| Topic: |
Religions > Bible |
| User: |
"Donna Kupp" |
| Date: |
03 Mar 2006 09:32:35 PM |
| Object: |
THE HUMPTY DUMPTY FACTOR IN FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS |
This article is not intended to remind Christians of their duty
to God in family relationships. Certainly, we must do
everything possible to provide for the needs of our family,
act toward them in a loving and caring manner and give
them an example of rightous living ...
Brothers and sisters in Christ, I know that some of you have
done all of those things. You have searched the scriptures
for wisdom, you have prayed --and still your family is a
shattered mess.
Behind your brave smile, your mind is troubled with
questions about what you might have done wrong --or what
you should do now to cure the hostility and maliciousness
of that one you love so dearly. Yet, there seems to be no
solution to the problem.
Then, when you hear politians and preachers talk about
building strong family relationships --that just makes you
feel more inadequate and guilty. Sometimes your mind
imagines happy family gatherings like the ones Norman
Rockwell used to paint --but that just puts a lump in your
throat and makes you feel like crying. You feel so alone
because your family doesn't even want you.
I believe that it is time for someone to speak out and talk
about what I will call "The Humpty Dumpty Factor" in
family relationships. Do you remember that nursery rhyme
about the little egg that sat on the wall, and had a great fall,
and all the king's horses and all the king's men couldn't put
Humpty Dumpty together again?
Well, the Humpty Dumpty Factor in family relationships
happened when Adam fell in the garden. Since then,
righteous people have suffered many kinds of persecutions
from their families. Such as: Cain killed Abel; Joseph
was sold into slavery; and, the kinsmen of Jesus publicly
mocked him. Those cases clearly show us there is no
fellowship between light and darkness.
It is unfortunate that preachers seem reluctant to talk
about the changes that come into family relationships
when one person comes to Jesus and begins to live a
righteous life. If the believer is unprepared for his trial,
then when the hostility begins, his suffering is more
intense because he doesn't understand that it is a
normal experience.
Jesus told people, up-front, to count the cost of following
him. He warned his followers that their families would be
their enemies --but still, I can't remember ever hearing a
sermon on these words of Jesus:
"Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came
not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a
man at variance against his father, and the daughter
against her mother, and the daughter in law against
her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of
his own household. He that loveth father or mother
more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth
son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me."
Matt 10:34-37
"Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and
the father the son; and children shall rise up against
their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake:
but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall
be saved." Mark 13:12-13
When we are mistreated, our duty is to pray for those who
despitefully use us and persecute us. Then, we need to
have the wisdom to understand that "All the king's horses
and all the king's men" can not change another person's
heart. Only God can give the gifts of faith and repentance.
Let us always be thankful that He has given them to us.
Donna Kupp
"And the dragon was wroth with the woman,
and went to make war with the remnant of her seed,
WHICH KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD,
AND HAVE THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST."
Rev 12:17 (KJV)
The Seven Deadly Deceptions Of Counterfeit Christianity
http://www.harborside.com/~hkupp
.
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| User: "Bible Bob" |
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| Title: Re: THE HUMPTY DUMPTY FACTOR IN FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS |
04 Mar 2006 07:42:49 PM |
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On 3 Mar 2006 19:32:35 -0800, "Donna Kupp" <dkupp@harborside.com>
wrote:
This article is not intended to remind Christians of their duty
to God in family relationships. Certainly, we must do
everything possible to provide for the needs of our family,
act toward them in a loving and caring manner and give
them an example of rightous living ...
Brothers and sisters in Christ, I know that some of you have
done all of those things. You have searched the scriptures
for wisdom, you have prayed --and still your family is a
shattered mess.
Behind your brave smile, your mind is troubled with
questions about what you might have done wrong --or what
you should do now to cure the hostility and maliciousness
of that one you love so dearly. Yet, there seems to be no
solution to the problem.
Then, when you hear politians and preachers talk about
building strong family relationships --that just makes you
feel more inadequate and guilty. Sometimes your mind
imagines happy family gatherings like the ones Norman
Rockwell used to paint --but that just puts a lump in your
throat and makes you feel like crying. You feel so alone
because your family doesn't even want you.
I believe that it is time for someone to speak out and talk
about what I will call "The Humpty Dumpty Factor" in
family relationships. Do you remember that nursery rhyme
about the little egg that sat on the wall, and had a great fall,
and all the king's horses and all the king's men couldn't put
Humpty Dumpty together again?
Sure do! My favorite. All man's power (horses) and all man's
intelligence (men) couldn't put the egg back together again. Once
life is gone it is gone; unless God raises him up from the dead.
Well, the Humpty Dumpty Factor in family relationships
happened when Adam fell in the garden. Since then,
righteous people have suffered many kinds of persecutions
from their families. Such as: Cain killed Abel; Joseph
was sold into slavery; and, the kinsmen of Jesus publicly
mocked him. Those cases clearly show us there is no
fellowship between light and darkness.
There is no fellowship between light and darkness when the two meet.
Darkness does not walk up to one and say "Hi light, I am darkness and
I am going to do you harm" Cain and Able fellowshipped before the
betrayal, as did Joseph and his brothers and Christ and his brothers
and sisters. But there came a point in time when darkness took
action.
We are told in Corinthians not to put away the unbelieving spouse. So
the unbelieving spouse may not prove to be the source of darkness.
