Forgiveness Is Easy to Read but Hard to Do

The theory of forgiveness is easy to read, hear, and comprehend. This is only one of the main differences between God and humankind. God can forever forget when He forgives with ease; humans cannot.

Not forgiving is perhaps the most destructive action a person can actively participate in. Refusing to forgive others destroys families, friendships, relationships, businesses, churches, etc… It is destructive to one’s self and to all others associated with the unforgiving individual. It is destructive because the resentment suitably influences every aspect of life. The root of all prejudice is firmly rooted in resentment.

What does true forgiveness look like?

What is the practical application of “forgiveness” that can be employed when we lack God’s power of true forgetfulness?

The hardest part of true forgiveness is looking past the error of others and honestly seeing one’s own part in the experience. Humankind has an innate tendency rationalize resentments by looking to and hold responsible other people, places, institutions, or things as the justified cause of their lack of true genuine forgiveness.

On the majority of things in my life, I have been able to forgive and a few forget. However, some resentment remains, to this day; a handful of situations that the forgiveness has not materialized. Just because I can be cordial or social to a person, does not mean I have forgiven them. All it means is I am being social and cordial.

However, Jesus said that unless a person forgives others, God would not forgive them. This is a direct statement, which holds with it the command to forgive everyone or suffer the consequence of no forgiveness from God.

• Matthew 6:12 “And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.” (NKJV)
• Matthew 6:14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” (NKJV)
• Matthew 6:15 “But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (NKJV)
• Mark 11:25 “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.” (NKJV)
• Mark 11:26 “But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.” (NKJV)
• Luke 6:37 “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” (NKJV)
• Luke 11:4 “And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.” (NKJV)
• John 20:23 “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” (NKJV)
• 2 Corinthians 2:10 “Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ,” (NKJV)

Instead of actively seeking to obey the nine sample biblical directions listed herein to do all we can to forgive, others their mistakes, we as humans like to use the passages such as these two from Luke to self-justify holding onto our resentments.

• Luke 17:3 “Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.” (NKJV)
• Luke 17:4 “And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.” (NKJV)

When a memory is negatively re-felt days, weeks, or years later, that is resentment and the wrong done has not been honestly forgiven.

Resentment simply means to re-feel. Resentment is the best indicator that true forgiveness has not been accomplished. Resentment only hurts the person that is resentful. Many times, forgiveness takes vigorous action on our part and it is not easy to re-feel. We humans re-feel anytime we view an event as being damaging or threatening to our perceived: self-esteem, wallets, ambitions, personal relationships, or romantic relationships.

The practical steps I take to seek salvation from resentment are. (The following list is in column form)

1. Make a list of whom or what I am angry, sad, or unhappy with. I title the column “I’m aggrieved at.”
2. Next to the name, I list a column called “The Cause” and place here what I see as the cause of the resentment. Why am I angry?
3. Next is a column titled “Affects my” and here I list what my perceived injury is. Did the injury frustrate with my self-esteem, my security, my ambitions, or my personal or romantic relations?
4. The next column takes real self-honesty on my part if I am to be free from the oppression of resentments. First, I need to recognize that no one is perfect. Each person alive has within them, some measure of spiritual infection. So putting out of my mind the apparent wrong, I purposefully look for my own mistakes in the circumstances or leading to the situation. In this, forth column I list where I had been selfish, dishonest, self-seeking, or frighten. What part was I to blame? When I see my faults, I list them and honestly admit my wrongs in the matter.
5. Next, entitled “What Could I have Done Differently” I list each corrective action I should have taken to prevent the situation from ever happening in the first place. What should I have done differently?
6. The last column is “What Do I need to do To Correct the Situation” and here I list actions which will set right the wrong partially created by my mistakes. Then I actively embark on correcting my own mistakes in the situation, putting out of my mind the harm other has caused me. I call this “cleaning my side of the street.” It is from this last column that I set out and make my personal amends concerning the situation that created the resentment.

Amends is not “I’m Sorry” but real corrective action in order to right my mistakes. Amends, not an apology, is an Old Testament concept that has practical application in the present, to aid in removing culpability, disgrace, shame, and anger towards people, places, and things that held people emotionally enslaved in life.

