Prompt: Confront
// Confrontation has become a taboo word in our society of
relativism and morals that promote not offending anyone above all else. Even in
the church, where we mentally adhere to a fixed standard of morality rather
than a relativism that embraces whatever someone feels like as a basis for
discerning correct behavior, we are slipping in practice.
Frequently these days I hear phrases like, “I just feel like
God was telling me…” and “I know God wants me to be happy so…” When these
sentences end with a thought or decision that clearly goes against God’s
clearly revealed will in His word then we have a big problem, and one that
needs to be confronted.
Yet confrontation seems so hateful in our present
context. We don’t want to make anyone
feel bad so we decline to seek their highest good, through confrontation of
issues that are harmful to them, in favor of making them feel better and maybe
so they will like us more. //
This is not love. This is selfishness, foolishness, and
cowardice. If we love someone we will confront any moral problems we see in
their life, calling them for what they are and stepping alongside them on the
journey to dealing with those issues.
Perhaps one of the reasons that we see all confrontation as
hateful is because we do see so much hate, or at least anger, combined with
confrontation. But where hate or selfishness is the instigator when vocalizing these issues, perhaps “blaming” and
“shaming” and even “emotional stoning” would be a better choice of words than
confrontation.
If we can find the courage and hope in Christ to come to
those we love with any necessary confrontation, in order to seek their good,
then we can be a tool in God’s hands for bringing truth that frees. Because the
truth always frees us, even if it is a hard truth to hear.
If someone comes to you in love, sincerely desiring your
good, and confronts you on a particular issue, then take courage and know that
you have a true friend and comrade on your side! Praise God for such a one who
would risk himself, through risking your displeasure and a strain in your
relationship which is clearly valued in this case, for the sake of your
benefit. No greater love has no man than this.
I am continuing on with my Write 31 Days theme of "31 Days to Slowing Down and Living More Simply" with reflections based on my reading of Emily P. Freeman's book Simply Tuesday and the prompts given at the FMFW page. My "Five Minute Free Write" portion will be enclosed with // and any extra thoughts will follow.
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