Walking With Christ

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• Rom 12:12a . . Be glad for all God is planning for you.

Christians unsure of their afterlife destination cannot, in all honesty and a
good conscience, comply with that. For all they know, God has outer
darkness planned for them. That's not something to be glad about.

There are obvious benefits to our association with God; most especially
resurrection to immortality, a superior body, and perpetual youth. But those
aren't the end-all.

Humanity was given the blessing of fertility specifically for the purpose of
populating the earth and subduing it. Well; the angels' purpose and way of
life is very different. They're an organization of celestial beings engaged in a
variety of capacities other than populating, conquering, and/or colonizing.

Folks who make the cut won't be returning to their familiar way of life,
pairing up with spouses like before (Matt 22:30). Instead, they too, like the
angels, will be organized to engage in a variety of capacities other than
populating, conquering, and/or colonization; and they will be kept very busy
getting things done in accord with God's expectations in a new and improved
cosmos.

"It is not to angels that He has subjected the world to come, about which we
are speaking." (Heb 2:5)

"And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first
earth were passed away." (Rev 21:1)

NOTE: It's tragic that Carl Sagan went to his grave with so many scientific
questions about the cosmos unanswered, and to top it off, a day is coming
when even Carl's pale blue dot will no longer be available for study.

Can you imagine how delighted Carl would've been to explore Heaven's
libraries where everything to know that can be known about the cosmos is
stored? But alas, Carl will never find out; he was at best agnostic, at worst
an atheist.
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• Rom 12:12b . . Be patient in trouble, and always be prayerful.

Patience in trouble requires a hang-in-there, tough-it-out attitude; i.e.
perseverance, which can be defined as continued effort to do, or achieve,
something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition.

I've heard of people giving up on religion due to adverse circumstances
which they felt were undeserving. But life goes on whether one is pious or
not.

"Adversity that comes into your life is no different from what others
experience." (1Cor 10:13)

"Man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward." (Job 5:7)

I guess some people figure that life should be a bed of roses for Christians;
but alas, such is not the case.

"To be, or not to be, that is the question: whether 'tis nobler in the mind to
suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or to take arms against a
sea of troubles, and by opposing end them: to die, to sleep no more; and by
a sleep, to say we end the heart-ache, and the thousand natural shocks that
flesh is heir to? 'Tis a consummation devoutly to be wished." (Hamlet. Act
III, Scene I)

Wishing one's self dead in order to escape troubles doesn't comply with
patience; and wishing one's self was never born is futile.

"Why didn't I die at birth as I came from the womb? Why did my mother let
me live? Why did she nurse me at her breasts? For if I had died at birth, I
would be at peace now, asleep and at rest." (Job 3:11-13)

A Christian buddy of mine died in his mid forties. Sometimes I envy his
untimely death because he doesn't have to go through old age like I'm
doing. I've had lots of troubles in my lifetime: the sudden passing of my
favorite nephew, betrayed by people I thought were BFFs, dumped by girl
friends, financial reversal, appendicitis, thyroid failure, total knee
replacements, cataract surgery, loss of kidney function, loss of teeth, lay
offs, etc. None of those misfortunes have been as destructive to my peace of
mind as the aging process.

Fortunately I'm not demented nor suffering from onset Alzheimer's, but
nevertheless, I'm disintegrating, little by little and day by day; and there's
no remedy. The aging process is like Arnold Swarzenegger's relentless movie
character; the Terminator, of whom it is said: feels neither pain nor pity, nor
remorse nor fear; it cannot be reasoned with nor can it be bargained with,
and it absolutely will not stop-- ever --until you are dead.

I don't really mind getting old, nor mind dying: what I do mind is falling
apart along the way. But others have fallen apart before me, others are
falling apart along with me, and others will fall apart after me. My own
personal Terminator is nothing new or unusual; so I'm riding it out like
people in hurricane zones ride out the storms that come their way year after
year. I don't know if anyone ever gets comfortable with the aging process;
but at least they can take comfort in knowing we only have to go through it
once.
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• Rom 12:13a . . Share with God's people who are in need.

The Jews are God's people in accordance with an unconditional covenant
that He made with Abraham. (Gen 17:7-8)

NOTE: Nazi Germany was very nearly 99% Christian. Had they all complied
with Rom 12:13a, the effects of the Holocaust would've no doubt been
greatly reduced.
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• Rom 12:13b . . Practice hospitality.

