Damage Control ~~ “Grieve Him Not”
I’ve thought a lot about today’s post. Does it make any difference what I write? Will it have any impact on you?
Each time we writers compose a post, we chance it being received, rejected, or simply ignored. Some folks think the success of a post is determined by how many hits the page receives. Others think success is determined by the amount of comments garnered by their carefully worded thoughts. Many bloggers rack their brains for a topic that will accomplish both. Some do not even care how controversial or inflaming their subject matter becomes. They just want folks to read them. Today, I’m not at all concerned about putting together a post to do any of the above. However, I do have a few things that have popped into my mind and wonder if you’d have any thoughts to offer in response.
When do Christians grieve the Holy Spirit?
I was reading Ephesians and it said, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God [do not offend or vex or sadden Him], by Whom you were sealed (marked, branded as God’s own, secured) for the day of redemption.” Eph. 4:30.
Preceding that verse there is a list of things that are quite offensive to the Holy Spirit: foul or polluting language, evil words, unwholesome or worthless talk. In fact, it states that our conversation be “only such speech as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God’s favor) to those who hear it.” Eph.4:29
And following verse 30 are a group of things which give us a clear idea of what grieves Him. “Let all bitterness and indignation and wrath (passion, rage, bad temper) and resentment (anger, animosity) and quarreling (brawling, clamor, contention) and slander be banished from you, with all malice, (spite, ill will, or baseness of any kind).” Eph. 4:31.
Do you think recent posts you have read were a blessing to others? Have your comments been “beneficial to the spiritual progress of others”?
“And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving of another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you.” Eph. 4:32
How can Believers who are sealed by the Spirit until the day of redemption continue to participate in blogs and avoid grieving the Holy Spirit as they converse? Any ideas? selahV
[Come see me at SelahV Today AND dailyIMPACT ]
Hariette,
What a humbling, amazing reminder. Especially for those of us who write and participate in the world of Christian / Baptist blogs.
I believe the passage that you cite speaks directly to us. Sadly, thought, we sometimes seem to jump right into the world of unwholesome, worthless talk in the semi-anonymous, faceless blog world. My perception is that many blogging folk find it easier to assail and assault because their victims are faceless … something short of real people. Unfortunately, since we tend to judge everyone else’s words and actions on the “sliding scale” of our own behavior, we tend to think that everyone else is the true offender … that we, ourselves, are somehow righteously “right.”
I am shamed by much of what I see. Sometimes I am ashamed of my own words.
Thanks for the reminder.
Like Dr. Peacock’s summary statement on yesterday’s post regarding lawsuits … this post should be “required reading” in Southern Baptist blogdom.
But like most good sermons, I think that most bloggers would respond like the typical parishioner on Sunday (while shaking hands with the pastor), “You really put it to them today! I hope everyone else was listening!” ;)
Geoff: Thanks be to God that His Spirit convicts we Believers. However you are so correct, there are many who disregard admonishment, resist and rebel against His voice. All too often we are more concerned with the specks in another’s eyes than the log in our own. I think that is why our Savior emphasized it in such a memorable way.
Great point about the “faceless” recipient behind our monitor screens. It’s really hard for some folks to believe the words gentle and earnest concern for their growth as Christians when all they feel is their own fingertips itching to respond. selahV
I think blogs can definitely serve an eternal purpose! I think you said exactly how we can participate in blogs in a godly way by quoting Eph. 4:29. We must use language that builds others up and spurs others on to love and good deeds.
I was convicted a few years back to not attack others on my blog, but to encourage others to exalt Christ.
Leslie, hello. thanks for adding your thoughts. well said and a great goal you set. I have a similar one. selahV
Wow, Hariette. That cuts to the quick. I wonder how our lives would change if we actually thought about our actions and attitudes emotionally effect God.
Geoff summed it up all too well when he used the word “humbling.”
Thanks. You have given my soul something to chew on all weekend.
Jim, I think that is the key in understanding how things are when we hurt others. It’s not what we feel about ourselves and how others treat us, but what Jesus feels because of the way we talk to others and treat others. He is grieved. There is much more to our actions than we look at as we deal with how others treat us. It simply is not about us. It is about Him. I’ve been chewing on this for several weeks and God is still showing me a lot. selahV
Great post! I hope more bloggers will allow God to examine their hearts on these issues. I feel like God often leads me to write about unity and edification.
Bryan, thanks. Every day I find myself examining my own heart in light of this Scripture passage. I’m sure the Lord would like all of His elect to yield to His examination rather than relying on our own. I especially liked one paragraph of something you wrote last week:
“As we fix our eyes on Jesus we see a complete gospel. When we fixate on what we find easy or to our liking/understanding then we water down the gospel and fail to follow God’s call on our lives. We fail the greatest commandment: loving the Lord our God with all our hearts, our souls, our strength; with all of our hearts, our souls, our minds; with every part of the tri-une image God breathed into our lives. We also find ourselves creating disunity not only in our own lives but in the Body of Christ as we trumpet the importance of one aspect of our relationship with the Father while discounting or completely neglecting the importance of other aspects.”
Unity is highly underrated and valued today. I think unity is only found in the Living Lord who indwells in each of us. Apart from Him, our ideas, views and theology is just clanging cymbals, don’t you think? selahV
Thanks, Harriete. It feels kinda odd being quoted. :)
Bryan, well, when I received your kind validation, it was the least I could do to go read your blog for a while. And your comment was so fitting to the stream, it was well worth mentioning. Even if I did pull it out of its environment to stand alone. :) selahV
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