Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Thursday September 16, 2010

It is often asserted that "Pastor Lilly is too mean." I suppose this implies that I tell it like it is according to scripture. When folks ask what the Bible teaches on a particular subject I simply give them the overall teaching on the subject with a few "proof" texts. I do not tell them that I will personally see that they had better not be found in violation of said principles or they will answer to me. I am the least of anyone's worries. Yet I bear the brunt of dissatisfaction toward God. Hey, He wrote it down, not me.

For instance, I could care less whether you choose to marry within the faith or not. I must tell you the Bible is plainly against such unions. The old adage: if a Christian marries a non-Christian he/she will have trouble with the father-in-law. End of story.

Commenting on true love toward those who are about to enter some form of departure from the Word, Amy Carmichael, long term Missionary to India said this:

"If I am content to heal a hurt slightly, saying "Peace, peace," where is no peace; if I forget the poignant word "Let love be without dissimulation" and blunt the edge of truth, speaking not right things but smooth things, then I know nothing of Calvary love."

Blunting the edge of truth is commonly practiced today, probably by men and women of the cloth who mean well and think they know more about life and living than did the author of life and the Bible. I think Amy meant by her reference to "Calvary love" that the horrible sacrifice on Calvary was necessary due to the foolishness of Adam and Eve, and all who follow taking God's instructions and casting them aside in the maniacal thought that they or something (Lucifer) know more about things than God and that God is somehow unfair in His prohibitions against any number of things. The charge of unfairness has been hurled against God from earliest times. Over time it is obvious that God's proscriptions were and are for our own good personally and for the race.

When we are doing wrong and a friend loves us enough to "speak the truth in love" concerning this, we must not attempt to kill the messenger literally or figuratively. A friend who will not speak the truth in love is not a true friend.

Just the other day I talked with long time friend about a situation and I found myself saying, "It is wrong as I have shown you from the Word. I have no authority over you, so I cannot force you to run from this. I do have authority and God given responsibility to challenge you to follow the Lord's plain plan in this. I hope you will."

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2010 Use with credit.

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