Epithany

The bright idea.  The illumination.  The moment that we suddenly “see” for the first time.  I was reading a devotional that started to explain how other religions held a certain belief.  Then the light bulb came on with the next words.  “But we Christians….” 

It didn’t matter what the particular belief was for either Christianity or the other religions that were noted by that author.  “But we Christians….”  That phrase separated us from other religions.  It separated us from their different beliefs.  It separated us from other people.

2 Corinthians 6: 14-18 says, ¹⁴ Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?   ¹⁵ And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?  ¹⁶ And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.  ¹⁷ Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.  ¹⁸ And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”

Did God really mean for us to stand of the rooftop and point out another’s errors while thumping our Bibles and exalting ourselves for our “righteousness?”

So often I see comments on the internet, where Christians are arguing with people who have different religious or political beliefs, and I often believe if they were able to take a virtual bat to their heads, the “Righteous’ would indeed take a swing.

I am no better, with my countless dignified Bible-thumping moments.  All that I accomplished was drawing a line, with me on one side gloating and the “offender” on the other side glowering.

We really have to be careful about what is in our hearts, what our motivation is.  Are we reaching out to help a brother or sister, or parading our self-made sanctity?