, there are
times when
letting a small
confrontation pass with graceful
forgiveness,
knowing that by so doing we may
lose the
small face-off but win the ultimate
contest,
is the greater wisdom. But many
times, turning
the other cheek may result in
your own destruction,
and it
might really be an act of cowardice
on the
believer's part that will only
enable a bad
spirit to propagate its malevolent
intentions.
It is a wrong teaching to say
that we are
to blanket everyone is a syrupy
love regardless
of their actions. Remember, bad
behavior is provoked by dark
spirits who
hang around and dwell within
some people.
To show them "unconditional"
love
is not Biblical, though that's
what is being
taught today. To do this is to
be brought
under the subjection of and be
manipulated by the evil entities
that are
influencing the person. You first
have to
rebuke the sin and drive away
the demons
before you can reach the inner
person to
impart loving kindness to them,
otherwise
you'll only be casting your pearls
before
swine.
This is how the prophetic word
works, and
frankly, it is a declaration
of war against
rebelliion and a calling to warriorhood
in the cause of righteousness,
something
the modern church is failing
terminally at.
I don't say we should go around
stoning sinners,
because we are all sinners and
that is not
the example Jesus set. But look
at how the
Lord spoke to
the ruling parties -- He didn't
mince words
-- He held up a mirror to them
which fired
them up so hot they put Him to
death.
There is a price for standing
in the stead,
for being that pillar of fire
in the wilderness
-- a price few are willing to
pay.
When Jesus met a tender soul
along His way,
He spoke compassionaltely to
him, which was
enough for that person to cultivate
his faith.
But to those whose hearts were
rotted stone,
He spoke aptly and hit them with
what they
deserved. Such conflicts aren't
always clean,
you can get dirty fighting someone
else,
and you can find yourself in
dingy places
while the battle rages on. But
if you hold
fast to the purpose which is
to bring about
a victory in the Lord, you will
emerge in
triumph ready for comprehensive
cleansing
and angelic commendation.
Two weeks ago, a psychotic woman
from the
neighborhood where I grew up
looked me up
on the Internet and sent me a
series of contradictory
emails. The first was an invitation
to lunch,
the second was a character asascination,
the third requested my home address
so she
could come and visit supposedly,
the fourth
was an entirely fabricated, delusional
portraiture blazing with envy
attempting
to tear down all of my accomplishments
and
deny the existence of my
achievements. Of all the thousands
of people
that I know, I have never had
anyone come
against me with such insane,
furious jealousy
in my life, and completely out
of the blue.
And of course it was full of
mockery regarding
my faith and walk in Christ.
So what did I do? My first email
was gentle
and polite, very "Christian"
I
would say. My second reply was
respectful
but
sober, inquiring as to what this
woman meant
by her misplaced, inaccurate,
accusatory
tirade. My third response was
forgiving,
but cautious. However, after
her fourth demonic
attack, my gloves came off. I
will tell you
that I have never verbally bashed
anyone
so thoroughly in my entire life.
The old
neighborhood bully was beaten
to a quivering
pulp, the only thing that might
help such
a disgusting person take a look
in the mirror
and consider that she might need
to inquire
of God for herself. Kindness
doesn't always
work, as sometimes the kindest
thing we can
do for someone is to kick their
wayward butt.
It is our responsibility to help
manage the
order of life as God set it forth.
So think
of it this way... if a rebellious
wild boar
decides to venture up a hill
to mock a benevolent,
reclining lion, he will have
to learn a serious
lesson in order and hierarchy.
If the lion
at first lifts his head to look
the boar
in the eyes for sensibility sake,
and the
boar continues his challenge,
the lion might
roar softly to direct him away.
But if the
boar persists, the lion's roar
grows in ferocity
until he ultimately is forced
to pounce on
the pig and make a meal of him.
Brothers and sisters, we are those lions.
Let us have the courage to stand
up against
those unrelenting foes among
us who seek
to make a sport of our dignity
and imputed
majesty. And let's do it for
His sake.
Peace, Sevi
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