Is Fear Just Cause?
My heart beats at a reproach this evening, for the ones who are troubled or lost. Today I was faced with the proposition of "Is fear just cause?". I was delivering pizza and encountered a man with unjust road rage. I had been signaling from a median to enter the roadway, as he approached he did so warily. I kindly waved him on, he grew more hesitant. Finally he let me behind him by accelerating harshly from nearly a standstill. The instant I was behind him he JAMMED on his brakes forcing me to swerve from hitting him. Once I was in the right lane he proceeded to forcefully enter my lane, running me off the road. I stopped my vehicle, blocking traffic, and we exhanged enthusiastic remarks until he sped away. I secured his tags and called the police immediately. I waited for the police, but they never came. (This is the summarized version of an account that took about an hour and a half to unfold)
I left the scene, where the extremely rude 911 operator had told me to stand post, and proceeded to find an officer at rest somewhere. I located one at a Walgreens and explained my story, he checked the computer and found no record of any dispatch. I realized that the 911 operator who I had contacted never gave out the call (For which I already had assumed). It wasn't until later did I realize what God was trying to tell me.
What I had said to the man in the middle of the road was, "What the heck is your problem?! Are you trying to kill me?", what I should have said was "Excuse me sir, I forgive you..." But this guy was 6'5" about 250 pounds of muscle, driving his big Jeep Commander, and wanted to step on the little pizza guy... I was afraid, I cowered at his appearance, yet I still could only exchange hostility in the moment. So I figured I'd get the last laugh and try and sic the police on this guy... Wrong... Well that led me to ask myself, "Was fear just cause?". Was it OK that I victimized myself pridefully because he had frightened me? No, It wasn't OK. I had my car, my life, and my faith still intact. The only thing that was shattered, was my forgiveness. I had gotten so caught up in trying to get this guy in trouble, I totally forgot to pray for him. And in doing so relinquished all tension. I thought this was a cool little lesson. Anyway! Onto the main lesson.
We see from above that fear is a great motivator but is it a motivating point utilized by our Heavenly Father? I seemed to bring about some contreversy upon myself today. I feel weary as though I may have misrepresented the love, grace, and mercy of God somehow. Or at least this is what I was accused of doing.
It was brought to my attention by some people I hold on high regard. They had speculated that I was leading people to God by fear alone and lacked all grace and mercy. It seemed to circulate around a facebook post in which I made a hint at going to an airport asking people if they would go to heaven if their plane crashed? I recieved mixed reviews about this approach of evangelism, yet it is more so a humuorous ambition as opposed to something I have actually done.
The inquisition doesn't end there. I was soon faced with the inquiry of how a loving God could allow physical ailments and other troubles to incur His people. I responded basically by implying it as a method of grabbing one's attention. The person not so nearly agreed with this notion and proceeded at batting down all of my faithful ideals of God. Replacing God with whom God should be through their perspective. This continued for a couple hours back and forth via text message, all the while my heart being broken and spilled. I was convicted of imposing my beliefs and opinions on others. Which is true to a degree, my message is clear, the gospel is paramount and in reaching out with it causes one to look at themselves and take a moral inventory. Yet my opinion? I have left that at the alter, and continue to crucify it daily.
Note the fact, I will say not unto anyone, "Refrain from being one in wedlock, FOR ME." Or "You really shouldn't drink because I can't drink responsibly, and it will cause you the same demise as me ." Although these are good points, I need not impose myself. Has my pride caused me to selfishly impose myself in the past? YES! But not in this instance of delivering the message of God, nor will I stride to be prideful thus forth. However, I certainly insist on following the rule of God. 1st Thessalonians 4:3 reads "For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication". And, Isaiah 5:11-12 says "Woe to those who rise early in the morning, to run after their drinks. Who stay up late at night till they are inflamed with wine. They have harps and lyres at their banquets, tambourines and flutes and wine, but they have no regard for the deeds of the LORD, no respect for the work of his hands." Nowhere in these scriptures do I see the name Ryan Jackson being mentioned, nor do I set my implications upon those receiving this message.
Am I a sinner? Oh yeah... Do I deserve a criminals death? Absolutely! I cannot stress enough that it is by Gods' GRACE we are SAVED by FAITH! Why is it you mention one plane crashing and people disregard your entire existence and look at the hopeless plane crash? Do they not see the love, the grace, and the mercy that has impacted one's life? Spilling out into love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control? (Galatians 5:22-23). Would anyone actually believe that I never read that verse until all of those components had taken their welcome place in my life? I speak this not in a prideful tongue, however I am addressing the fact that God has instituted me as being an example. I am merely a beautiful mess to be displayed within the hall of iniquity.
This all leads me to believe that it is not my heart that shall bear the wounds of these renderings. It is wholly the opposite. It is for the accuser I pray. I willingly take up my cross as Jesus did. I will look unto the heavens in anguish, I will pray for those who lash me as they did the Son. It is to the accuser I pitch the literal proposal, "Are you for Jesus, or are you against Jesus". For or against? Yes... Jesus... He's not just a good person or a good role model to hold a standard to. He is the Son of the living God. He was the sacrificial lamb sent to bear your sin. He was the whipping post that withstood our lashings. He is a standard. A turning point in one's life. He is our salvation. Where do you stand with Him? Your life either resembles Him, or resembles the enemy. It may cause you great pain to look at yourself. It may cause you great fear that you may not know Him. Aside from all cultural relativity, I do believe that this fear proposes just cause for any argument...
