Comments on: Could I Have Some Outrage, Please, With Extra Salt? http://www.lifevesting.com/blog/2009/02/could-i-have-some-outrage-please-with-extra-salt/ Create your future. Solve problems. Impact eternity. Live - really live - today. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:53:54 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Andy Wood http://www.lifevesting.com/blog/2009/02/could-i-have-some-outrage-please-with-extra-salt/comment-page-1/#comment-1003 Andy Wood Thu, 12 Feb 2009 15:28:52 +0000 http://www.lifevesting.com/blog/?p=958#comment-1003 Jeofurry, You're absolutely right. To me, this is one of our greatest current examples of putting into practice what Jesus said about loving our enemies. Given the current scene, who, other than a Muslim terrorist we may personally know, is a better example of an enemy? That said, there is a place for outrage and anger against the sin! Finding the balance is elusive, and either way, it feels we'll get caught in the crossfire. But it's still a balance worth pursuing. I hear the benefits are "out of this world!" Jeofurry,

You’re absolutely right. To me, this is one of our greatest current examples of putting into practice what Jesus said about loving our enemies. Given the current scene, who, other than a Muslim terrorist we may personally know, is a better example of an enemy?

That said, there is a place for outrage and anger against the sin! Finding the balance is elusive, and either way, it feels we’ll get caught in the crossfire. But it’s still a balance worth pursuing. I hear the benefits are “out of this world!”

]]> By: Jeofurry http://www.lifevesting.com/blog/2009/02/could-i-have-some-outrage-please-with-extra-salt/comment-page-1/#comment-1001 Jeofurry Thu, 12 Feb 2009 06:03:24 +0000 http://www.lifevesting.com/blog/?p=958#comment-1001 Andy, I ran across this post after coming here from a comment on Will's blog. I wrote a post a couple of weeks ago about the verses in Matthew that talk about the love of many growing cold. I think this story is another good example of that, and I know that combating the problem is not an easy one. Last week, I was hit with a situation in our church that called for every bit of patience, love and understanding I could muster. I got firsthand practice in trying to display love to someone who had seriously betrayed my trust and several others and didn't quite understand the depth of the hurt. I found out that tough love is the hardest kind of love to give, but it is necessary. I have to agree with Will. If I were in that conversation, I am not sure I could have kept my cool and honored God with my response. I do think my response would be better today than it would have been last year though, because God is still working on me. Righteous indignation and outrage is not an easy thing to pull off. We find it hard to balance between grace and truth without swinging to one side or the other. And when we do succeed, we are more likely to take arrows from both sides. <abbr><em>Jeofurrys last blog post..<a href="http://jeofurry.wordpress.com/2009/02/11/from-the-pastors-desk-column-for-2909/" rel="nofollow">From the Pastor’s Desk Column for 2/9/09</a></abbr></em> Andy,
I ran across this post after coming here from a comment on Will’s blog. I wrote a post a couple of weeks ago about the verses in Matthew that talk about the love of many growing cold. I think this story is another good example of that, and I know that combating the problem is not an easy one. Last week, I was hit with a situation in our church that called for every bit of patience, love and understanding I could muster. I got firsthand practice in trying to display love to someone who had seriously betrayed my trust and several others and didn’t quite understand the depth of the hurt. I found out that tough love is the hardest kind of love to give, but it is necessary.
I have to agree with Will. If I were in that conversation, I am not sure I could have kept my cool and honored God with my response. I do think my response would be better today than it would have been last year though, because God is still working on me. Righteous indignation and outrage is not an easy thing to pull off. We find it hard to balance between grace and truth without swinging to one side or the other. And when we do succeed, we are more likely to take arrows from both sides.

Jeofurrys last blog post..From the Pastor’s Desk Column for 2/9/09

]]> By: Andy Wood http://www.lifevesting.com/blog/2009/02/could-i-have-some-outrage-please-with-extra-salt/comment-page-1/#comment-992 Andy Wood Sun, 08 Feb 2009 00:46:05 +0000 http://www.lifevesting.com/blog/?p=958#comment-992 Matt - I wonder if we could take the tension we feel between the outrage and the depths of evil and our hope in the greatness and mercy of God. Jesus died for that sin, too. But as salt and light, reaching beyond a quick fix or a political messiah (ha!), surely we can, as we walk in the Spirit, help find more impacting solutions. Thanks for your candor and encouragment, my friend. Matt – I wonder if we could take the tension we feel between the outrage and the depths of evil and our hope in the greatness and mercy of God. Jesus died for that sin, too. But as salt and light, reaching beyond a quick fix or a political messiah (ha!), surely we can, as we walk in the Spirit, help find more impacting solutions.

Thanks for your candor and encouragment, my friend.

