I cannot disclose the situation but I think I can 'beat around the bush' enough to get my point across. Someone I know did something, that they thought would be helpful, and it ended up coming off another way. My defense came in full force, their defense came up in full force. Which ended in a war against the both of us. Initially creating friction, anger, offense, and division. Both of us feeling that we were right in our reaction.
For days I have had an attitude and been really hateful. I opened up google and started researching division. I am a very strong believer in battling things in prayer. Spiritual warfare if you will. Charisma Magazine has a great article about division and the spirit of division. (Read it here)
We know that the wars that we fight are not against flesh and blood. It's against principalities of darkness. We know that from Ephesians 6:12. Since we don't fight against flesh and blood we have to use weapons that are not of this world. Power that demolish strongholds. 2 Corinthians 10:4. The next portion of scripture really beat me up. The article talks about how we want to fight fire with fire. And that's not right. It's HARD. We instantly get offended and want to fight back. It's in our nature. Protect ourselves.
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another.Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.Do not be conceited.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Did that smack you in the face like it did me? Romans 12:9-21. It's so difficult to turn the other cheek and let someone tear you apart. That's our calling. That's what we do. Those who try to tear others down create division. Can I say I'm innocent? No. I'm not. I tend to pop off at the mouth when I'm angry. I have a hard time seeing others be hurt and not stepping in and fighting for them.
I have an amazing example of this in action. It will call for a 'story time.' My friend Chandler knows that he is disliked by his coworker Janice. She makes it evident to everyone but him. He knows this because people have told him. Yet he treats Janice with the upmost respect. He never speaks ill of her. He never down talks her. He never been rude to her. It's the God in him that keeps his character in check. Obviously, I don't react like that. I'm more of the, 'I'm gonna sit here and be silent until I become a volcano and rip your head off' kinda gal.
Chandler is doing exactly what Romans 12:9-21 talks about us doing. He overcomes evil by good. Even thought Janice is a Christian her outward comments make her seem less. Her comments cause division in the workplace and that's not helpful. Before you know it people take sides. Then you have a real problem on your hands. The office is split down the middle. Janice's people talk smack on Chandler and his group and vice versa. What are the intentions of these groups? Nothing good.
George W. Bush said it best. 'Too often, we judge other groups by their worst examples while judging ourselves by our best intentions.' We need to check ourselves before we wreck ourselves.
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