Why is everyone today so mad, upset and ready to fight? It seems like things are getting worse, not better!
Website: www.toughquestionsforgod.org
youtube @ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC769G9moIYN53BNHlGNf-hA
Why is everyone today so mad, upset and ready to fight? It seems like things are getting worse, not better!
Website: www.toughquestionsforgod.org
youtube @ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC769G9moIYN53BNHlGNf-hA
HAVE YOU NOTICED …
How easily people get offended today?
Noticed how argumentative they are?
Especially Christians!
WHY?
It seems like everyone has a platform
An opinion
A perspective
Each person is right, and all of the others are wrong
TODAY PEOPLE …
Are using opinion as fact – to prove themselves right
Use feelings instead of understanding and reason
PSYCOLOGY TODAY SAYS …
Borderline Personality Disorder is out of control
Says that people are insecure
Seeking power and control over others
Believe they are superior and want to prove it
WE HAVE A PROBLEM …
We look in from the outside, and accept our opinion as fact
EXAMPLES:
Religious leaders rejected Jesus because He was not what the had come to expect
They expected a warrior, and got a lamb
THEY TOOK WHAT THEY “KNEW” AND APPLIED IT TO WHAT THEY WERE EXPECTING
THEY WERE NO LONGER OPEN TO NEW UNDERSTANDINGS
“KNEW” GOD WAS GOING TO SEND A MESSIAH
“EXPECTED” A MILITARY / POLITICAL MESSIAH
THEY EXPECTED GOD TO FULFILL THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE PLAN
NOT
FOR THEM TO ACCEPT GOD’S PLAN
AS CHRISTIANS …
We have to respond to the world around us
Respond to the flaring tempers, snide comments, forceful stances of others
Respond to emotions as if they are the facts
OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS …
I’m going to offend some of you
Because I’m going to talk about some very explosive topics
Let’s face it, it is difficult to control our emotions
Especially when the situations are near and dear to our heart
JAMES 1:19
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
How are you doing with this command?
TODAY IN THE CULTURE ITS EASY TO BE OFFENDED
People don’t listen completely
Blurt out responses off the cuff
And get upset almost immediately
IF YOU LOOK AT THE ABOVE SCRIPTURE …
This is exactly how Jesus lived
JESUS HAD MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO BE OFFENDED, HOWEVER …
He really wasn’t
WHY
BECAUSE…
Jesus was “others” focused
Slow to speak
Quick to listen
He wanted people to think!
He wanted to hear from them
JESUS ONLY ANSWERED DIRECTLY …
3 questions
Asked 307
Why?
Because He wanted the people to think!
Put aside their emptions!
SEEMS LIKE BEING OFFENDED HAS ALMOST BECOME THE NORM IN OUR CULTURE
Especially on social media
Vax — No Vax
Mask — No
Who kneels — Doesn’t
SO, ARE YOU EASILY OFFENDED?
SOME PEOPLE LIKE BEING OFFENDED
When offended, we feel angry — Feel morally superior
We’re in the right — Everyone else — Evil or an Idiot!
HOW IS YOUR ANGER AND BEING OFFENDED WORKING?
Is it working?
Making you more like Jesus?
Making you more loving?
JAMES 1:19
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
WHY???
ADD THE NEXT VERSE
20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.
Your human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires
YOU CAN ACCEPT THAT …
Or, be offended because it doesn't match your understanding and expectation of what it means to be “righteous”
BUT WE SAY …
My anger is a Righteous Anger
Angry over sin!
Notice — Almost always — Someone else’s sin!
It’s not really righteous anger — its Self-Righteous Anger
WHAT ABOUT WHEN WE …
Criticize their—
Foul Language—Ignore our own Spiritual Pride
Judge their sexual Sin—Ignore our Gluttony
(Offend yet?)
SO …
How effective is your self-righteous offended anger?
Helping make world better place?
Changing people’s minds?
Bringing more joy?
AS CHRISTIANS, WE HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE
DO WE WANT TO MAKE A POINT? (BE RIGHT)
OR
MAKE A DIFFERENCE? (BRING SOMEONE TO CHRIST)
THERE WAS THIS REALLY SMART GUY THAT ASKED JESUS A QUESTION
THIS WAS ONE OF THE THREE HE ANSWERED
MATTHEW 22:37Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself
JESUS DIDN’T CALL US TO BE RIGHT, HE CALLED US TO BE LOVING!
I CAN’T BE LOVING AND OFFENDED AT THE SAME TIME
I CAN’T LIFT SOMEONE UP IF IM OFFENDED BY THEM
LET IT GO …
POINT: AS A DISCIPLE OF JESUS …
We are in a spiritual battle with the forces of evil, darkness
How do we learn to overcome being offended
1.Lower your expectations of others
2TIMOTHY 3
People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.
SHOCKED BY PEOPLE?
SHOCKED BY WHAT PEOPLE CAN DO, OR THINK, OR PROMOTE?
Sinful people do sinful things.
JESUS WAS NEVER SHOCKED BY PEOPLES SELF-CENTEREDNESS
Woman married 5X
Peter & John — Not gossip — Prayer
Disciples — Who’s going to sit by you?
I KEEP THINKING JESUS WAS GOING TO …
Lose it on his disciples!
You kidding me?
What’s matter you?
Clueless?
Forgotten?
PETER
Bragged, Boasted
Lied — Betrayed — Denied — Stabbed back — Abandoned Jesus
Jesus didn’t quit loving Peter
Didn’t facebook rant — People suck!
Forgave & kept loving Peter
1.Lower your expectations of people—We are all sinful.
2.Increase your gratitude for God’s grace!
SURVEY
Lift hand if you never sinned
Deserve God’s love
Lied — Cheated — Looked lustfully —Envied
Never gossiped friend
EPHESIANS 2
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — 9 not by works, so that no one can boast
IF YOUR OFFENDED BY SOMEONE …
You’re much less likely to pray for them
Love them
Help them
I DON’T WANT TO MINIMIZE …
A hurt you may be enduring
Molested your child
Spouse lied & cheated
BE CAREFUL NOT TO FEED THE ANGER
Fuel to fire of injustice
I’m right — They’re wrong
REMEMBER JOHN 8 …
Woman caught adult
Anger Group
Stone her
W/o sin throw first stone
Drop the Stone
Jesus didn’t call us to be right — Loving
Our goal isn’t to make a point — Make a difference.
Quick to listen — Slow speak