The forgoing outline is a practical path towards emotional freedom that works when accomplished with true self-honesty. The forgoing list of steps is adapted from the recovery program of Alcoholics Anonymous and is of benefit for anyone seeking freedom from grudges within their personal life.

What is true forgiveness?

• It is not thinking away or temporally changing one’s thoughts to avoid the resentment.
• True forgiveness is an obtainable ideal.
• True forgiveness is action and requires effort.
• True forgiveness many times requires hard work.
• When we take the time and honestly look at our part in our resentments, only then can we start the process of forgiveness.
• True pardon obtained of forgiveness is reaching the freedom from bondage encircled in all perceived wrongs.
• True forgiveness takes honest effort and self-evaluation to reach but it is reachable.
• True forgiveness opens many doors of opportunity and saves families, friendships, relationships, businesses, churches, etc…

Hugs,

Guy Lewis

Payson, Arizona

June 26, 2010

Ominous Death Sentence Issued by Jesus

During the Monday night, Bible study, “Discovering God’s Will” on June 21, 2010, held in Payson, Arizona; the text of scripture studied was found in John 7:31-34. Following the reading of the text, during the discussion, one woman asked if Jesus were telling the people he was talking to if, they would not go to heaven. A verity of Bible translations were read in order to gain a deeper understanding of the text in question in consideration of the question asked.

The Text:

John 7:31-34 “Still, many in the crowd put their faith in him. They said, “When the Christ comes, will he do more miraculous signs than this man?” The Pharisees heard the crowd whispering such things about him. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees sent temple guards to arrest him. Jesus said, “I am with you for only a short time, and then I go to the one who sent me. You will look for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come.” (NIV)

John 7:31-34 “And many of the people believed in Him, and said, “When the Christ comes, will He do more signs than these which this Man has done?” The Pharisees heard the crowd murmuring these things concerning Him, and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take Him. Then Jesus said to them, “I shall be with you a little while longer, and then I go to Him who sent Me. “You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come.” (NKJV)

John 7:31-34 “But many of the crowd believed in Him; and they were saying, “When the Christ comes, He will not perform more signs than those which this man has, will He?” The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these things about Him, and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to seize Him. Therefore Jesus said, “For a little while longer I am with you, then I go to Him who sent Me. “You will seek Me, and will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come.” (NASB 95)

John 7:31-34 “Yet many of the people believed in him. They said, “When the Christ appears, will he do more signs than this man has done?” The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these things about him, and the chief priests and Pharisees sent officers to arrest him. Jesus then said, “I will be with you a little longer, and then I am going to him who sent me. You will seek me and you will not find me. Where I am you cannot come.” (ESV)

Whom Is Jesus Addressing?

In this text, Jesus is addressing the Pharisees.

Why Is Jesus Addressing the Pharisees?

In this text, Jesus is directly addressing the Pharisees because of their long-standing doctrine of teaching and enforcing restrictions to the law of God that God did not expressly command or intend. He is addressing the Pharisees because their beliefs actively prevent people from coming into a true personal relationship with God through Jesus based on their personal understanding and faith.

What Are The Attributes of Pharisees?

1. Pharisees are any people who sit in judgment and call the good works of the Son of God and or the ongoing works of God’s Spirit evil.

• Matthew 9:34 “But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.” (NIV)

1. Pharisees are any group of religious people who only follow “the letter of the law” and force their doctrine (as well as try and force others) to conform to “the letter of the law.”
2. Pharisees are quick to jump to conclusions and counter any person who has idea’s outside of their narrow view of religion.
3. Pharisees limit or discredit the power and workings of the Holy Spirit of God and do not consider the Spirit’s ongoing function and characteristics in the world.
4. Pharisees attribute none “letter of the law” good works to the devil.

