People aren't either wicked or noble. They're like chef's salads, with good things and bad things chopped and mixed together in a vinaigrette of confusion and conflict.
– Lemony Snicket (Daniel Handler), A Series of Unfortunate Events #11: The Grim Grotto (2004)
How about an example? John uses God to validate his strong opinions on issues ranging from the appropriate length of women's skirts in church to political candidates to gender roles to his inability to negotiate issues with fellow non-Christian managers at work. He does not listen to or check out the innumerable assumptions he makes about others. He quickly jumps to conclusions. His friends, family, & coworkers find him unsafe & condescending.
John then goes on to convince himself he is doing God's work by misapplying selected verses of scripture. "Of course that person hates me," he says to himself. "All those who desire to be godly will suffer persecution." Ultimately, however, he is using God to run from God.
– Peter Scazzero, Emotionally Healthy Spirituality (2014; pp.23-24)
The Call to Worship: The Revelation 15.2-4
Reader: And I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, & those who had been victorious over the beast and his image & the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of God. And they sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,
People: "Great and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God, the Almighty; Righteous & true are Your ways, King of the nations! Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy;
Reader: For all the nations will come & worship before You, for Your righteous acts havebeen revealed." |
