EBB4 RESPONDS TO "IF F"

EBB4 RESPONDS TO “IF F”

Friday, July 03, 2015

At the risk of being unfriended I write today:

  Decades ago before experiencing John 3:3 I was a profane speaker at work in an all-male foundry. Though there as a standing company rule against, management excused profanity as “workplace language”. When the recession of 1958 hit I lost several pay grades, monthly production bonuses, and learned in my new placement that there are women that, though dressed like ladies, would have fit in with the shoptalking foundry workers.

  After John 3:3 became noticed in my life most profane coworkers’ curtailed speech within what they laughingly referred to as an “Angel zone.” But there was of course those that delighted in testing and probing my serenity.

  Of the profanity spoken the F word was least used then. This obviously has changed.

  I do not unfriend users on Facebook or otherwise. I do however politely ask them to not use profanity.

  Why don’t I unfriend profane people? (Or criticize those that do so.)

·         Jesus is my example as He did not exercise the unfriending of those profane in word or deed. "John came neither eating nor drinking, and people say, 'There's a demon in him!' The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and people say, 'Look at him! He's a glutton and a drunk, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' "Yet, wisdom is proved right by its actions." (GW Mt.11:18-19; Lk.7:34.) “Later Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house. Many tax collectors and sinners who were followers of Jesus were eating with him and his disciples. When the scribes who were Pharisees saw him eating with sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?" When Jesus heard that, he said to them, "Healthy people don't need a doctor; those who are sick do. I've come to call sinners, not people who think they have God's approval." (GW Mk.2:15-17)

·         Jesus has left me instruction pertaining to the matter. "Healthy people don't need a doctor; those who are sick do.” (GW Mt.9:12; Mk.2:17; Lk.5:31)

·         Jesus’ disciples emulated the same love for people. “Levi held a large reception at his home for Jesus. A huge crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. The Pharisees and their scribes complained to Jesus' disciples. They asked, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" Jesus answered them, "Healthy people don't need a doctor; those who are sick do. I've come to call sinners to change the way they think and act, not to call people who think they have God's approval." (GW Lk.29-32)

·         Paul explained that I am an agent of reconciliation. “Whoever is a believer in Christ is a new creation. The old way of living has disappeared. A new way of living has come into existence. God has done all this. He has restored our relationship with him through Christ, and has given us this ministry of restoring relationships. In other words, God was using Christ to restore his relationship with humanity. He didn't hold people's faults against them, and he has given us this message of restored relationships to tell others. Therefore, we are Christ's representatives, and through us God is calling you. We beg you on behalf of Christ to become reunited with God.” (GW 2Cor.5:17-20)

·         Bud Bond and the Germeroth (sp) brothers, my earliest Biblical examples, guides, and instructors manifested “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There are no laws against things like that.” (GW Gal.5:22-23)

  Ah, but what of the a little bit of leaven corrupts argument? Every bit true as all of the above Word; the distinction is that with such yeast it must be taken in. And if done you will soon recognize the uncomfortable sensation of expanding pride and angst.

EBB4