| OVERCOMING TOO HIGH REGARD FOR WHAT "THEY SAY" |
Scriptures: Mark 13:13; John 15:18; Matthew 5:10-12; 1 Peter 4:12-16; 4:4-5;
Galatians 1:10; John 5:37-44; 2 Peter 3:1-7; 2 Corinth. 10:10.
Galatians 1:10; John 5:37-44; 2 Peter 3:1-7; 2 Corinth. 10:10.
"For his letters, they say, are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak,
and his speech contemptible" (2 Corinth. 10:10, New KJV). Here Paul the apostle, the
greatest evangelist (who wrote 14 of the 26 New Testament books), had been pushed
into a defense, of himself. The problem was not Paul; not what he did or said or wrote.
The problem was what some people at the city of Corinth were saying, what "they say,"
about Paul. The problem was some of the Corinthians own selves.
and his speech contemptible" (2 Corinth. 10:10, New KJV). Here Paul the apostle, the
greatest evangelist (who wrote 14 of the 26 New Testament books), had been pushed
into a defense, of himself. The problem was not Paul; not what he did or said or wrote.
The problem was what some people at the city of Corinth were saying, what "they say,"
about Paul. The problem was some of the Corinthians own selves.
Now in these days in the USA and world, some emotionally loaded culturally
preprogrammed (ELCP) "buzzwords" have been used as conditioning devices. These
ELCP buzzwords are used to knock, dock, and block people into conformity to a
program. ELCP buzzwords are used as negative enforcers to get people to: 1) Conform
to a program, or 2) If they will not so conform, to be silent. ELCP buzzwords are used
to get people to ignore Bible authority, to accept as OK what the Bible calls sin, to
undermine the male-female heritage, to undercut parental authority, demoralize children,
and to minimize or exclude God.
preprogrammed (ELCP) "buzzwords" have been used as conditioning devices. These
ELCP buzzwords are used to knock, dock, and block people into conformity to a
program. ELCP buzzwords are used as negative enforcers to get people to: 1) Conform
to a program, or 2) If they will not so conform, to be silent. ELCP buzzwords are used
to get people to ignore Bible authority, to accept as OK what the Bible calls sin, to
undermine the male-female heritage, to undercut parental authority, demoralize children,
and to minimize or exclude God.
Those not fitting themselves into the mold of the programmers, get called ELCP
buzzwords like hateful, bigoted, mean-spirited, unloving, intolerant, racist, sexist,
paranoid, and fascist. Also resorted to may be a sharp repetition of profane words, to get
the "standing nail" to not stand. Somewhere I read of a Japanese saying, "The nail that
stands up gets knocked down." Actually, the label and expletive hurling has sort of done
a favor. The shock effects of ELCP buzzwords start to fade when minds discern the
difference between solid substance backed up by godly principles, versus an ungodly
agenda promoted by bombastic ELCP buzzwords. Romans 12:2 says, "And be not
conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye
may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
buzzwords like hateful, bigoted, mean-spirited, unloving, intolerant, racist, sexist,
paranoid, and fascist. Also resorted to may be a sharp repetition of profane words, to get
the "standing nail" to not stand. Somewhere I read of a Japanese saying, "The nail that
stands up gets knocked down." Actually, the label and expletive hurling has sort of done
a favor. The shock effects of ELCP buzzwords start to fade when minds discern the
difference between solid substance backed up by godly principles, versus an ungodly
agenda promoted by bombastic ELCP buzzwords. Romans 12:2 says, "And be not
conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye
may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
Answer to “TheySayers” of the World
Refusing to obey the commandments of Christ (John 14:15; 1 John 5:3), these theySayers
attack “Christians.” It is sectarian straw men, however, that are being psychoanalyzed. In
a rather Freudian manner the TheySayers will psychoanalyze a stereotyped
“fundamentalist.” The stereotype is said to be overcompensating for some dysfunction or
deficit (which may be so, of false sectarians or cultics). The “bible thumping
fundamentalists” are all lumped together, which is a fallacy. Then they get “diagnosed”
as neurotic children that will not grow up to the real world. Or they are regarded as
ignorant dupes who allow their minds to be controlled in a "Nazi” way.
