Catching Idle Butterflies

Caught!

I’ve been caught! I had hoped to get away with it, but nope, someone, specifically karabu, pointed out the big booboo I made yesterday. Here’s what she said:

I am concerned that my question may come across as offensive. I believe you understand the nature of my curiosity, but I'd hate to offend others. If you think it is appropriate, feel free to repost it as a comment, because I know you prefer an open dialog about these things when possible.

On to the question:
"My passion is to tell the Truth about who God really is."

This is another comment I don't quite understand. You've mentioned sveral times that
God is different for everyone (or perhaps I've misunderstood?) I hear people all the time say things like, "God wants this that or the other thing." It strikes me as a very arrogant comment to make. When people presume to know what God thinks and wants it usually matches conviently with what the person thinks and wants. Hard to take that too seriously.

Does that make sence?

Thanks. And as usual - feel free to disregard me if I cross a line.

Am I guilty of being arrogant? I won’t deny it. After all the affirmation of my gifts yesterday, I hope it’s understandable that I would kick humility out the door and get full of myself.

The other and possibly even greater blessing of having this blog is when someone points out my mistakes, showing me more of that “truth” I’m seeking.

I won’t, however, deny some people misconceive God, but I mean specific things, not general. For instance, when people judge others when bad things happen, but worse, say things like, “God is punishing these people for their sins.” God is the ultimate judge, but He knows things we don’t. He stresses we not judge all throughout the Bible, this being but one example: “Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.” ~ 1 Corinthians 4:5.

That’s a scary thing, having our motives brought to light, even when we do good things! But it also should warn us not to judge others’ motives, because though they may do what we consider wrongful things, their motives are pure. In the end they will receive the greater praise from God.

Judging actions, however, is different. karabu didn’t judge me with her comments. She judged my choice of words. That’s why I’m not offended. She shined light on what otherwise would have remained hidden, possibly festered into a worse attitude, or given others the wrong impression of the intent of my words.

There are other specifics I had in mind with my “truth” comment, but they are part of the eight articles I have ideas for. Again, they center mostly on Christians acting contrary to God’s Word, many times pushing people farther from God instead of drawing them closer. That is where my passion leads me.

As I said in yesterday’s entry, my deepest fear is my words and actions pushing people away from God. To have someone point out my errors means I learn one more thing hopefully preventing me from doing just that.

I’m sorry if my words had the same effect on you as they did on karabu. I hope it won’t happen again, but being human, it’s possible. If I do, I hope you will call me on it just as she did.

Thank you, karabu. I’ll be a better person because of you.