Who's a Christian?

Over the last nearly 3 years I have seen rage, jealousy and bitterness run people. They become bitter against one another, and the root of it all is greed, hate, and jealousy. To see men and women who should be brothers and sisters act like this is disgusting and disheartening.

Folks, our nation is doomed because of the self-seeking ways of those around us.

Disputes between brothers and sisters

Let me be very clear: if you are part of a clique that is divisive, filled with envy, jealousy, rage, anger, or any other of the works of the flesh, then you are NOT a Christian. If you set out to destroy someone and deliberately take something away from them because you think you know something, you are not a Christian.You can pray, you can cry, and your prayers will hit the ceiling of brass. If you do  manage to accomplish your goal by banding together, it will be short lived.

"Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift." Matthew 5:23,24

You will likely say to me, but this has happened before, so we are justified. No you are not.  The fruit of these little cliques is evil - and the motive is not pure.  Are you working to save lives? Are you working to reconcile? Are you working to help the victim?  Do you care about how  your personal attacks have affected the people?

Leadership

On the principle of leadership- when someone is called  to create something, then they are the one called to do it. Regardless of personality disputes, if they are the one who created it - they are the one who created it. Do you tell your commanding officer you can do it better and march in to take his place?  Likely if you do that, you will go to jail.

Leaders are rarely perfect. In fact, most of the time they are not...many of them have serious problems. Mutiny is a serious offense. But it is NOT someone else's place to destroy them. It is in the hands of God and Him alone. If you are offended by everything they do, then that is something wrong with YOU, not them. What is the motive? It is not altruistic, it is fleshly and of the works of the flesh.

"Now the works of the flesh are evident which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousy,outbursts of wrath, selfish ambition, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just a I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God." Galatians 5:19-21

Hatred

The venom spewed by some of these little cliques is disgusting and abhorrent. It is rooted in the love of money and jealousy, not goodness or love. Kindness has left them, understanding has fled from them.

"If someone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also." 1 John 4:20-21

"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through  with many sorrows." 1 Timothy 6:10