God said that if the unbelieving spouse be pleased to stay, then stay
together. We are not told not to be yoked together with unbelievers;
rather not to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. The
English "unbelief" is translated from "apistia" or "apeithia;" and the
primary difference in meaning is that an unbeliever (apistos) may not
believe; but one who is "apeitheia" is unwilling to believe. An
"apistos" is one who is faithless, untrusting, distrustful,
unbelieving without regard to circumstances; or opportunities of
knowing the truth. The "apeitheia" (apathetic) has heard and knows
the truth and is unbelieving because he is disibedient - unbelief in
action.
The unbelieving spouse is "apistos." The unequally yoked unbeliever
is also, "apistos". One would think that the unequally yoked
"unbeliever" would be "apetheia" and in fact one concordance does
report "apetheia" in 2 Cor 6:14; but the Greek text and most
concordances agree that the Greek word used is "apistos."
John 3:36 KJV
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that
believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth
on him.
The he he that "believeth not" is NOT "apistos" (does not know the
truth), but IS "apeitheia" (has heard enough but refuses to believe).
The person who makes a conscience decision not to believe is the man
that shall not see life.
Acts 14:2 KJV
But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds
evil affected against the brethren.
The unbelieving Jews were "apeitheia." They knew the truth; but
refused to believe and what did those that refused to believe do?
They stirred up the Gentile and made their minds evil affected against
the brethren.
Acts 19:9 KJV
But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of
that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated
the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.
The "believed not" were "apeitheia" and acted against the believers.
Romans 2:8 KJV
But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but
obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
The words "do not obey" are translated from "apeitheia;" and they are
contentious.
There are other passages, but the thing I am trying to show you is
that just because a person does not go to your church or follow what
you have been taught; does not mean that the person is darkness. In
fact, it can also be the self righteous unloving believer who thinks
he is doing God a favor that causes harm in a relationship. Take a
self righteous woman with years of indoctrination in some form of
religion who looks down on her husband because he does not believe the
way she wants him to. God tells the woman to reverence her husband;
but the woman refuses to do so because he won't beleive the way she
demands that he believe on "her schedule" or on "her elder's schedule"
because her and the elder are unloving and impatient. As long as she
thinks she is right or she and her elder are right, her husband and
God can go to hell.
It is unfortunate that preachers seem reluctant to talk
about the changes that come into family relationships
when one person comes to Jesus and begins to live a
righteous life. If the believer is unprepared for his trial,
then when the hostility begins, his suffering is more
intense because he doesn't understand that it is a
normal experience.
Wait a minute? What righteous life? That phrase is not used in the
Bible. The righteous are "made" righteous by God; not by self.
Romans 3:22 KJV
Even the righteousness of God [which is] by faith of Jesus Christ unto
all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
You are confusing phoney religious behavior with righteousness. Maybe
the reason preachers don't talk about it is because what you are
propagating is a false doctrine. You say "Look everybody how
righteously I behave and stupid Lucy over there is unrighteous because
she don't do what I want her to do. Wrong! Lucy is righteous because
God made her righteous. You have no respect for God's judgement;
because your judgement is better and if people do think that you are
right they can ask you and you will tell them you are right.
Jesus told people, up-front, to count the cost of following
him. He warned his followers that their families would be
their enemies --but still, I can't remember ever hearing a
sermon on these words of Jesus:
"Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came
not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a
man at variance against his father, and the daughter
against her mother, and the daughter in law against
her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of
his own household. He that loveth father or mother
more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth
son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me."
Matt 10:34-37
"Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and
the father the son; and children shall rise up against
their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake:
but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall
be saved." Mark 13:12-13
Jesus is using the figure Hyperbole as he did Luke 14:26; a similar
verse. Jesus does not set the believer or unbeliever against each
other; but the unbeliever's response to the truth causes the division.
When we are mistreated, our duty is to pray for those who
despitefully use us and persecute us. Then, we need to
have the wisdom to understand that "All the king's horses
and all the king's men" can not change another person's
heart. Only God can give the gifts of faith and repentance.
Let us always be thankful that He has given them to us.
Matthew 5:44 KJV
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do
good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use
you, and persecute you;
The editors added words that are not in the text. Omit the words
"Bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you" Also omit
the words "Despitefully use you and" The verse should read:
Matthew 5:44 KJV
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, and pray for them which
persecute you;
However, Luke does say:
Luke 6:26 KJV
Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their
fathers to the false prophets.
Luke 6:27 KJV
But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them
which hate you,
Luke 6:28 KJV
Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use
you.
Luke 6:29 KJV
And unto him that smiteth thee on the [one] cheek offer also the
other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not [to take thy]
coat also.
Luke 6:30 KJV
Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy
goods ask [them] not again.
Luke 6:31 KJV
And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them
likewise.
Luke 6:32 KJV
For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners
also love those that love them.
Luke 6:33 KJV
And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye?
for sinners also do even the same.
Luke 6:34 KJV
And if ye lend [to them] of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have
ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
Luke 6:35 KJV
But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing
again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of
the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and [to] the evil.
Luke 6:36 KJV
Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
In verse 26, "hear" what? Verse 25, "when all men shall speak well of
you."
Donna Kupp
"And the dragon was wroth with the woman,
and went to make war with the remnant of her seed,
WHICH KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD,
AND HAVE THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST."
Rev 12:17 (KJV)
The Seven Deadly Deceptions Of Counterfeit Christianity
http://www.harborside.com/~hkupp
......
BB
http://www.biblebob.net
.
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