Can you answer these questions?

Let me ask you a few questions, questions that I am not as much looking for an answer as just making us think.

If you could have the thing you most desire but it would be at the expense of a friend’s well being would you do it anyway? OK you caught me, I was watching Jerry Springer for a few minutes today (don’t judge me) and there were two women fighting over one skinny man who even though he was young didn’t have a tooth in his head… I mean a lot of people have dental problems but if I was toothless I think I would at least buy myself some choppers, or as the Bible calls them, grinders, but I digress (I love that line, it’s said by “Ma” often on the old sitcom The Golden Girls), these “ladies” were fighting over this guy, I mean slapping each other up side the head and their voices never went under the level of a scream. Come to find out these two women were cousins for crying out loud! One was in a relationship with him, so the other goes out and buys a new headlight kit for his car and some type of alcohol, end of story he get’s tipsy, she kisses him and of course how can you not have intercourse? Just doing what comes naturally, right? Well her cousin didn’t think so, then the interloper in the relationship seals the deal by telling the world that he sent her a picture of his, yes, his private parts! I didn’t know if I wanted to laugh or throw up and the audience went wild. I was stunned. She said she had always wanted him so she had planned the whole thing, maybe she thought it was really love when he sent her that loving picture.  The next group (yes I was now hooked on this human debauchery) was a woman who was married to one guy and had been having sex with his brother, then the girl who was praying that her brother was not the father of her baby. MY GOD how low will people sink to satisfy a simple earthly lust!?

Does someone that has authority over you either spiritual or otherwise have the right to intimidate you into doing something that you not only feel uncomfortable about but also feel it would be immoral? No a thousand times no! I remember the story of Tamar who was a very beautiful virgin Princess, sister of Absalom the most handsome son of King David. Absalom’s brother Amnon fell desperately in love with her and called her to his “sick” bed where he raped her! 2Samuel 13:20 Her brother Absalom said to her, “Has your brother Amnon had his way with you? Now, my dear sister, let’s keep it quiet—a family matter. He is, after all, your brother. Don’t take this so hard.” Tamar lived in her brother Absalom’s home, bitter and desolate.” After he raped her, the Bible says that he hated her as much as he had ever loved her and had her thrown out of the house in disgrace. At that time he could have actually married her as a half sister but instead he chose to dishonor her. It was a terrible thing that ended in disaster because King David didn’t discipline him and Absalom took matters in his own hands by planning a party, getting Amnon drunk and then having him killed! No one has permission to ruin your life and even worse if they take the name of God in their mouth to do it then judgment is on them not on you.

Are you a hypocrite? Want the definition just to make sure? OK…

1. A person who pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that he or she does not actually possess; especially a person whose actions belie stated beliefs.

2. A person who feigns some desirable or publicly approved attitude, especially one whose private life, opinions, or statements belie his or her public statements.

Do I know any? I grew up in churches where hypocrites thrive and grow. It isn’t God’s fault, it is because people find a place they can pretend to be something they aren’t and usually no one challenges them. I know people who have honey dripping from their lips if they are talking to you in front of others, but run into them where no one sees and what you get are icicles, is that true friendship? Or people who act Godly in front of others and out from the church unsheathe the sword of their tongue to do damage that can’t be undone. Do you see yourself in any of that?

When asked what the most important commandment was Jesus answered, Matthew 22: 37-40 “‘Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.”

Do you have thoughts on any of these questions or statements? Me? Yes, I am guilty of everything until I accept the cleansing blood of Jesus then I am as blameless as a newborn babe, and you?