Webster's defines hospitable as:

1» given to generous and cordial reception of guests

2» promising or suggesting generous and cordial welcome

3» offering a pleasant or sustaining environment.

In other words; a hospitable person is civil, courteous, thoughtful, easy on
one's nerves, helpful, non threatening, non militant, non reactive, non
defensive, approachable, accommodating, and relaxing to be with.
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• Rom 12:14 . . Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

The Greek word for "persecute" basically means to pursue; i.e. to hound. In
other words; a persecuting personality is one whose mission in life is to ruin
somebody's day at every opportunity.

The Greek word translated "curse" basically means to declare to be evil or
detestable, i.e. denounce, viz: to pronounce, especially publicly, to be
blameworthy or evil.

Jesus did exactly that with some of his enemies; so it's curious why we are
not allowed to. Well; Jesus' mission in life was to speak for his Father as his
Father directed him to speak (John 12:49). In other words; in scenes where
Jesus publically excoriated his enemies, it was via the Spirit channeling his
Father's sentiments. (John 3:34, Heb 1:1-2)
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• Rom 12:15 . .When others are happy, be happy with them. If they are sad,
share their sorrow.

A number of factors play a role in the making of an insensitive clod; one of
which is defective areas of the brain called amygdalae. In brief, the
amygdalae control, to a large extent, our emotions; i.e. our feelings.

Normal amygdalae make it possible to commiserate; which can be roughly
defined as feeling sympathy and/or compassion as opposed to just going
thru the motions. For example: I heard somewhere that half of us go to
funerals to honor folk we couldn't be bothered with when they were alive
and then lie through our teeth when we tell the family "I'm sorry for your
loss."

Defective amygdalae are usually a genetic problem; i.e. people with them
were born that way. So, they are going to have a pretty difficult time of it
when it comes to sharing in the happiness and/or the sorrow of others.

"Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots?" (Jer 13:23)

The answer to both those questions is of course NO; and like they say: you
can't get blood out of a turnip. So then, how is it reasonable to expect
sympathy-challenged Christians to share the happiness of happy people
and/or the sorrows of sad people? Well; it isn't reasonable, but neither is it
hopeless seeing as how there's a supernatural remedy for personality
disorders. (cf. Ezek 36:26)

FYI: It's surprising the number of Christians that I've encountered, even
Sunday school teachers, who honestly believe that feelings have no role
whatsoever in the practice of Christianity. As a result, they go about the
business of their spiritual life as insensitive mannequins: cold, academic,
and metallic; sort of like the Tin Woodsman of the Wizard of Oz who, without
a heart, couldn't feel the passionate emotions he once felt for the love of
his life. Without a heart; the poor, pitiful man was barely a sentient being
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• Rom 12:16a . . Live in harmony with each other.

It isn't necessary to be in 100% agreement with others on everything in
order to comply with that command. But it is necessary to practice courtesy,
tolerance, patience, and tact, i.e. make every effort to avoid feuding, one
upmanship, and debating. The opposite of harmony is dissonance, which can
be defined as a mingling of sounds that strike the ear harshly, e.g. sour
notes.

For some people, every disagreement is an act of war to be won at any cost.
That's not harmony, that's militant. It's far and away better for Christians to
be diplomatic rather than be right all the time.

"For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be,
and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be
quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance
and disorder." (2Cor 12:19-20)
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• Rom 12:16b . . Don't be elitist, but willing to associate with people below
you.

I'd have to say that those instructions apply only in church where it's
understood by Spirit-led Christians that no one in attendance is somehow
better than another. (cf. Jas 2:1-4)

Church managers should be given a higher degree of respect than pew
warmers because they're in positions of authority; but all in all, church is a
congregation of redeemed sinners, and that includes the managers; so we're
all equals on that basis. Christ had to undergo just as much suffering,
indignity, and death to redeem church managers as he did for everyone else
so God forbid that the hierarchy should exhibit a holier-than-thou attitude;
viz: a superiority complex. (cf. Matt 23:2-7)
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• Rom 12:16c . . Don't be wise in your own conceit.

Webster's defines "conceit" as excessive self-appreciation of one's own worth
or virtue. In other words we're talking about hubris; which often indicates a
loss of contact with reality and an overestimation of one's own competence,
accomplishments or capabilities.