2. Pharisees are any people who follow established rules of mechanism and codes (written or not) of ridged rules based on works negating God’s intent. “Legalism”

• Matthew 12:2 “When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.” (NIV)
• Luke 11:39-40 “Then the Lord said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also?” (NIV)
• Titus 1:15 “To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted.” (NIV)

1. Pharisees are people that follow a strictly ridged traditionalism to a “letter of the law” by strict secular organization of religious conduct and thought and scripture calls this form of interpretation “legalism.”
2. Pharisees view doctrine as only correct and scriptural if it follows “the traditional interpretation of the human opinion from the past, having no room for new thought, views, ideas, or understandings.”
3. Pharisees view tradition as untouchable and therefore cannot be desecrated.
4. Pharisees really place their salvation on own their efforts by secretly seeking to work their way to heaven and justify this belief with the passage of James which says, “James 2:17-18 “But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” (NKJV) but fail to understand the implication of James 2:10 “For whoever shall keep the whole law and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” (MKJV) and how these passages of scripture do not contradict the writings of Paul who said in “Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (NKJV) James is really saying that, people who appreciate the gift of salvation will show this loving faith by doing good to all people. This is in fact a command directed by Paul in Galatians 6:9-10 “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” (NKJV)
5. Jesus answers the Pharisees by saying to place more value in the moral, ethical, and spiritual intent of God.

3. Pharisees are any people who aggressively and at times brutally oppose those who they perceive to be contrary to their traditional views of scriptural doctrine and work tirelessly to tear down all who differ from there strict interpretations.

• Matthew 12:14 “Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him.” (NKJV)
• Luke 6:11 “But they were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.” (NIV)
• John 5:18 “For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.” (NIV)
• James 1:19 “Therefore, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” (MKJV)
• Proverbs 10:19 “When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.” (NIV)

1. Pharisees have zero tolerance for viewpoints and ideas not in a straight line with their “letter of the law” interpretations of scripture.
2. Pharisees intimidate others for having a different opinion and understanding of their traditionally held strict opinion of scripture that threatens their “letter of the law” views with retribution of various kinds designed to destroy or undermine the good being accomplished.
3. Pharisees are dangerous to confront because they strictly adhere to a human ideology grounded in keeping the status quo and view all new concepts or interpreted analysis of scripture as threatening their perceived scriptural authority and power.

4. Pharisees are any people whose behavior is infectious and when lived continually over time makes permanent.

• Matthew 23:15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves. (NASB 95)
• Luke 12:1 “Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. (NIV)

1. Jesus calls people like this “children of hell.”
2. Jesus warns his true followers to avoid such people.

5. Pharisees are any people who obstruct others from a true personal understanding of God.

• Matthew 23:13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. (NASB 95)
• Luke 11:52 “Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.” (NIV)

1. Pharisees block the true attainment of assuring faith by people seeking a real relationship with God, publicly calling anyone who has a different insight as apostate or false teacher.
2. Pharisees devalue all non-traditional understandings of God’s truthful intent.

6. Pharisees are any people characterized as pretentious, arrogant, and self-righteousness.

• Matthew 23:12-14 “And whoever shall exalt himself shall be abased, and he who shall humble himself shall be exalted. But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of Heaven against men. For you neither go in, nor do you allow those entering to go in. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and pray at length as a pretense. Therefore you shall receive the greater condemnation.” (MKJV)

1. Pharisees direct this attitude towards any person that does not hold to their strict interpretation of scripture.

7. Pharisees are any people who miss the spiritual significance of the intent of the scripture.

• Matthew 23:23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin, and you have left undone the weightier matters of the Law, judgment, mercy, and faith. You ought to have done these and not to leave the other undone.” (MKJV)
• Luke 11:39 “Then the Lord said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.” (NIV)

1. Pharisees are people who only follow specifics indicated in scripture but never pay attention to the more meaningful intangible potential written about in scripture.
2. Pharisees are people that are (in some way) associated with religion but fail to pay attention to the greater spiritual intent of Jesus’ words and they fail to believe in the intent concerning why something was said, done or directed if a different understanding can be logically formed that contradicts their strict interpretation of “the letter of the law” approach.
3. Jesus told these religious parasitical Pharisees that if they belong to God they would pay attention to and identify that Jesus spoke for the intent of God.
4. Jesus concluded that judgmental and restrictive Pharisees did not belong to God but to the devil.

