Matthew
13:24-30 is a parable talking about the tare and the wheat. For many years I’ve read this passage and
kept it moving, but verse 30 has caught my attention: Let both grow together until the harvest….
It made me reflect on “church
hurt”. Instead of seeing it as how this
brother or sister can hurt my heart so, I now view it from a different level. I now
say to myself is this saint or a tare?
In reviewing The Handbook of Bible Applications, the characteristics of
believers are:
1.
Imitate Christ’s merciful, forgiving attitude
2.
Let love guide their life
3.
Let peace of Christ rule in your heart
4.
Always be thankful
5.
Keep God’s word in you at all times
6.
Live as Christ representative
These characteristics are even
to be viewed within our churches. How do
we treat one another? How do we treat
outsiders? A true saint will not lead
someone to go contrary to God’s word. A
true saint won’t let someone feel bad if God is taking them from carnality to
spiritual mind set. A true saint will
not cause division or strife. A true
saint will not be so controlling. These
are not fruits of God’s kingdom. So what
are they….a tare. When you think about
it, what better place for tare to be then in church?
Matthew
7:6
Ye
shall know them by their fruits. Do men
gather grapes of thorns or figs of thistles?
“Church hurt”, let’s look at this from a different point of
view. If a person in church shows you
fruit that is contrary to God’s kingdom, then note he or she is a tare and pray
for their deliverance. Unfortunately, not everyone saying Lord, Lord in church
is of God. I have decided moving forward
there is no such thing as “church hurt”, for those of the church don’t do such
things due to the love of God within us.
Instead call it for what it is, “tares”…pray and keep your mind stayed
on the one that can keep you in perfect peace.
Stay encouraged!