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Churches don’t always fare so well when it comes to “safe” God-honoring and loving relationships. Experts rightly point out that “strong-willed, controlling” churches are little more than a direct extension of hurting and abusive families where often onespouse tries to dominate and control the other . . . either directly or passively. The root culprit? Always in play is insecurity and greater love for self than for their partner.
Many children grow up from these same families feeling as though they have no voice and go to unnecessary extremes to dominate the landscape of their own adult relationships, marriages, careers . . . and yes, ministries. Others “grow up” often unable to shake an unhealthy dependence on family and as such are prone to become pawns attached to power-mongering personalities, having never really developed a “first-person” faith-in-God identity.
Churches and marriages becoming destructive is not a surprise to our Creator, but it does break His heart . . . to the point that He knew a Hallmark Card from heaven was desperately needed. But that Card would be different from all others, for He chose not to say it or write it so much withwords, but to live it out in actions for all of history to see. Paul’s description of love in I Corinthians 13 might as well be the resume of Jesus Christ . . .
“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
This is David “JB” Miller reminding you that It is Christ who understands best that we are addicted to self and therefore driven to exert coercion and pain on the will and well-being of others to achieve our satisfaction. So, He, true to the very core of His being, and for no other reason than loving us as His precious bride . . . He chose to suffer through crucifixion then raise His own life up again so we could be experience resurrection life free of . . .
. . . a love song that goes off-key.
TO READ MORE….
http://www.lifelettercafe.com/archives/february2010-part1.htm
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