"In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet. Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee? Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was? So there was a division among the people because of him. And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him."
John 7:37-44
There's a difference between truth dividing people, and people who "bring division" but religion gets them confused. Anytime someone speaks the truth in a situation where there is occultism or error, those who wish to hold on to the false illusion of distorted truth and/or deceive others are at odds with those who agree with the truth. This is why when something is so, even though it should not be, you have people step in to silence the truth. The spouse who is being abused "should not be so" in the body of Christ, but it is so. Often the victim is blamed, slandered, silenced in order to preserve the image that this family or this church, or that person of influence, to look is if things are as they should be.
There is a television show called "Keeping Up Appearances" where a woman is obsessed with her status and the idols which she sees as symbols of her legitimate upper class status. A tremendous amount of resources goes into making her husband grab the golden rings of appearing to fit that status image. She looks at every person and situation with an eye to achieving that. We have that, unfortunately, going on in the body of Christ. What happens to us when we are more image conscious than willing to face and address the truth?
People feel justified in slandering others to make themselves appear godly or superior. People in a position to help the fatherless, widows and those damaged by others decide to turn the other way because they want to be connected to other people who give them strength. People tell other people not to talk or associate with others and practice an informal shunning or rejection. God knows them that are His. When we knowingly participate or passively allow others to be mistreated or treated wrongly due to the image preservation of a predator or selfish or fearful person in the body of Christ, we share in the actual guilt for that activity. Looking the other way is not sinless forgiveness, it is condoning sin. It is sin. If we are in an advantageous people group, a group whom others give a hearing, a position of influence, then we had better be using it for good, and that is inclusive of not allowing people to be sacrificed for the sake of preserving a non-truthful image of another in the body of Christ. Where this is most common, is when sin is abounding and other believers hear or know of the repeated sinful efforts of another. There are false prophets and people only giving lip service. We do have modern day Phariseeism, and on the last day, it will be the truth and what you know that matters, and what you did with the knowledge you were given.
If your brothers and sisters are being thrown under the bus by people with a "look good" image conscious focus who blame their victims and discredit and dishonor them, and you now about it, how do you really think Jesus would deal with you? You can pretend to look the other way, but where's the conscience God gave you? Or maybe Jesus won't deal with you, and it will be a white throne issue, and Our Dad, Himself, will speak to you about it. It's a strong message, but perhaps those who heed it may be pulled out of the fire. It does cost something to live a Christian life. Take a stand for truth. All the famous people who ever give you legitimacy by your association with them, that is hay and stubble. Be like Jesus, and stand for truth.
Jesus was bringing life in His message, and some recognized the truth and the anointing and Jesus' genuine office, given by God. Others went quickly for a way to try to make him less legitimate because it challenged their partial knowledge, and instead of searching the scriptures and giving Jesus a hearing, they argued and caused the division. Often those who accuse others of division are the very ones doing the dividing. Let's examine our hearts, that we stand for truth, even if it costs us.
John 7:37-44
There's a difference between truth dividing people, and people who "bring division" but religion gets them confused. Anytime someone speaks the truth in a situation where there is occultism or error, those who wish to hold on to the false illusion of distorted truth and/or deceive others are at odds with those who agree with the truth. This is why when something is so, even though it should not be, you have people step in to silence the truth. The spouse who is being abused "should not be so" in the body of Christ, but it is so. Often the victim is blamed, slandered, silenced in order to preserve the image that this family or this church, or that person of influence, to look is if things are as they should be.
There is a television show called "Keeping Up Appearances" where a woman is obsessed with her status and the idols which she sees as symbols of her legitimate upper class status. A tremendous amount of resources goes into making her husband grab the golden rings of appearing to fit that status image. She looks at every person and situation with an eye to achieving that. We have that, unfortunately, going on in the body of Christ. What happens to us when we are more image conscious than willing to face and address the truth?
People feel justified in slandering others to make themselves appear godly or superior. People in a position to help the fatherless, widows and those damaged by others decide to turn the other way because they want to be connected to other people who give them strength. People tell other people not to talk or associate with others and practice an informal shunning or rejection. God knows them that are His. When we knowingly participate or passively allow others to be mistreated or treated wrongly due to the image preservation of a predator or selfish or fearful person in the body of Christ, we share in the actual guilt for that activity. Looking the other way is not sinless forgiveness, it is condoning sin. It is sin. If we are in an advantageous people group, a group whom others give a hearing, a position of influence, then we had better be using it for good, and that is inclusive of not allowing people to be sacrificed for the sake of preserving a non-truthful image of another in the body of Christ. Where this is most common, is when sin is abounding and other believers hear or know of the repeated sinful efforts of another. There are false prophets and people only giving lip service. We do have modern day Phariseeism, and on the last day, it will be the truth and what you know that matters, and what you did with the knowledge you were given.
If your brothers and sisters are being thrown under the bus by people with a "look good" image conscious focus who blame their victims and discredit and dishonor them, and you now about it, how do you really think Jesus would deal with you? You can pretend to look the other way, but where's the conscience God gave you? Or maybe Jesus won't deal with you, and it will be a white throne issue, and Our Dad, Himself, will speak to you about it. It's a strong message, but perhaps those who heed it may be pulled out of the fire. It does cost something to live a Christian life. Take a stand for truth. All the famous people who ever give you legitimacy by your association with them, that is hay and stubble. Be like Jesus, and stand for truth.
Jesus was bringing life in His message, and some recognized the truth and the anointing and Jesus' genuine office, given by God. Others went quickly for a way to try to make him less legitimate because it challenged their partial knowledge, and instead of searching the scriptures and giving Jesus a hearing, they argued and caused the division. Often those who accuse others of division are the very ones doing the dividing. Let's examine our hearts, that we stand for truth, even if it costs us.