8.  Pharisees are any people whose limiting restrictive philosophies and practices do not connect scripturally or spiritual with the intent of God: Hypocrisy.

• Matthew 23:3 “… But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.” (NIV)
• Matthew 23:27 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean.” (NIV)
• Luke 12:1 “… Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.” (MKJV)

1. The Bible teaches that the intent of scripture is of more value than a ridged strict adherence to the sample example shown in scripture designed to teach the moral intent of God.

9. Pharisees are any people who have disregarded the true character and intent of the assignment of the Christian (individually) and church of the Lord (as a whole).

• Matthew 5:13-16 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (ESV)
• Matthew 5:42 “Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.” (ESV)
• Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (ESV)
• Matthew 25:35-40 “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ …” (ESV)
• Luke 6:38 “Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” (ESV)
• Luke 10:27 “And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” (ESV)
• Romans 14:13 to 15:13 “Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. …” (ESV)
• 2 Corinthians 5:16-20 “From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he a new creation. Or creatureThe old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling Or God was in Christ, reconcilingthe world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. (ESV)
• Philippians 2:4 “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (ESV)
• Hebrews 13:16 “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” (ESV)
• James 2:14-17 “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (ESV)

1. The permanent activity of the child of God is reunion of a lost world to God, compassion to all people, sharing the message of hope, demonstrating real love to all people, and helping others in need.
2. Pharisees tell people that the church can only help their own kind. This ideology does not conform to scripture. The commands listed just prior direct goodwill to all people where love, compassion, sharing, and helping are concerned.
3. Pharisees fail to understand that the command to be helpful does not rest solely with people of the same faith and belief just because a few passages of scripture do also include helping the needed within the church.
4. To understand and fully appreciate the intent of God, all passages concerning Christian generosity demands understanding together as a whole in order to comply with the commands of God. To leave any part out of the commands of compassion to anyone is to disregard the command and thus violate the will of God.

Supporting Text 1^st Group:

• John 8:13-21 “The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.” Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. But if I do judge, my decisions are right, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid. I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.” Then they asked him, “Where is your father?” “You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” He spoke these words while teaching in the temple area near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his time had not yet come. Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.” (NIV)
• John 8:24 “I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins.”

Supporting Text 2^nd Group:

• Mark 16:16 “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” (NIV)
• John 13:33-36 “My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.” (NIV)

Conclusion:

Jesus bluntly told the Pharisees that they would not go to heaven because of the ridged and strict way they interpret the law of God and completely miss the intent of God. Therefore, the application to today’s Christian is that if any hold the same or similar attitudes of the Pharisees of Jesus time, they too will not set foot into heaven.

Conversely, Jesus told his followers that if they expressed flexible true love to all other people with kindness and compassion they would see him in heaven. Therefore, the present day application is that we need to also be kind and generous to the people in our lives if we are really going to be the shining light into a dark lost world.

I beg all to consider this vital question. “Which of these two attitudes will you follow?”

By Guy Lewis

Payson, Arizona

Started: June 21, 2010

Completed: June 25, 2010

Are You Arrogant or Humble?

A.  Arrogance

Arrogance Defined Webster

An attitude of superiority manifested in an overbearing manner or in presumptuous claims or assumptions.

Words that indicate arrogance: Webster

Synonyms: haughtiness, imperiousness, loftiness, lordliness, masterfulness, peremptoriness, pompousness, presumptuousness, pretense (or pretence), pretension, pretentiousness, self-importance, superciliousness, superiority

Related Words: authoritativeness, bossiness, dominance, high-handedness; condescension, disdain, scorn; snobbery, snobbishness, snobbism, snootiness; cheek, cheekiness, impertinence, impudence, sauciness; boastfulness, bombast, braggadocio, swagger, vain-gloriousness, vainglory; cockiness, complacence, conceit, egoism, egotism, pride, pride-fullness, self-centeredness, self-conceit, self-satisfaction, smugness, vanity

3.   The cause of arrogance

There are seven causes of arrogance: education, piety, lineage, beauty, strength, wealth, achievement (popularity). All these seven qualities are in themselves positive and good.

