Captor or

Captive?

Many well-meaning, serious Christians, myself included, sin regularly without any awareness of it. This morning I "just happened" to open the Scriptures to Ecclesiastes 10 and 11. "Do not revile the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird of the air may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say." Well, there for a start is something that almost everyone I know has done. Unhappiness with our government and its leaders has led to an increasing flood of reviling, of cursing, of despairing. We have found it hard to bless and not curse, to be obedient to pray for and not against those in leadership over the nation. Yet, we are directed to do that very thing. The natural question is, "How in the world can I bless someone whom I perceive as evil?" Acts 10 recounts Peter's vision and his direction to go visit the Gentile, Cornelius. When he first arrives at Cornelius' home, he makes the statement "God has shown me that I am not to call any man impure or unclean." This is not a statement applicable to Peter alone, but is clearly intended for all people. All men (women, too) are from God, created by God, and redeemed by Him at the cross of Christ. All men (women, too) are valued and loved by Him. Therefore, no matter how awful they may be in our eyes, we are not to label them or judge them, keeping ourselves separate from them as we would some filthy refuse. I repented, on reading that, but also raised the question: "But God, you are clear in the Scripture that you will destroy all wicked evildoers. How does this work?"

Reading on, following Cornelius' welcoming speech, Peter then adds, "Now I know that God does not show favoritism, but accepts men from every nation who fear Him and do what is right." In this statement the focus is not on the man Peter, but on God. It confirms the idea of selectivity based on meeting some conditions --"who fear Him and do what is right." The conclusion is that if we steadfastly extend acceptance to everyone, and fail to label them as unclean or beneath us, there will be a greater witness to God and His love which may turn the evildoer toward the Lord to receive His forgiveness. Our penchant for rejection and cursing rather than acceptance and loving is truly the stumbling block to salvation for many of those we have despised. In the Ecclesiastes reference above, the statement clearly warns against even having negative thoughts because they will somehow be spread abroad, to our harm. This is a Scriptural example of the power of words and the thoughts which precede them. In ways we do not understand, thoughts create. Negative thoughts create negative entities, or vibrations - call it what you will - on earth and in the heavenlies. We may think that what we think privately doesn't matter or won't hurt us, but this passage declares otherwise. A curse conceived in the mind sets up a force in the spirit which can be felt at some level by the "recipient." Many people have reported that they could "feel" the prayers of others when they have been in a serious situation. In the same way, people can "feel" the rejection, criticism, and hatred lodged in other's hearts and minds whether they are near or at a distance. We can be bound in the spirit by the negative thoughts directed our way. Nevertheless, Jesus calls us to "bind up" our negativity toward others. He continually draws us to " have the mind of Christ." The Scripture presents each of us with a challenge, which is to make a difference in the world, and take dominion upon the earth, reflecting God's

glory in the process. There is an obvious shortfall here between the challenge and its execution. If our goal is to be world-changers, It would seem some changes need to be made in the way we live, the way we think, the way we relate to others. To walk in righteousness, then, is to repent of and avoid all thoughts of judgment of others. Taking control of your thought life is the beginning of spiritual warfare. It is truly bringing every thought into the captivity of Christ. Bringing all your thoughts under the Lordship of Jesus takes discipline, but when you do, you are moving away from agreement with the enemy. To label someone as impure or unclean is to curse them. Choosing to live in the opposite spirit then, we become more Christ like, revealing the glory of God.