Romans 16:19 tells us "I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good (innocent)and simple as to what is evil. "
The quest for preservation of innocence extends beyond Christians. Societies have been molded around the quest. But do we really understand what's innocent? Some people go to great lengths to perserve what they feel is innocent. Most Christians see an unborn child as an innocent thing, so they fight to protect it. In the same breath, most see family as innocent, so politcal battles rage. But are we judging innocence or are we seeking God for what He has identfied as innocent. I do believe that children and family are innocent, but not because I get warm and fuzzy thinking about them. They are innocent because God works to preserve them.
But lets not forget that God's blessings are not always innocent items. Let me provide an example. I feel that people of God should be prosperous, even financially. I really feel that God blesses us with wealth but He suggests that money is anything but innocent.
I really think our quest is to reevaluate what is truly innocent. Let's take a step back and seek the things God so chooses to fight for and what he is working for. Perhaps then we might choose our battles more wisely!
7 comments:
Great opening blog! I really can't add much nor do I have questions. I hope the future is just as insightful!
It is true that we should seek what is important to God, and it is that very seeking we often fail to do. We get our views on what is innocent and good more from our social history than our pursuit of God. I really think that if we do take time to seek, we might find that we are fighting was too hard for things that aren't really that important to God. It has just been important to us.
We can see this in a church setting sometimes. We encounter the element of "strongholds". This are typically things that we find comfort in and people really sacrifice to preserve them, whether it is considered sacrifice-worthy to God or not.
Another thing...sometimes it appears that our strongholds replace our desire to hold on to God.
Can our strongholds be honorable?
They can be but are not always.
PRoverbs 29 tells us that:
"One's pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor. "
So we do not seek honor from men(John 5:41)
But find it from God
(John 5:43-47)
ONce again we are back to the orginial pursuit of what God says is honorable and innocent.
I think the statement you made on Sunday about your mom asking, "Why is that important?" was awesome. That question is something we should pose in our lives every day and not just in the spiritual/church realm. That said, it is definitely something should put into practice especially when we get "offended".
We all take a step back to consider if we are spending our efforts fighting the unimportant (to God) rather than the things He so calls us to.
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