My Corner Online

 

Why are we we falling for these?

 

Do you see anything wrong with this?

Obviously many people like this. I even liked it at first, but that only lasted a few seconds until I thought further.

This keeps happening to me time and again through my social media stream.

The same thing happened to me yesterday when I posted this writing on "Do you let other People's Nonsense Change your Mood?

Here's a quote from it:

"Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it. And if you let them, they'll dump it on you. When someone wants to dump on you, don't take it personally. You just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. You'll be happy you did."

I absolutely loved that at first. then I began to think.

I see things like these time and time again and I wonder what the internet world is doing to change our thinking.

Want to know what I see wrong with them?

They are selfish. They are uncaring.

Matthew 5:44 says "But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,"
Jesus teaches me to love those people who hate me.

Go back and look at the above graphic. Why are we concerned about having time to "hate the people who hate me?" Shouldn't we be concerned about finding the time to "love the people who hate me?"

Regarding the second example, is it right to just "move on" and not make an effort to love the people who dump on us? If they are having such a bad day that they dump on you, wouldn't it be possible that they are in need of someone to reach out to them and show them some love?

Galatians 6:9 says "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."
Why are we being encouraged to be selfish and only think about our own well-being? Why are we falling for these statements when we see them in our social networking stream? What ever happened to caring for and loving all people, regardless of who they are or what they think of you? Why are we encouraged to become lazy and give up on people?

Written 2012

 

Think Twice Please

This image was shared on Facebook and I do not like it.

I have blogged about this once before (read here) and it continues to really bother me. God really has put this on my heart.

These images seem so "new age religion" and everyone these days is falling for the trap with the ever-more popular social networking.

New age images are are all about "you" and not about Christ. They are about the things that we can do on our own. They are about "self-help" through our own minds.

They can seem harmless and people reshare them without thinking because they trigger a hint of truth.

They are about being selfish. They are about how "self" can fix things, not about how Christ can fix things.

We must be on guard and careful not to fall into this "new age religion" trap.

To make matters worse, it was a Pastor who fell for the trap. I honestly was astonished.

With the image, he posted, "Distance yourself from negative, toxic, aloof, and passive aggressive people. Walk away. Do not look for affection or friendship from those who are unreliable. Protect yourself from those who do not build and encourage your value, worth, and esteem. This includes conventional circles of family, the church, and those you think are cool, popular, or can benefit you somehow. You are valuable. You are good. You are someone's son or daughter. You are my friend."

Wow. Just Wow. That blew me away! I cannot imagine encouraging anyone to have nothing to do with other people. I continually see these images encouraging people to just turn their backs on people who rub them the wrong way. Isn't that the easy way? Life was never meant to be easy.

Is this what Jesus would do? Would Jesus ever turn his back on people? No matter how bad they are?

In effect, this is the same as "disowning" one's own family member, whether it is disowning them as a friend or an acquaintance, it is still the same effect.

How could this ever be what Jesus would want us to do?

I posted a corrective comment and received a comment back regarding:

Matthew 10:14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. (also in gospels of Mark 6:11 and Luke 9:5)

Jesus was telling his disciples to go out and witness and if people would not listen, to dust off their feet and walk away. We should not let it upset us, but rather move on to the next opportunity. We should let God "water" the "seeds" of faith we plant. He will take care of it.

This verse says nothing about never having anything to do with the person ever again. It does not mean we should distance ourselves from people who rub us the wrong way.

Rather, we should be an example of love to people who rub us the wrong way. We should be a light for Christ. We should show our happiness in blessings.

If we distance ourselves from people who do not "build us up," isn't that selfish? Does that serve any purpose? Does it show love to those you distance yourself from? Does it build up those people who you distance yourself from?

Have you ever been treated this way? I have. I am going to guess most people have been treated this way.

How does it feel when people treat you this way? It does not feel good at all. Aren't we supposed to treat people the way we want to be treated? Then why would you do that to someone else?

I just don't get it. I just really don't get why people have developed this personal philosophy.

If I closed the door on every person who corrected me, I would have no one left in my life. How ridiculous is this?

After my correction, the initial sharer of the (above) image posted, indicating how much it meant for her as she was in a bad marriage and "learning to live alone."

Oh wow! Yep. Do you see where this seemingly harmless image has lead someone astray?

I replied to her: "Learning to live alone? I am never alone. Jesus is always with me.
Deuteronomy 31:6 "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." "

There must be many Bible verses on God never leaving or forsaking us.

It is okay to feel lonely and try to cope with our feelings, but it is not okay to be trying to learn how live alone. God is always with us. We need to learn how He is sufficient.

Much more happened than I share here and I was completely distraught for days. I was reaching for some affirmation to my beliefs.

I went to a local church of the same denomination on the web and randomly selected a sermon to watch. God is good to lead me toward help in healing.

Here is the video.

People need to feel respected, important, excepted, included, and secure (in Him, with Him, through Him).

This is what I need and often feel I am not provided. I try to always focus on doing this for others, however, and not think on "self." For there are many people out there that feel the same as I do, so I need to find them and reach out to them.

What I love about this sermon is his reference to EGR's. An EGR is a person who needs "extra grace required." We all have people who are EGR's to us and we all are EGR's to other people.

The book referenced in the sermon is "How to Raise Emotionally Happy Children" by Gerald Newmark.

From Pastor's notes in the video:
1. Accept others like Jesus accepts me.
2. Value others as Jesus values me.

"Value depends on what someone will pay" Pastor says. God paid the price for me.... oh, just watch the video! I feel a need to transcribe it, just for me to read again another time.

This is the person I want to be. This is the way I strive to be toward others.

3. Forgive others as Jesus as forgiven me.
4. Believe in others as Jesus believes in me.

I'll leave this with these positives, leaving my soapbox in the beginning of this post with the positives at the end.

Written 10/12/2012