Thinking

I guess it's more of a question. Do we as Christians force ourselves on people, causing them to hate us? Do we think of ourselves as all mighty and powerful to cause the world to hate us? Does Matthew 10:14 give us any answers to these questions? Hopefully on my next journal entry, I'll have an answer to all these questions.

I going to try and answer these questions one by one from my heart. I can't answer for all Christians, just me. I would say, "God forbid", to any Christian that would try to force Jesus down someone's throat. If I start talking about Jesus and someone starts debating me on the subject and we confer back and forth, is this force? No, but I should not let it continue into an argument. If I write something down, or put it on a social web, everyone is free to read or not read. If I leave a flyer or booklet somewhere about Jesus, the same holds true here. If I'm in a public forum and I am talking about Jesus, you are free to walk away or just not listen. I have hope and believe the people who do read, are already wanting to know more, wanting to understand more, about this man called Jesus. This is not force, it is making available the Good News of Jesus.

Do Christians think of theirselves as all mighty and powerful to cause the world to hate us? I do not think of myself as all mighty and powerful, in fact, just the opposite. I am a sinner and feel undeserving everyday for what Jesus has done for me. Jesus died on the cross and tore the veil in half that separated me from having a personal relationship with God. He took the place of the sacrifical lamb (the blood) that was given for my sin every year. I have been given the Holy Spirit to dwell in my heart to help me in all things. No-one had this, not even His disciples, until Jesus had died and and resurrected. We no longer have to go through the enourmous mosaic rituals of the old testament. Mighty and powerful belong to Jesus only.

Does Matthew 10:14 give us any answers to these questions? "And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet."

The disciples are directed what to do in strange towns and cities. The servant of Christ is the ambassador of peace to whatever place he is sent. His message is even to the vilest sinners, yet it behoves him to find out the best persons in every place. It becomes us to pray heartily for all, and to conduct ourselves courteously to all. They are directed how to act as to those that refused them. The whole counsel of God must be declared, and those who will not attend to the gracious message, must be shown that their state is dangerous. This should be seriously laid to heart by all that hear the gospel, lest their privileges only serve to increase their condemnation. Matthew Henry's commentary http://www.christnotes.org/commentary.php?com=mhc&b=40&c=10

What does all this mean? It means we must spread the gospel, don't argue about it, to those who don't want to hear, we must show them that their current state is dangerous.