]]> By: Andy Wood http://www.lifevesting.com/blog/2009/02/could-i-have-some-outrage-please-with-extra-salt/comment-page-1/#comment-991 Andy Wood Sun, 08 Feb 2009 00:38:22 +0000 http://www.lifevesting.com/blog/?p=958#comment-991 Will - Me too, my friend! No doubt about it. That's why Paul refers to these things as the "Fruit of the Spirit." And, by the way, I think he means "the fruit of a consistent walk in the Spirit," not a quick zap. And please don't think that I believe that kindness negates truth or ignores evil. But surely there's a way to respond that moves us toward solutions rather than adds to the problem. Will – Me too, my friend! No doubt about it. That’s why Paul refers to these things as the “Fruit of the Spirit.” And, by the way, I think he means “the fruit of a consistent walk in the Spirit,” not a quick zap.

And please don’t think that I believe that kindness negates truth or ignores evil. But surely there’s a way to respond that moves us toward solutions rather than adds to the problem.

]]> By: will hapeman http://www.lifevesting.com/blog/2009/02/could-i-have-some-outrage-please-with-extra-salt/comment-page-1/#comment-990 will hapeman Sun, 08 Feb 2009 00:28:40 +0000 http://www.lifevesting.com/blog/?p=958#comment-990 The role playing did not work out for me. it went Me: Hi, I’m Belkis Gonzalez. I own abortion clinics in Florida. I once sealed a live baby in a biohazard bag and hid her in a cardboard box. Willoh, "You unfeeling bastard! How can you make money destroying Human life! I could have taken that baby home and loved him/her and raised up a child that might do something positive. You are clearly the lowest form of life, right up there with Dr. Mengele. " Sorry I flunked. I would not be good in that situation with out preparing with prayer and fasting and some group support for wading into it. then I would want to say, " What you did was horrible, an insult to God and man. Do you know there is a Savior who will bring forgiveness and healing even to you?" but it would take the Holy Spirit and me being humble. On my own, in the flesh , it is too much. Just being honest. <abbr><em>will hapemans last blog post..<a href="http://willohroots.wordpress.com/2009/02/07/i-am-a-nervous-wreck-post-traumatic/" rel="nofollow">I am a nervous wreck, Post traumatic ?</a></abbr></em> The role playing did not work out for me.
it went
Me: Hi, I’m Belkis Gonzalez. I own abortion clinics in Florida. I once sealed a live baby in a biohazard bag and hid her in a cardboard box.
Willoh, “You unfeeling bastard! How can you make money destroying Human life! I could have taken that baby home and loved him/her and raised up a child that might do something positive. You are clearly the lowest form of life, right up there with Dr. Mengele. ”
Sorry I flunked. I would not be good in that situation with out preparing with prayer and fasting and some group support for wading into it. then I would want to say,
” What you did was horrible, an insult to God and man. Do you know there is a Savior who will bring forgiveness and healing even to you?”
but it would take the Holy Spirit and me being humble. On my own, in the flesh , it is too much. Just being honest.

will hapemans last blog post..I am a nervous wreck, Post traumatic ?

]]> By: Mattie http://www.lifevesting.com/blog/2009/02/could-i-have-some-outrage-please-with-extra-salt/comment-page-1/#comment-988 Mattie Sat, 07 Feb 2009 22:25:55 +0000 http://www.lifevesting.com/blog/?p=958#comment-988 Andy, I read the article last night, as I held my 3 month old daughter. I can't really describe how it made me feel, but "outrage" would surely be part of the description. Outrage at a culture that fails to recognize life. Outrage at a society that not only condones such behavior, but enshrines it as a right. Outrage at a doctor sworn to save life could "fall into" a practice of destroying it. Outrage that it's all so very sterile and planned. Outrage indeed. Yet Andy, I'm humbled by your post. I must admit, while my heart went out the the mother, I felt nothing remotely like the fruit of the Spirit for everyone else. I felt outrage. No doubt, I'm not alone, but it's so convicting. There is so much within me that is still "bent." And in the church. <abbr><em>Matties last blog post..<a href="http://treenewt.blogspot.com/2009/02/blank-canvas.html" rel="nofollow">Blank Canvas</a></abbr></em> Andy,

I read the article last night, as I held my 3 month old daughter. I can’t really describe how it made me feel, but “outrage” would surely be part of the description. Outrage at a culture that fails to recognize life. Outrage at a society that not only condones such behavior, but enshrines it as a right. Outrage at a doctor sworn to save life could “fall into” a practice of destroying it. Outrage that it’s all so very sterile and planned. Outrage indeed.

Yet Andy, I’m humbled by your post. I must admit, while my heart went out the the mother, I felt nothing remotely like the fruit of the Spirit for everyone else. I felt outrage. No doubt, I’m not alone, but it’s so convicting. There is so much within me that is still “bent.” And in the church.

Matties last blog post..Blank Canvas

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