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A Mary T. Hoffman Commentary from All-Creatures.org

 

"Joyful Curmudgeon" An oxymoron?
No! I see all the beauty of God's creation and I'm joyful.  At the same time, I see all the suffering and corruption going on in the world, and feel called to help expose and end it so that we may have true peace and compassion.

 

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Saved? – 16 June 2006
By Mary T. Hoffman

Isn’t it interesting that so many professing Christians seem to use the Bible to prove that Jesus is as hard-hearted as they are? In order to justify and maintain their status quo, they go to great lengths to “prove” that Jesus approved of war and capital punishment, and ate meat and fish. They arrogantly cling together, supporting those leaders who make a comfortable living from going along with them, convincing each other that they are “saved” and that those who disagree with their hardness of heart are going to hell. And as Jesus says, they travel far and wide to make a convert, only to make him (or her) twice the son (or daughter) of hell that they are.

Matt 23:15:

15 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel about on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.

~ New American Standard Bible

Obviously, something is wrong with this ungodliness; and I still think that there will be some big surprises when they go to “meet their Maker.” Since, as the Bible states, Satan is the influence on this fallen earth, he and his demons must be overjoyed with the success of his trickery as he dupes more and more into thinking that their past, present, and future sins are forgiven simply by saying the sinner’s prayer.

It stands to reason that since the Holy Spirit indwells believers, after reciting the sinner’s prayer their lives should begin to change, with their works reflecting a kindness and compassion that exceeds that shown by even Jesus Himself:

John 14:12

12 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to the Father.

~ New American Standard Bible

What could be greater, and more in keeping with God’s original intent, than unlimited love and compassion? Even the Apostle Paul said that without love, one is “a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal,” and he emphasizes this point in 1 Corinthians 13.

And in Matthew 7:13-14, Jesus says:

13 "Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it.

14 "For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it.

~ New American Standard Bible

No wonder the mega-churches are bursting at the seams with throngs of “believers.” As I’ve said before, cheap grace gets cheaper by the day!  

Go on to: Pop Music of the Fifties – 17 June 2006
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