The misuse of these seven qualities leads to arrogance in a person’s attitude toward others.

4.   How to spot an arrogant person

• • Pay attention to their conversations. Do they think they are always right?

  • Are they quick to place blame when things do not go their way?

  • Do they seem to have a strong need to look good or proper in the eyes of others?

  • Are they aggressive or passively aggressive towards other people’s views?

  • Do they judge others prior to investigation?

  • What is the quality of their ability to be a true friend?

  • Do they (privately or publicly) give the impression of being superior towards others they perceive to be less fortunate?

  • Are they stuck on themselves?

  • How do they treat those not like themselves?

  • What is their personality like?

  • Do they put down people they do not like?

  • Do they seek personal gain at the expense of others even when pretending to be helpful?

  • Do they talk about others personal situations behind their back?

5.   How to know if you are already arrogant

Arrogant people will often put others down, judging and criticizing them. They may joke about them and make fun of them, bashing them with sarcasm.

• Do you dismiss the idea there are still improvements that you can make to your own ideas and opinions?

• Do you reject, avoid, or do not respond to questions that ask question from a different view than yours and believe that other people “just don’t understand?”

• Do you, when challenged about your ideas or opinions seek to defend or justify and cease to listen objectively?

• Do you do the majority of talking during an interaction with another person?

• Do you take your marbles and go home if you do not get your way?

• Do you look for people to blame, rather than accepting responsibility for your own actions or words?

• Do you let people know your time is precious and behave as if their time is of little consequence?

• Are you unwilling to receive personal feedback on your own performance, ideas, opinions, or understanding thinking that you are more knowledgeable?

• Do you keep things secret from or do not respond to others with complete honesty?

• Do you question others motives when they disagree with your plans, thoughts, actions or speech?

• Do you refuse to acknowledge the possibility of views that differ from yours when addressing an issue?

• Do you criticize others when you do not get your way?

• Do you want others to play by your rules but refuse to play by the same rules others must follow?

• Do you always have to win or be right – others must be wrong?

• Do you secretly wish others would just shut up or not share a difference of opinion?

• Do you tell others if they do not like it your way to leave and go somewhere else?

• Do you ridicule or gossip about those who disagree with you or who criticize your actions, thoughts, or opinions?

• Do you discount others opinions while pointing out that you know better than they do or you have done more, or you are smarter, or you are wiser than they are?

• Do you interrupt others when they are speaking?

• Do you show off and brag?

• Do they constantly talk about other people’s problems?

• Do you always compare every situation with something you experienced?

6.   Biblical Arrogance

Proverbs 8:13 “To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.” (NIV)

Proverbs 11:2 “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” (NIV)

Proverbs 13:10 “Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.” (NIV)

Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” (NIV)

Proverbs 29:23 “A man’s pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor.” (NIV)

Romans 1:28-32 “Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.” (NIV)

B.  Humility

1.   Humility Defined Webster

The quality or state of being humble.

2.   Humble Defined: Webster

Not proud or haughty: not arrogant or assertive.

3.   Words that indicate humility: Webster

Synonyms: demureness, humbleness, lowliness, meekness, modesty, retiringness

Related Words: ademureness, humbleness, lowliness, meekness, modesty, retiringnesscquiescence, compliance, deference, resignedness, submission, submissiveness; ingenuousness, naïveté (also naiveté); directness, plainness, simpleness; bashfulness, diffidence, passiveness, passivity, quietness, reserve, reservedness, shyness, timidity, timidness

4.   How to spot a humble person

• They do not presume that they know everything.

• They accept ordinary deficiencies with good will without feeling threatened or needing to say something about it.

• They ask questions because this is the way of wisdom

• They wait for an invitation.

• They do not presume their understanding of living life is the only way to understand life.

• They are good receivers and listen without defense or prejudice.

• They do not devalue others that disagree with them.

• They look first at their part in situations.