I left the scene, where the extremely rude 911 operator had told me to stand post, and proceeded to find an officer at rest somewhere. I located one at a Walgreens and explained my story, he checked the computer and found no record of any dispatch. I realized that the 911 operator who I had contacted never gave out the call (For which I already had assumed). It wasn't until later did I realize what God was trying to tell me.
What I had said to the man in the middle of the road was, "What the heck is your problem?! Are you trying to kill me?", what I should have said was "Excuse me sir, I forgive you..." But this guy was 6'5" about 250 pounds of muscle, driving his big Jeep Commander, and wanted to step on the little pizza guy... I was afraid, I cowered at his appearance, yet I still could only exchange hostility in the moment. So I figured I'd get the last laugh and try and sic the police on this guy... Wrong... Well that led me to ask myself, "Was fear just cause?". Was it OK that I victimized myself pridefully because he had frightened me? No, It wasn't OK. I had my car, my life, and my faith still intact. The only thing that was shattered, was my forgiveness. I had gotten so caught up in trying to get this guy in trouble, I totally forgot to pray for him. And in doing so relinquished all tension. I thought this was a cool little lesson. Anyway! Onto the main lesson.
We see from above that fear is a great motivator but is it a motivating point utilized by our Heavenly Father? I seemed to bring about some contreversy upon myself today. I feel weary as though I may have misrepresented the love, grace, and mercy of God somehow. Or at least this is what I was accused of doing.
It was brought to my attention by some people I hold on high regard. They had speculated that I was leading people to God by fear alone and lacked all grace and mercy. It seemed to circulate around a facebook post in which I made a hint at going to an airport asking people if they would go to heaven if their plane crashed? I recieved mixed reviews about this approach of evangelism, yet it is more so a humuorous ambition as opposed to something I have actually done.
The inquisition doesn't end there. I was soon faced with the inquiry of how a loving God could allow physical ailments and other troubles to incur His people. I responded basically by implying it as a method of grabbing one's attention. The person not so nearly agreed with this notion and proceeded at batting down all of my faithful ideals of God. Replacing God with whom God should be through their perspective. This continued for a couple hours back and forth via text message, all the while my heart being broken and spilled. I was convicted of imposing my beliefs and opinions on others. Which is true to a degree, my message is clear, the gospel is paramount and in reaching out with it causes one to look at themselves and take a moral inventory. Yet my opinion? I have left that at the alter, and continue to crucify it daily.
Note the fact, I will say not unto anyone, "Refrain from being one in wedlock, FOR ME." Or "You really shouldn't drink because I can't drink responsibly, and it will cause you the same demise as me ." Although these are good points, I need not impose myself. Has my pride caused me to selfishly impose myself in the past? YES! But not in this instance of delivering the message of God, nor will I stride to be prideful thus forth. However, I certainly insist on following the rule of God. 1st Thessalonians 4:3 reads "For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication". And, Isaiah 5:11-12 says "Woe to those who rise early in the morning, to run after their drinks. Who stay up late at night till they are inflamed with wine. They have harps and lyres at their banquets, tambourines and flutes and wine, but they have no regard for the deeds of the LORD, no respect for the work of his hands." Nowhere in these scriptures do I see the name Ryan Jackson being mentioned, nor do I set my implications upon those receiving this message.
Am I a sinner? Oh yeah... Do I deserve a criminals death? Absolutely! I cannot stress enough that it is by Gods' GRACE we are SAVED by FAITH! Why is it you mention one plane crashing and people disregard your entire existence and look at the hopeless plane crash? Do they not see the love, the grace, and the mercy that has impacted one's life? Spilling out into love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control? (Galatians 5:22-23). Would anyone actually believe that I never read that verse until all of those components had taken their welcome place in my life? I speak this not in a prideful tongue, however I am addressing the fact that God has instituted me as being an example. I am merely a beautiful mess to be displayed within the hall of iniquity.
This all leads me to believe that it is not my heart that shall bear the wounds of these renderings. It is wholly the opposite. It is for the accuser I pray. I willingly take up my cross as Jesus did. I will look unto the heavens in anguish, I will pray for those who lash me as they did the Son. It is to the accuser I pitch the literal proposal, "Are you for Jesus, or are you against Jesus". For or against? Yes... Jesus... He's not just a good person or a good role model to hold a standard to. He is the Son of the living God. He was the sacrificial lamb sent to bear your sin. He was the whipping post that withstood our lashings. He is a standard. A turning point in one's life. He is our salvation. Where do you stand with Him? Your life either resembles Him, or resembles the enemy. It may cause you great pain to look at yourself. It may cause you great fear that you may not know Him. Aside from all cultural relativity, I do believe that this fear proposes just cause for any argument...
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