I was reading a meme poster about trusting God which is something I believe in. However the final words were “Just stand and let God fight this battle.” I salute the intent but I am not sure the advise becomes more than an admonition to join the slaughter. I would guess that most times we should focus on standing up and being counted as we trust but where would Israel have been if everyone has responded that way when Gideon put out the word?
It is true that God does not really need our help. He could zap the bad guys with lightening bolts. The problem is I don’t see that happening in the Bible, history or life. Gideon sent most of the willing home but he still kept the 300 to light torches, blow trumpets, break pitchers and finish the slaughter.
So the big question is not trust but obedience. Most of the time it is turn the other cheek. I grant you that, and we don’t like it. We need to be aware though that there will be the times when we are chasing the Canaanites of our world and told to take no prisoners.
Be careful of two things: Zeal generated by political manipulators and sloth reinforced by Satan. It is often hard to tell the difference but that is why God gave us brains, the word and the Holy Spirit.
homo unius libri
Too many people base their lives on one verse, when you need to average things out to get the overall message.
ReplyDeleteOne of my friends tries to get around that by saying the the Old Testament has nothing to say to the age of grace. He even goes so far as to say that the teachings of Jesus are only meant for people under the law and the book of Romans was written to a Jewish church. There are all kinds of schemes and gimmicks out there.
DeleteGrace and peace