"If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn the other cheek.
If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also."
Sometimes I think that some Christians take this
teaching the wrong way,
in that it means to be a wimp, and to let the abuser
continue to abuse.
But in fact, this line means the opposite.
Because when you think about it-
it takes a lot of courage, boldness, and maturity to face
your bully in Peace, rather than either running away,
or being angry and fighting back.
Jesus also teaches:
"Love your enemies.
Do good to those who hate you.
Pray for the happiness of those who curse you.
Pray for those who hurt you."
When things are taken away from you,
don't try to get them back."
So basically- not only has Jesus instructed us to
Stand tall and face our opponent in Peace- but also to Pray for them.
Love them (otherwise you become a victim of your own anger).
And if they have stolen something from you,
whether that be your pride, happiness, joy, money, family,
friends, or material object, don't try to get revenge.
I love this teaching about Christianity.
It teaches us to have Zero Hate in our lives,
no matter what kind of injustice we may have faced.
It teaches us to stand tall against our opponents-
but to do so in Peace.
At the end of the day, if your heart is right with
God, no matter how difficult the situation is,
your situation is GUARANTEED to resurrect from the dark
times and transform into something beautiful.
Just wait on the Lord, and Trust He will do this for you.
As Jesus says in John 3:16,
"Whoever believes in me will have eternal life."
So if you seem dead tired from being the victim of bullying or injustice...
Just know that if you can face your opponent in Peace,
and you can Pray for them, And Love them,
no matter how badly they've hurt you,
you're on the right track to the good life.
“The kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind."
What can a story of a fishing net and a great catch of fish tell us about God's kingdom?
Back in Jesus' time, as a boat moved through the waters, a net was drawn into the shape
of a cone which took in all kinds of fish.
It usually took several men to haul such a net to shore.
What is Jesus' point here?
Just as a net catches every kind of fish in the sea,
so the church acts as God's instrument for gathering in all who will come.
Just as the net does not or cannot discriminate,
so the church does not discriminate between the good and the bad,
the useless and the useful.
God's kingdom is open to all who will accept and believe. :)
Our duty as Christians is to gather and welcome in all who will come.
God offers the treasure of his kingdom to all.
It is very surprising to find out that Christian singer Britt Nicole's song
"The Sun is Rising" is featured in a very secular film
starring Cameron Diaz, called "The Other Woman."
It's PG-13, but does not cover PG-13 topics.
Although described a comedy chick-flick,
The Other Woman is a film involving marital infidelity, cheating,
heavy drinking to come up with stalking plans, manipulating, and
greed... with the end message focusing on divorce and revenge...
all shot in a humorous way.
There are none to very little Christian family values in this secular comedy movie-
that even 'Focus On the Family's Plugged in Movie review gave it
a '1 out of 5' rating for family-friendliness.
But, there is one prominent scene in the movie where Christian singer-songwriter
Britt Nicole's song plays in the background:
And it's a scene where the Lead Character throws her wedding ring into the Ocean,
to be forever lost... YIKES!!!
Any Christian who is a fan of Britt Nicole's music and hears of
this part in the movie would think:
"Why on earth would a Christian Song about Hope in Jesus be the background
song to a movie where a married woman is throwing away her vows?"
One would have to wonder the reasons Britt Nicole was OK to have her music
featured in a none-Christian movie... with non-Christian themes...
and be in THAT Specific Scene... Why???
WHY would Britt Nicole's music be playing in the background of the most
controversial scene of the movie: when the wife throws her wedding ring into the
ocean???
If you are a traditional, conservative Christian, the thought
of this - probably makes you irk.
But when you really, really think about it...
How many people who've had broken relationships perhaps saw THAT scene in that Secular movie,
and thought to themselves that they could 'relate' to sadness of divorce...
then they heard the Christian Song in the background.
Maybe later that day, they downloaded the song, or purchased a Britt Nicole album.
(Which is available by the way, in both Main stream and Christian markets)
Maybe... just maybe... God would have worked in that moment in their lives,
through a Christian Song in a Non-Christian movie, so they
could hear about the Peace of Christ in their tumultuous emotional state.
A little sneaky Evangelism when you think about it-
but pretty powerful none the less, when you look beneath the surface.
As, really, it would make No Sense for a Christian who is passionate about Jesus,
to be OK with having their music be featured in a secular Cameron Diaz Movie-
unless it was for a Greater Purpose.
At first glance, having Britt Nicole's tune "The Sun is Rising", a song about
hope in Christ, does NOT fit a movie about infidelity and divorce.
At first glance- it doesn't make sense why a Christian song that promotes
Christian values would be in a non-Christian movie in the first place.
At first glance- it would rub any church-going Christian the wrong way.
But once you look at the Greater Purpose:
This could have been - and may be - used to reach the lost.
As mentioned before in previous blogs... Jesus, although in His Life
while he walked the earth, He respected going to the temple and prayed to God-
and He had his close group of core "Godly" friends/disciples,
majority of Christ's time... he was hanging out with the sinners,
the corrupt tax collectors, prostitutes, those who were hurting and sick.
So, it would make sense for Christians to go into the world,
look for those who are lost- and do as Jesus did. Provide Hope, in God's name.
But far too many times, we Christians are too judgemental of each other.
We get caught up in a case of trying to present a flawless image,
and trying to live a life to impress other Christians,
rather than trying to impress God.
I personally think that if Britt Nicole lived to impress people in the church,
and other Christians,
to present a 'perfect' image - she would have said No - to placing
her Christian Song in a Non-Christian movie.
One would think she would stand to present the 'best image' of a Christian,
as a Christian... associating her music with only what was pure, holy, and noble.
But she did the Opposite..... a Christian song about Christ's hope is in
a movie about infidelity, divorce, and revenge. Seriously? Yes.
Any Christian who ever decides to watch The Other Woman,
will likely tell you that it is a way-of-the-world movie,
and although will likely find most scenes made them laugh,
will likely feel by the end of the movie, that it was not one that
represented values they believe in.
Their Holy Spirit will likely convict them, as most of the values portrayed
are so opposite to Christian culture.
Most None-Christians who watch the movie, however, will likely think its
your everyday average comedy chick flick.
So, if there was a non-Christian who was watching who was going through the
same drama as the lead character- and they could 'relate'...
perhaps Britt Nicole's song could inspire them for that moment in time?
Although I personally would not recommend seeing the movie The Other Woman-
as the values are questionable,
and the ending would likely leave a Christian cringing... what I DO recommend,
is listening to this Britt Nicole song that is in the movie, as its a good, inspirational one.
Happy to know both Christians and non-Christians can appreciate music that is uplifting in Christ.