Conceit is uncivil, untrainable, and intolerable. It truly believes nobody
beneath its dignity could possibly have anything to tell that it doesn't already
know; and if it doesn't already know, then that's because the information
possessed by those beneath its dignity isn't worth knowing.

Those kinds of people will interrupt you right in the middle of your sentence
and begin talking about their own perspective as if your voice is nowhere to
be heard in the whole room. You know why they do that? Because they
sincerely believe that nothing you are in the midst of saying is nearly as
important as what they have to say. In other words: you, and your
thoughts, are superfluous.

Conceited folk are generally very picky about their influences too; in other
words, even if somebody is a Spirit-gifted Bible teacher, but are neither
published, accredited, or properly educated, then forget it. That Spirit-gifted
somebody is eo ipso undeserving of conceit's intellectual attention right out
of the box.

Conceit is not only stuck on itself; but very critical of others too. I've seen it
to happen time and again that when a Spirit-gifted Bible teacher comes
across with a personality like Elijah's or John the Baptist's that conceit
summarily brushes them off as "unloving" no matter even if they speak as
the very voice of God. In other words; conceit disdains to be taught; rather,
conceit seeks to be accommodated.

I think most people Christians are aware that conceit is unacceptable.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matt
5:3)
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• Rom 12:17a . . Never reciprocate evil with evil to anyone.

That is a really tough command to follow; for example: when someone
makes a demeaning comment, and/or a sarcastic remark about us, the urge
to bounce back with a rejoinder in kind is very difficult to resist.

Well-to-do families at one time sent their daughters off to finishing school to
learn a variety of social graces. I don't know, maybe they still do; but surely
diplomacy ought to be a common social grace among Christians.
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• Rom 12:17b . . Respect what is right in the sight of all men.

The Greek word for "right" is a bit ambiguous. It can mean: honorable,
decent, sensible, mature, conforming to social norms of decency and
propriety, beautiful, virtuous, honest, having worth, fitting, and/or
appropriate. Those are all good qualities and should be practiced not only
inside church, but outside church too.

Social norms, i.e. customs and traditions related to culture, should always be
tolerated and respected to the best of our ability just so long as those things
don't cause problems with our conscience. In other words: make an effort to
be gracious.

As an example: should you perchance find yourself in a society where it's
culturally wrong to wear shoes into a domicile then take them off. Or a
culture where men and women sit in their own section of a room apart from
the men, or at their own table apart from the men during meals, then go
along with it; without comment and without complaint.
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• Rom 12:18 . . If possible, so far as it in your power, be at peace with all
men.

Assertive, defensive, demanding, fault-finding, imperious, judgmental,
confrontational, argumentative, bossy, spirited, hard-nosed, implacable,
moody, thin skinned, vindictive, abrasive, spiteful people are not allowed in
heaven. Why? Because heaven is a place of peace (Matt 5:9, Rom 14:17).

Disagreeable people who fight at the drop of a hat simply don't fit in heaven
and besides, not only would they be a fish out of water; but it wouldn't be
fair to the others to let difficult people in to heaven where they would surely
turn it into the same kind of hellish world to live in that they've made the
Earth.

Christians should not be difficult. Of all people, they should be the easiest to
get along with.
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• Rom 12:19 . . Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave it to the
wrath of God, for it is written: Vengeance is mine, I will repay; testifies The
Lord.

The focus is upon one's "own" revenge; in other words: if the matter can't
be settled legally; let it go rather than take it upon yourself to be
prosecutor, judge, jury, and executioner, i.e. a vigilante. Those who seek
justice outside the justice system are no less criminals than the people they
seek to punish.
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• Rom 12:20 . . If your personal enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is
thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals upon his
head.

Heaping real live burning coals upon somebody's head would be terribly
vindictive and unchristian; as would wishing them dead and condemned to
Hell. It's probably just meant to be a colloquialism for making someone feel
ashamed of themselves.

Way back when the television show "SURVIVOR" was in its second or third
season, two of the women fell out of sorts and one vowed that even if the
other were lying in the street near death from thirst, she'd walk right past
and not give her so much as a drop of water.

Bad form. Christians have to remain civil and not permit detestable people
to dictate the way we treat our fellow men. It is far better for Christ's
followers to exemplify humanitarian principles than satisfy a grudge. I'll
admit it's galling to have to be courteous with people that mistreat us; but
what can I say? Christ expects us to.

