Behind Enemy Lines

"And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh."

Jude 23

"Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.  Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ." Galatians 6:1-2

"As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." Galatians 6:10

"For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another."

Galatians 5:14-14

So, why all the verses today?  I couldn't pick just one.

My brother and I were talking on the phone awhile back about an incident that happened at his church.  It was grievous; and it all happened during a Business Meeting.

Sad how brothers and sisters in Christ who have different opinions about a situation suddenly become one another's enemy.

The following words are from my brother, so, thanks Mark!

"Have you ever noticed that First Responders are the first to run into the burning buildings, running towards the danger, the calamity?  During 9/11, the Firemen, Police, Paramedics, even strangers, ran toward the collapsing buildings, risking their own lives to save just one more person caught in danger.

Those who serve in our Military will risk their own lives to go behind enemy lines and retrieve those prisoned and those held captive.  The wounded, fallen Soldier, will be carried out on the shoulders of those serving beside him.  Their inner souls are wired to save as many as they can at the cost of their own lives.

And yet when a brother or sister in Christ are in sin, in despair, have decided to throw in the towel, the very ones who need rescuing, are left where they are with no help.  The very ones who are called to help the brethren end up turning their backs on the wounded and retreat."

Beloved, this ought not to be so.

We were close to tears by the thought of such cruelty and lack of love among the brethren.

In opposing views, we have forgotten Jesus' own words in John 8:7b, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone..." 

We ended our call and I just kept thinking about our conversation.  It was all sad but true.  We can see others heading down the wrong road, and yet we don't hold up a sign (the Word of God) redirecting them.

Someone is going through a rough time and our first thoughts are, 'Well, they ARE reaping what they have sowed.'

Have we really grown that callous?  Are we really too busy to help those who are opposing themselves?

God forbid.

When I see others sinking in the pit of sin...

        or see others with their feet stuck in the miry clay...

            God help me not to judge...

                But to rescue....

                    But that's just me!

Words of Peter, 1 Peter 3:8,9 17 "Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing...

For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing."