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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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Cowardly Submissive – 22 January 2007
By Mary T. Hoffman

In the Revelation of St. John the Divine, the Amplified Bible uses the words “cowardly submissive” to describe some of those who will “have their part in the lake that blazes with fire and brimstone. This is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8)

The following scripture from James 4:17 appears to relate to the one above:

17. Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin.
~ New American Standard Bible

Here’s an example in which the two scriptures have a bearing: A child is brought up in a family of hunters and begins to realize the suffering caused by this long-standing “family tradition.” He or she realizes that the right thing to do is to stop hunting and, as far as possible, to peacefully change this tradition. To continue to hunt in order to avoid criticism, or even ostracism, would be “cowardly submissive”; and since he or she knows that the “right thing to do” is to stop killing and maiming, “to him [or her] it is a sin” if he or she chooses to continue.

This is only one example. Life is full of opportunities for making the right choices that will bring creation just a bit closer to God’s original intent when, as Isaiah 11:9 says –

9. They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain,
For the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord
As the waters cover the sea.
~ New American Standard Bible

Go on to: “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” – 23 January 2007
Return to: Compassionate Living – 21 January 2007
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