Context, back-story and knowing God

Posted on November 19, 2012 Written by Mitchell Hailstone Leave a Comment

A hip hop lyric illustrates the need for context in relationships. This is as true of our relationship with God as it is in human relationships.

Self inflicted wounds

When those outside the church criticize our lack of love and hypocrisy, we respond as if we are being persecuted. But much of the perceived “persecution” is self-inflicted. We are rightly condemned by the culture around us when we fail to represent Jesus well.

Be courageous

The question is how can we be courageous when we don’t really feel that way?

What is my motive?

I should point out that there is value in doing the right thing even if our motives are not entirely pure (which they will never be in this lifetime). I’m certainly not saying that one should sit on the sidelines until something can be done with perfect motives.

Tozer on the Presence of God

This is a quote from How to be Filled with the Holy Spirit, by A. W. Tozer. “[T]here is an unseen Deity present, a knowing, feeling Personality, and He is indivisible from the Father and the Son, so that if you were to be suddenly transferred to heaven itself you wouldn’t be any closer to God […]