To Whom It May Pertain

[Leafrivermac]

This is something I found and copied and edited. I thought it may do somebody some good . . .it did me.

Is humility important to the Christian's walk in a world steeped in relativism. On the one hand, we must place humility in the right place. We should never misplace our humility by disparaging the only thing that will ever set anyone free -- the truth itself. The central claims of God's revelation should be understood, explained, and defended. I thank the one true God that those involved in apologetics ministries are providing sound reasons for the faith and are challenging the critics of Christianity.
On the other hand, ambitious Christians often lose something indispensable in the very process of defending the indispensable. In refusing to toss out the idea of truth, we often toss out humility instead. We can become, arrogant. We may hold the truth falsely.
It is dangerously easy for those who study to become prideful when we identify the truth with our ego instead of with God Himself. Instead of contending for "the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints "(Jude 3), we may end up contending for our own infallibility. We should heed Blaise Pascal, who wrote in his Pensees(Thoughts on Religion and Some Other Subjects) that "it is false piety to preserve peace at the expense of truth. It is also false zeal to preserve truth at the expense of charity." Several facts can point us toward the fruitful partnership of true piety and true zeal.
First, Christian truth is best defended when it is held both firmly and humbly -- in the manner one would hold a newborn child. It is infinitely precious and therefore worth defending; but it is a gift not of our own making. We lay no claim to its greatness or even to the fact that we recognize it as truth (Eph. 2:8-9). We know by grace that grace may be known. If we speak of "our faith" we should emphasize that the truth is not our possession; rather the truth possesses us
Second, our knowledge of biblical truth should grow over a lifetime. Truth will always exceed my present understanding of truth. The humble christian will defend Christianity's core claims to the best of his ability -- the inspiration of Scripture, the Oneness of God, the Incarnation, justification by faith, and so on -- while remaining open to discussion about less central and more debatable issues such as the particularities of scripture.
Third, Jesus said that the meek, not the belligerent, will inherit the earth. No matter how winsome the presentation, the gospel will offend those with hardened hearts; but we should avoid increasing the offense through arrogance. Paul is a model when he says, "We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us" (2 Cor. 4:7). The principles of Paul's pastoral instruction to Timothy apply to all students of the word: "And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth" (2 Tim. 2:24-25). Our aim should be to speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15).
Fourth, no matter how adept our advocacy of the faith, we must _glory in the Lord and not in our apologetic prowess._ Without humility, even the best arguments will ring hollow. Our aim in defending the gospel is to set people free, not to defend ourselves or acquit ourselves of all error. The humble christian stands valiantly for God's absolute, objective, and universal truth, even as he stands on feet of clay with an ear open to correction.
Fifth, whatever our skill at defending the faith, any humble presentation of Christian truth is a powerful tool in God's hands. The Lord opposes the proud and exalts the humble (Matt. 23:12; James 4:6). Christian humility is an arresting witness in and of itself. Those who with plain speech forget themselves in service of Christ outshine those who eloquently defend only their egos.
Let all christians pray with Albert Outler: "Lord, protect us from the mindless love that deceives and the loveless truth that kills." Amen.

[Rebel Hog]

Thanks bro.Mac.

Matt. 5:5
[5] Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Matt. 5:9
[9] Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Matt. 5:11,12
[11] Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
[12] Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

[m.t.hands]

Those who with plain speech forget themselves in service of Christ outshine those who eloquently defend only their egos.

(Mattew 23:12) And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. (KJV)

good reading leaf, hope all is going well for you, i willcontinue to pray for you and your family, if theres anything ya'll needspecific let us know, i've got a bag of clothes ready to send now,

[Tazman]

Great post Leaf, hope and pray that all is well for you and yours, BTW that includes your neighbors.