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Welcome to Varied Expressions of Worship

Welcome to Varied Expressions of Worship

This blog will be written from an orthodox Christian point of view. There may be some topic that is out of bounds, but at present I don't know what it will be. Politics is a part of life. Theology and philosophy are disciplines that we all participate in even if we don't think so. The Bible has a lot to say about economics. How about self defense? Is war ethical? Think of all the things that someone tells you we should not touch and let's give it a try. Everything that is a part of life should be an expression of worship.

Keep it courteous and be kind to those less blessed than you, but by all means don't worry about agreeing. We learn more when we get backed into a corner.

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Opus 2012-130, Discernment Watch: Vengeance and Justice, Part 4 of 4

Unlike vengeance, we are expected to take a hand in justice.  Justice involves personal choices and relationships.  Generally it does not involve violence or coercion.  Frequently justice is what we try to achieve for others, not ourselves.  Justice is others directed. 

Justice is associated with righteousness and uprightness.  It is associated with an already established standard and attempts to bring conditions into agreement with those standards.  It is working towards the right while vengeance is paying back for the wrong.  Justice looks to the future while vengeance looks to the past.  Justice is a character trait of believers.  It is a necessary ingredient in our walk with Christ.

Don’t expect to be loved if you are a true advocate of justice.
(Proverbs 29:27 KJV)  An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.
Jesus put it another way.
(Matthew 5:10-11 KJV)  Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Just as those who defy God’s justice are an abomination to us, we are an abomination to them.  Don’t expect to fit in.  Too many people in power are more interested in their own agenda to consider what God has to say.  You stand in their way.  You must be smacked down.  That is what is behind much of the hate crime legislation and aggressive advocacy of same-sex marriage.  It is not a pursuit of justice but an attempt to drive God from the public square.

Expect persecution if you are on God’s side.

Rejoice.  Why?  Because Jesus kept talking,
(Matthew 5:12 KJV)  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
The prophets were not embraced with enthusiasm by the politically correct and powerful of their day.  The just walk in their company.

homo unius libri

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Comments are welcome. Feel free to agree or disagree but keep it clean, courteous and short. I heard some shorthand on a podcast: TLDR, Too long, didn't read.