Refusing to obey the commandments of Christ (John 14:15; 1 John 5:3), these theySayers
attack “Christians.” It is sectarian straw men, however, that are being psychoanalyzed. In
a rather Freudian manner the TheySayers will psychoanalyze a stereotyped
“fundamentalist.” The stereotype is said to be overcompensating for some dysfunction or
deficit (which may be so, of false sectarians or cultics). The “bible thumping
fundamentalists” are all lumped together, which is a fallacy. Then they get “diagnosed”
as neurotic children that will not grow up to the real world. Or they are regarded as
ignorant dupes who allow their minds to be controlled in a "Nazi” way.
Another ELCP buzzword used to re-ignite such culturally pre-programmed mental
circuitry, is “Jim Jones” (he of religious cult in Guyana infamy). All of these words take
much time, which is the purpose (“keep away from the Bible”). So 10,000 or 100,000 or
more words of that can deplete people's minds, as they study each other but not Christ.
(Some of these issues are touched on in my HYS Lessons #4 Hard To Be Understood,
and #12 Bible Study Tips.)
circuitry, is “Jim Jones” (he of religious cult in Guyana infamy). All of these words take
much time, which is the purpose (“keep away from the Bible”). So 10,000 or 100,000 or
more words of that can deplete people's minds, as they study each other but not Christ.
(Some of these issues are touched on in my HYS Lessons #4 Hard To Be Understood,
and #12 Bible Study Tips.)
For healthy thinking, why not consult The Sermon on the Mount by Jesus Christ. There
in three (3) short chapters, Matthew 5,6, and 7, is the deepest and highest aspiration of
the human creature made in God’s image. And the amazing thing is, it is not in ego-
stroking jargon. Yes, the children, many adults, and especially some adults, need help
with the meaning of proverbs, parables, and metaphors. Yet, the Master spoke it in
simple words that children can read. This should remind us that Christ made babes,
boys, girls, men, and women. “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven,
and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or
principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him and for Him" (Colossians 1:
16, said of God’s “dear Son,” 1:13, meaning Jesus, vss 12-19).
in three (3) short chapters, Matthew 5,6, and 7, is the deepest and highest aspiration of
the human creature made in God’s image. And the amazing thing is, it is not in ego-
stroking jargon. Yes, the children, many adults, and especially some adults, need help
with the meaning of proverbs, parables, and metaphors. Yet, the Master spoke it in
simple words that children can read. This should remind us that Christ made babes,
boys, girls, men, and women. “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven,
and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or
principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him and for Him" (Colossians 1:
16, said of God’s “dear Son,” 1:13, meaning Jesus, vss 12-19).
Jesus Sets It Straight
Jesus was once called a "Samaritan, and hast a devil" John 8:48ff. Samaritan people
were part Gentile and part Jew, 2 Kings 17:22-24; John 4:1-9. Those disbelievers were
trying to dismiss Jesus, by appealing to multi-ethnic hate and demonization. But that
device cannot work because Jesus IS the truth (John 14:6). Jesus told them He was
honoring God, and that that is why they the disbelievers were dishonoring Jesus. In John
8:55, He told these religious people that they "had not known" God.
Jesus was once called a "Samaritan, and hast a devil" John 8:48ff. Samaritan people
were part Gentile and part Jew, 2 Kings 17:22-24; John 4:1-9. Those disbelievers were
trying to dismiss Jesus, by appealing to multi-ethnic hate and demonization. But that
device cannot work because Jesus IS the truth (John 14:6). Jesus told them He was
honoring God, and that that is why they the disbelievers were dishonoring Jesus. In John
8:55, He told these religious people that they "had not known" God.
The point is, those who stand for God and Christ should not be discouraged when called
names by "scoffers" (2 Peter 3:3), or when ELCP buzzwords are thrown as "fiery
darts" (Ephesians 6:16). To please God above man (Galatians 1:10) means being
"hated" (Mark 13:13; John 15:18), "persecuted" (Matthew 5:10-12), called "strange"
(1 Peter 4:4-5,12-16) and afflicted. To be a Christian and remain one, a person must
overcome the hindrance of labels, and of what "they say" (2 Corinthians 10:10, NKJV).
names by "scoffers" (2 Peter 3:3), or when ELCP buzzwords are thrown as "fiery
darts" (Ephesians 6:16). To please God above man (Galatians 1:10) means being
"hated" (Mark 13:13; John 15:18), "persecuted" (Matthew 5:10-12), called "strange"
(1 Peter 4:4-5,12-16) and afflicted. To be a Christian and remain one, a person must
overcome the hindrance of labels, and of what "they say" (2 Corinthians 10:10, NKJV).
OvercomingSelf.net
Help Your Self article #2