"YOU GOT SOME FINE CHILDREN, BUT THEY WILL KILL YOU."
This is our latest installment in our discussion of "burnt stones."
Billy Long
“YOU GOT SOME FINE CHILDREN, BUT THEY WILL KILL YOU.”
"THE CHURCH PARKING LOT?"
The photo above was in the December 1991 issue of National Geographic. It is a picture of an old car riddled with holes. There are two men slumped over dead in the front seat and one in the back seat. The photograph looks like a scene from a gangster movie or from the life of Bonnie and Clyde. Based on this description, answer the following questions:
1. What kind of people are in the car?
2. What kind of people fired on the car?
3. How would you describe the relationship between the people in the car and the people who fired on the car?
4. What was the objective of those who fired the shots?
People are very surprised to learn the true answers to these questions. The picture is from an article about the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. The actual caption reads as follows: Slain by friendly fire, shipyard workers John Adams, his father, and a friend were five miles from Pearl Harbor when their Packard was hit by shrapnel from errant five-inch Navy shells. American anti-aircraft guns rained damage on Honolulu, untouched by Japanese bombardment." The men in this car were Americans accidentally killed by Americans. They were killed by men from their own team. Now, with these facts in mind go back and answer the questions again.
How often has this same thing happened in the church! Tragically, this photo could figuratively have been taken in some church parking lot. Church members have often done more damage to one another than to the enemy's work.
1. What kind of people are in the car?
2. What kind of people fired on the car?
3. How would you describe the relationship between the people in the car and the people who fired on the car?
4. What was the objective of those who fired the shots?
People are very surprised to learn the true answers to these questions. The picture is from an article about the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. The actual caption reads as follows: Slain by friendly fire, shipyard workers John Adams, his father, and a friend were five miles from Pearl Harbor when their Packard was hit by shrapnel from errant five-inch Navy shells. American anti-aircraft guns rained damage on Honolulu, untouched by Japanese bombardment." The men in this car were Americans accidentally killed by Americans. They were killed by men from their own team. Now, with these facts in mind go back and answer the questions again.
How often has this same thing happened in the church! Tragically, this photo could figuratively have been taken in some church parking lot. Church members have often done more damage to one another than to the enemy's work.
"HE WAS A CHRISTIAN, SO HE ONLY SHOT HIM IN THE LEG.."
A few years ago my mother was telling me about a church in our county that was having some problems. The situation became so bad that the pastor and one of the deacons got into a fist fight in a church business meeting. Then, about six months later, I heard on the local radio station that the pastor had shot the deacon. He did not kill him. He was a Christian, so he only shot him in the leg.
A few years ago my mother was telling me about a church in our county that was having some problems. The situation became so bad that the pastor and one of the deacons got into a fist fight in a church business meeting. Then, about six months later, I heard on the local radio station that the pastor had shot the deacon. He did not kill him. He was a Christian, so he only shot him in the leg.
"SHOOT UP HERE AMONG US; ONE OF US GOT TO HAVE SOME RELIEF!"
Jerry Clower has a great story about two men 'coon hunting, and one ending up in a tree-top brawl with a lynx. The man in the tree cried out desperately for the man on the ground to shoot the lynx. The fellow on the ground, unable to see through the limbs and leaves, yelled back, "I can't! I might hit you!" The man in the tree then yelled down, "Shoot up here amongst us! One of us got to have some relief!" I once heard an elder groan this same prayer as he was leaving a church business meeting.
Jerry Clower has a great story about two men 'coon hunting, and one ending up in a tree-top brawl with a lynx. The man in the tree cried out desperately for the man on the ground to shoot the lynx. The fellow on the ground, unable to see through the limbs and leaves, yelled back, "I can't! I might hit you!" The man in the tree then yelled down, "Shoot up here amongst us! One of us got to have some relief!" I once heard an elder groan this same prayer as he was leaving a church business meeting.
