|
 What
is most needed in the church today? Many concerned brethren
reply, "Better Attitudes!" It is a bitter, bickering
attitude that has driven some to embrace the “grace-fellowship"
syrup; the dictatorial or "pontifical" attitude that
has turned off many readers of religious papers. Many of those
"turned off" or dripping in syrup have sometime
developed a "flower-child' attitude that is deeply offended
at honest efforts to keep them in the way of truth. I hasten to
say, I am finding a goodly number of saints and congregations
that are going an independent way, unmoved by (if indeed they
even know of) the "current wars or defections."
Better
attitudes necessitate love for our brethren — to deny it is
like denying motherhood. But we must distinguish the
sacrificing, God-directed "agape" of the Bible from
emotional sop offered in its place. We must remember, "God
is love" — NOT "If we love it, God must accept it.'
The
popular solution for improving attitudes is more social events.
On the surface this is appealing, but it often leaves God out of
the picture, resulting in a socially
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unified group merrily eating and
playing games regardless of God's instructions. Some of the
bitterest attacks I have received for preaching truth have come
from brethren who treated me great socially — as long as I was
silent!!
Ugly
retorts, personal recriminations, etc., often come as a cover-up
for lack of knowledge or confidence in one's position. One of
the best preventives for an ugly spirit is the positiveness that
comes with careful study of God's word. When we love the truth
more than we love some party doctrine, we will not mind
assistance from others in coming to a better understanding of
God's way.
It
is not enough to know, "Whatsoever ye would that men should
do to you, do ye even so to them" (Matt. 7: 12). We must
TAKE IT SERIOUSLY, and PUT IT INTO PRACTICE.
Better
attitudes are not gendered wholesale, as a brotherhood miracle.
They are developed in the individual, and they must begin with
me!
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