"If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the
tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you
doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?"
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• Rom 12:21 . . Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

In other words: fighting fire with fire is not always the wisest course of
action for Christians to follow.

Compliance with that particular command requires some self control on our
part because human nature's impulses usually steer us into the wrong
course of action when coping with evil.
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• Rom 13:1-5 . . Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities,
for there is no authority except that which God has established. The
authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who
rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and
those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

. . . For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do
wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do
what is right and he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you
good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for
nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the
wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only
because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.

There are Christians out there sincerely believing that all capital punishment
is wrong; and how can they be faulted when of late Pope Francis himself has
been saying it's wrong. But according to the passage above, and the one
below, capital punishment is divine.

"And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an
accounting from every animal. And from each man, too, I will demand an
accounting for the life of his fellow man. Whoever sheds the blood of man,
by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made
man." (Gen 9:4-6)

Murder deserves the death penalty not so much because it's morally wrong,
but because it disparages the image of God. In other words: murder is an
act of blaspheme.

Rom 13:1-5 is a fair warning to Christians that should they break the law; to
expect neither favoritism nor immunity. So then, if you can't do the time,
then don't do the crime.

Christians that commit capital crimes should expect their heads to roll just
like any other capital criminal's head; and that goes for lesser crimes too,
e.g. J-walking, illegal U-turns, feeding parking meters, drifting through stop
signs without coming to a complete halt, exceeding the speed limit, unsafe
lane changes, road rage, disturbing the peace, littering, trespassing,
shoplifting, civil disobedience, animal abuse, etc.

God has given governments the right to play God; any Christian who
opposes government's right to play God, is playing the Devil. God forbid!
Christians ought not to be scofflaws; no, they really ought to be the most
law-abiding citizens on Earth.
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• Rom 13:6a . . Pay your taxes

While it's true that tax dollars often get wasted on fraud, graft, pork, bail
outs, ear marks, and such things; by and large taxes are essential if we're to
expect services like schools, parks, national defense, law enforcement, fire
protection, Medicare, Medicaid, Food Stamps, foster care, endowments,
reparations, flood control, TANF, and the maintenance of infrastructure, etc.

Taxes are also used to pay government salaries, wages, and benefits.
Though they are not holy people in the religious sense, they should probably
be regarded as such: maybe even as angels.

"for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to
governing." (Rom 13:6b)
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• Rom 13:7 . . Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay
taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then
honor.

During the 2020 US presidential campaign, there was a wave of hatred,
hysteria, and disrespect for Mr. Donald Trump the intensity of which was
unlike anything I've ever seen in my 77 years on this planet.

The propaganda war waged against him via television, radio, digital media,
and print media was reminiscent of that waged to foment hate and mistrust
of the Jews back in last century's Nazi Germany. What was especially
disturbing to me was the number of Mr. Trump's supposed friends who
turned out to be Judas Iscariots.

Christians don't have to particularly like the folks in government, but we do
have to honor their positions. So please, don't ever follow the examples of
Judas and the Nazis; they are not now, nor have they ever been, suitable
role models for Christ's loyal followers.
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• Rom 13:8 . . Owe no man anything.

Some have construed that verse to mean that it's a sin to have a mortgage,
a car payment, and/or a credit card balance. However, the Greek word for
"owe" is opheilo (of-i'-lo) an ambiguous word with a number of meanings,
one of which is to fail in duty; viz: fail to meet your obligations.

In today's world; debt is nigh unto impossible to avoid; but debt is okay for
Christians just so long as they pay their bills on time. Christ is neither
pleased nor honored when his followers are known as deadbeats.
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• Rom 12:13a . . Share with God's people who are in need.

The Jews are God's people in accordance with an unconditional covenant
that He made with Abraham. (Gen 17:7-8)

NOTE: Nazi Germany was very nearly 99% Christian. Had they all complied
with Rom 12:13a, the effects of the Holocaust would've no doubt been
greatly reduced.
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The cultural fabric of Germany was very strongly influenced by Luther, who wrote a screed entitled "The Jews and their Lies" which the Nazi's would have been proud of.
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/martin-luther-quot-the-jews-and-their-lies-quot
Moreover it's clear that Hitler was planning on eliminating all religion.
https://www.ranker.com/list/hitlers-plans-for-religion/genevieve-carlton