"YOU GOT SOME FIND CHILDREN, BUT THEY WILL KILL YOU!"
I met an elderly widow named Rosalie on the street in Loris, SC. When I asked her about her husband, she replied, "I ain't married, but I do have me a boyfriend". She then laughed while telling me of a warning her children had given regarding the boyfriend. "If you get married and he don't do right… we'll kill him." This obviously made the boyfriend a little nervous, but he wanted to stay in good-standing with his Rosalie, so he told her, "You got some fine children, but they will kill you."
I have seen some situations in which I looked up toward heaven and said, “Lord, You got some fine children…but they will kill you.”
I met an elderly widow named Rosalie on the street in Loris, SC. When I asked her about her husband, she replied, "I ain't married, but I do have me a boyfriend". She then laughed while telling me of a warning her children had given regarding the boyfriend. "If you get married and he don't do right… we'll kill him." This obviously made the boyfriend a little nervous, but he wanted to stay in good-standing with his Rosalie, so he told her, "You got some fine children, but they will kill you."
I have seen some situations in which I looked up toward heaven and said, “Lord, You got some fine children…but they will kill you.”
SOME ARE SAINTS; SOME ARE AIN'TS..
I have experienced the people of God, their love for one another, and the presence of God in them in a way that was like being in heaven itself. Then on the other hand, I have seen church people bite and devour one another and leave people bleeding in their wake. We see people of God who truly represent godliness and right living, but we also know of those who have stumbled through sin and hypocrisy. A dear friend once said, “Some are saints and some are ain'ts.”
I have experienced the people of God, their love for one another, and the presence of God in them in a way that was like being in heaven itself. Then on the other hand, I have seen church people bite and devour one another and leave people bleeding in their wake. We see people of God who truly represent godliness and right living, but we also know of those who have stumbled through sin and hypocrisy. A dear friend once said, “Some are saints and some are ain'ts.”
“LET NOT THE HAND OF THE WICKED DRIVE ME AWAY.” Psalm 36: 11
Why should you turn your back on Jesus if some of His children mistreat you? There are many trials and fires that test the genuineness of our faith and of our walk with Jesus. One of the most severe tests is relational conflict within the church. Can we be faithful to Jesus when other Christians disappoint us. Can we be faithful to Jesus when our brothers and sisters lack integrity? Can we hold to Him when others are “letting us go?” Do we reject the glorious church because we ran up on some “spots” and “wrinkles?” How sad when so many Christians turn their back on God because they were hurt, wounded, or disillusioned by other Christians. These stumbling blocks can cloud our view of God. The truly spiritually hungry person will look past the “wicked” and press in to see the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. When we draw back from our spiritual walk, the Lord will ask us two questions, not just, “Why did you walk away from your weak brethren?” But also, “Why did you walk away from ME?”
Why should you turn your back on Jesus if some of His children mistreat you? There are many trials and fires that test the genuineness of our faith and of our walk with Jesus. One of the most severe tests is relational conflict within the church. Can we be faithful to Jesus when other Christians disappoint us. Can we be faithful to Jesus when our brothers and sisters lack integrity? Can we hold to Him when others are “letting us go?” Do we reject the glorious church because we ran up on some “spots” and “wrinkles?” How sad when so many Christians turn their back on God because they were hurt, wounded, or disillusioned by other Christians. These stumbling blocks can cloud our view of God. The truly spiritually hungry person will look past the “wicked” and press in to see the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. When we draw back from our spiritual walk, the Lord will ask us two questions, not just, “Why did you walk away from your weak brethren?” But also, “Why did you walk away from ME?”
In future posts, we will continue to look at spiritual principles that help us come through the fire without smelling like smoke and without being burnt and singed.
Let me know if you have any specific aspect of the subject that you'd like to see discussed.
Billy Long, 368 Cox Lane, Longs, SC 29568
broblong@gmail.com
843-591-2450
broblong@gmail.com
843-591-2450
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