I am capable of anything because I am just as capable of being as foolish, as unloving, unkind, and unaware as any horror story I\u2019ve ever heard, it drives me to seek wisdom from God and others.<\/p>\n
So, the Bible\u2019s teaching about how messed up EVERY human heart is makes me realistic about myself, because I\u2019m capable of anything, but also it makes me be\u00a0 more realistic about\u00a0 others because they are capable of anything.<\/p>\n
Christians who understand this are lowered and humbled daily knowing that others are also capable of anything. As a pastor, I have seen it all. I have heard so many times the words\u00a0 \u201cI can\u2019t believe he did that, he seemed like such a nice guy. Can you believe she left her husband and kids for an affair? Can you believe, he cheated on her while she was pregnant with their third child? \u00a0How did that business partner end up so angry launching that malicious lawsuit? \u00a0\u00a0How did he end up hiding that credit card from his wife for so long? \u00a0How could he have lost so much money gambling? How could she not stop drinking \u2013 she has small kids?”<\/p>\n
When you realize that \u201cEveryone\u2019s Capable of Anything,\u201d you can step in to help a marriage of betrayal and you aren\u2019t surprised. That doesn\u2019t mean you condone it. But Christian teaching allows you to be very realistic about the basic nature of people and the nature of the world…corruption…cruelty, etc.<\/p>\n
I had two relatives in recent years caught in a scandal. One was a public scandal in a big city. The other was a big scandal in a small town. \u00a0And my first reaction was to \u201ckeep my distance!\u201d \u00a0Make sure people know that I am not like them. I am not one of them!! \u00a0\u00a0But as my superiority was humbled knowing that they are capable of anything, and I am also capable of anything, I was able to get over my pride to help. To become a part of the solution. Without compromising right and wrong, I was able to offer restoration and help to two very hurting people.<\/p>\n
Jesus was so realistic about the nature of the human heart, that he was one of the most realistically hopefully characters in history. He knew that mankind\u2019s heart is troubled, he didn\u2019t fall for the applause of the crowd as he gained fame throughout the land. He understood the fickle nature of the crowd. He didn\u2019t commit himself too naively to other\u2019s good motives. \u00a0He once -in the book of John- was about to be named king and he didn\u2019t give himself to the crowd\u2019s applause because he \u201cknew what was in the heart of man.\u201d<\/p>\n
23<\/strong> Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. 24<\/strong> But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,<\/span> 25<\/strong> And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man<\/span>. John 2:23-25 (KJV)<\/em><\/p>\n Jesus didn\u2019t \u201cneed the approval of others.\u201d So he didn\u2019t define himself by other\u2019s approval. Good thing too, the same crowd that celebrates you on one day, can demonize you the next, which is exactly what happened to Him. Jesus didn\u2019t give in to the roar of the crowd, He knew they would turn against Him. \u00a0What? The same Jesus who knelt down with children, made the outcast feel expensive, and was inclusive of everyone, didn\u2019t trust the crowd. \u00a0He died for all of us while not trusting us\u2026 \u00a0Do you see how radical this is?<\/p>\n The Bible\u2019s teaching about how messed up EVERY human heart is makes me realistic about both myself and others.<\/p>\n So the first objection is that Christianity is too depressingly Pessimistic… But then we saw how it\u2019s teaching makes us realistic about ourselves and others leading us to humility and compassion when we realize we are all capable of anything.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n For a free first session of Godonomics, visit:\u00a0 http:\/\/www.godonomics.com\/watch-session-1<\/a><\/p>\n I am capable of anything because I am just as capable of being as foolish, as unloving, unkind, and unaware as any horror story I\u2019ve ever heard, it drives me to seek wisdom from God and others. So, the Bible\u2019s teaching about how messed up EVERY human heart is makes me realistic about myself, because…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":353,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[471],"tags":[506,480,515],"class_list":["post-1857","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reflection","tag-grace","tag-jesus","tag-the-bible"],"yoast_head":"\n\n
\n http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=vlOWaI2EEm0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"