Just Who Are We?

Originally I had planned to take a look at the crazy weather patterns and how I see them fitting into my end times view. I will get to that very soon. However, I was involved in a conversation with a dear Sister in Christ which brought something to my attention. As followers of Christ, who are we and how should we treat each other? And what should we be doing?
And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? (Matthew 7:3) (KJV)

Or as the NKJV says And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?

WWJD

This sister stated that she watches (gasp) Oprah. Now I'm not going to give you my opinion of Oprah and I really don't want any discussion of what someone else's opinion of Oprah is. Me, I love to watch sci-fi. I also watch disaster films and science shows that are made by secular scientists. What I want to know it - Does this make me a bad person? Does this make me a bad Christian? Or worse yet, does this make me a liar that's not really saved?

Now I know that many of you are shaking your heads and wondering "Who would say such a thing?" Well, during this conversation, the attacks came fast and furious - some from people who say they are Christian. She was called some pretty bad things. She was unfriended by one. And the question I have here, how are we representing Jesus.

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:20) (KJV)

What is an ambassador? My Merriam-Webster online dictionary says that an ambassador is 1) an official envoy, 2) an authorized representative. Basically, that means we represent Christ. What kind of representatives are we if we attack our own brothers and sisters in Christ?

Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. (James 4:11) (NIV) The Greek word for brother or sister (adelphos) refers here to a believer, whether man or woman, as part of God’s family.

But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. (Romans 14:10) (NKJV)

WWJD?

37] Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38] This is the first and great commandment. 39] And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (Matthew 22:37-39)

So, is watching Oprah a sin? How about shows like Supernatural or Ghost Whisperer? How about soap operas or reality shows? I could go one step further, how about any TV show, secular movie, music, book or magazine? What would Jesus say to those of us who condemn other believers of doing things we might not approve of?

When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” (John 8:7) (NKJV)

Brothers and sisters in Christ. Remember what we look like to the unsaved world. If they see us squabbling and attacking each other, why would they want to belong to that. They have enough of that in the world they live in. But if they see the love of Christ in us, maybe they will be saved from the wrath to come. Time short, maybe shorter that any of us realize. There's a big lost world out there we need to reach.

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. (Mark 16:15) (KJV)

God willing, until next time

Maranatha