• They can laugh at themselves without diminishing others.

• They own up to their mistakes without justification or defense.

5.   How to know if you are becoming humble

• You appreciate your own skills without boosting.

• You conduct honest evaluations of yourself often; accepting yourself as you are.

• You understand your limitations.

• You recognize your own faults and take action to correct them.

• You stop comparing yourself to others.

• You honestly appreciate the talents and qualities of others.

• You are not afraid to make mistakes.

• You are not afraid to acknowledge your mistakes.

• You are afraid to defer to others’.

• You revitalize your sense of wonder so you can continue to learn and mature.

• You seek guidance.

• You think about yourself under different circumstances than superior than others.

• You are of real unselfishness help to others.

• You strive to remain teachable.

• You practice gentleness and true compassion to others 24/7.

6.   Biblical Humility

James 4:10-17 “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you– who are you to judge your neighbor? Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” (NIV)

7.   Consider the biblical qualities of a humble person

• The humble person submits to the will of God.

• The humble person acknowledges their mistakes.

• The humble person is sad over their defiance to God and others.

• The humble person refuses to speak evil of others.

• The humble person does praise themselves concerning what they plan to do or what they have already done.

• The humble person does not take pride in his “holiness” but understands how far short they really are from true righteousness.

Conclusion

Compare these qualities of arrogance and humility to your own life.

How do you match up?

1. Do you practice humility or do you practice arrogance?

2. Choose the person you really want to be in life and actively work on becoming this person.

3. Honestly, inventory yourself (attitudes, actions, words, etc…) often or at least monthly.

4. Ask for God’s help.

5. Determine how you will practice humility daily.

Hugs,

Guy Lewis

Payson, Arizona

Started: Monday, May 24, 2010

Completed: Sunday, June 20, 2010

Is the New Testament Primarily a Law Book?

What is the purpose of and makeup of a “Law Book?”

Law books are “prima-fascia” documents containing ONLY enforced: Provisions, rules, guidelines, and explanations of enacted legislation that sole purpose is to interpret regulations for the general and specifically governing of a common group of people within society. They contain reports of cases decided by courts, commentaries on legislative procedures, rules, regulations, and clear interpretations etc… arranged for references purposes.

The purpose of a “Law Book” is to enforce and control by way of established punishments and civil constraints for individual unlawful acts committed against the general good order of society.

What is the purpose of and makeup of the “New Testament?”

The main purpose of the entire bible is to inform individuals of the nature and attributes of God and Jesus.

The main purpose and goal of the New Testament is to inform individuals of the criteria and instructions in order to receive the inheritance of adoption into God’s family known as eternal salvation.

The secondary purpose of the New Testament is to direct the work of an individual life long adoption to God through Jesus.

The third purpose of the New Testament is instruction on how to live in loving peace with all other people on a daily bases.

However, the New Testament has many sub-purposes directed at instructing people how to live their individual life and how to treat other people. It is practical for educating, identifying mistakes, and correcting them and guidance in honest moral and virtuous living, so that the individual is carefully outfitted for every good effort they strive to accomplish.

It is a historical record. The Book of Acts is a historical record of the early Church.

It is a “Self-Help” guide. The epistles that make up most of the New Testament deal both with problems faced by local congregations and issues of concern that effected the early Church at large. Today’s congregations facing difficulties can greatly benefit from the wisdom and advice on how to approach and deal with modern problems facing unique situations.

In conclusion:

The New Testament is not a book of “Law” but a book on “Life Living.” Even though it does contain some specific rules and specific instruction, it is a far reach to classify the New Testament as a law book.

The New Testament is more correctly a record of instructions and suggestions concerning life and living: From salvations specific instructions, to daily living, and for ideals on lovingly treatment to others. People who attempt to force the New Testament into only one purpose of “Law” have the wrong understanding and perspective of the many unique purposes and will therefore; miss the true and wonderful message of the New Testament altogether.

Hugs,

Guy Lewis

Payson, Arizona

June 18, 2010

(Background: I am a retired naval criminal investigator who was tasked with enforcing law during my career.)