Inner and Outer Darkness

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We know that when we are lied about and misrepresented, our response is supposed to be that of gladness and joy. Rejoice, Jesus said, when they tell all sorts of slanderous stories about you. Rejoice, He said, and be exceeding glad (Matt. 5:12).

Too often we regard this as simply a tough assignment, that of responding to “bad” attitudes with a “good” attitude. The slander is a sin, and joy in response is the opposite of a sin. This is all quite true, but there is more to the sin/not sin divide than we sometimes assume.Exhort

When we rejoice in response to this kind of thing, we are refusing to take the bait. We are refusing to be dragged down into the mud. If we like seeing the situation clearly, we should want to avoid—at all costs—being hauled down into darkness, where nobody can see anything. Descending into that kind of inner darkness is the first step toward the outer darkness.

So Jesus is not just telling us to keep our hearts—He is telling us to keep our heads.

When we do this, we still have enemies. We still have to deal with them, answer them, fight them. But we must not join them. We must not become like them. This is the meaning of that cryptic juxtaposition in the Proverbs.

“Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou also be like unto him. Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own conceit” (Prov. 26:4–5).

In the first instance, do not answer a fool in kind. Why? Because the danger exists of becoming just like him, which is to descend into that darkness referred to earlier. There are other times when the fool needs to be popped. Why? To keep him from swelling up in the wisdom of his own conceit.

In both cases you are keeping folly from filling up the room. In the first instance, if you were to become a fool also, that helps fill up the room with folly. In the second, if you give a fool free rein to say or do anything, then that will come to dominate. In either case, our responsibility is to fight folly with wisdom.

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Eric
Eric
8 years ago

Thank you Doug! Just what I needed to hear today!

"A" dad
"A" dad
8 years ago

Just to start with the conclusion: “So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.” Speak the good truth, fight the good fight, speak due rebuke, forgive as forgiven, bless and do not curse. Romans 12:9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 1 Peter 4:12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings… Read more »

MISS CALVINISM 2016
MISS CALVINISM 2016
8 years ago
Reply to  "A" dad

Preach it “A” dad!

"A" dad
"A" dad
8 years ago

Thanks young Lady!

andrewlohr
andrewlohr
8 years ago

As “A” dad posted from Peter, rejoice in suffering as a Christian, for doing what really belongs to that identity. Not in suffering for foolishness or meddling (except, I suppose, for receiving needed correction by such suffering.)

RandMan
RandMan
8 years ago

Well said, a clear vision of reality demands not being pulled down into the mire. It also demands not viewing the real needs of children through the distorted sense of a hubristic theological bubble. Or ‘exhorting’ your sheep to follow a compassionless example.

So yes, haters gonna hate, Douglas. Three 6 Mafia also eloquently bit back (fighting folly with street wisdom): “It’s rough out there for a pimp.”

"A Real" Dad
"A Real" Dad
8 years ago

The worst sort of religious self-aggrandizer, is the one who thinks he’s enduring suffering, when he’s really just enduring his own boorish tongue. The reason it’s so bad, is because of the absolute disgrace this sort of pity party makes of the gospel and those who actually suffer real pain for the sake of the gospel. That’s the sort of little boy it seems you are Doug, a little one who loves to pat himself on the back and let us all know how good you do enduring the suffering of your own doing. Please spare us your heroics, while… Read more »

ME
ME
8 years ago
Reply to  "A Real" Dad

Who? Wilson?! I find his words encouraging and his cheerful fortitude comforting. That’s not making a mockery of the gospel at all, that’s spreading the good news.

"A Real" Dad
"A Real" Dad
8 years ago
Reply to  ME

Guys who have contests to nickname a woman’s breasts, regularly use words like bitch, stand on the side of the slave owner, aid the pathetic punk who raped a young girl, and put lives of vulnerable kids in the hands of child molesters are NO encouragement to the gospel. Jesus has plans for them, and those plans would make a millstone around a neck in a deep lake seem Pleasant.

Jon Swerens
8 years ago
Reply to  "A Real" Dad

As a Christian who believes in Biblical justice, I really cannot take you seriously unless you use your real name. Anonymous “witnesses” are abhorred in the Bible. If you cannot reveal your name, you really should repent of the slander.

Signed, as you can tell,
Jon Swerens

"A Real" Dad
"A Real" Dad
8 years ago
Reply to  Jon Swerens

You should cease all activity hear Jon as a good number of posters post anonymously. It’s really ok…take a breath.

Christopher Casey
Christopher Casey
8 years ago
Reply to  "A Real" Dad

“Guys who have contests to nickname a woman’s breasts, regularly use words like bitch”

These two accusations are completely fictitious.

"A Real" Dad
"A Real" Dad
8 years ago

Ummm….his favorite Trump girl meme was 2 Corinthians, referring to her breasts. And he does use the word bitch often. Do a google search.

"A" dad
"A" dad
8 years ago
Reply to  "A Real" Dad

Mini me, the Corinthian meme was third place, not “favorite”, get your mini math right!????

Christopher Casey
Christopher Casey
8 years ago
Reply to  "A Real" Dad

“Ummm….his favorite Trump girl meme was 2 Corinthians, referring to her breasts.”

The contest was memeing Donald not hos wifes breasts.

“And he does use the word bitch often. Do a google search.”

I haven’t done a word count of Wilsons posts, but I doubt bitch is anywhere near the top of the most used words.

Christopher Casey
Christopher Casey
8 years ago
Reply to  "A Real" Dad

The memes were about Donald the girl was incidental and not the subject.

Google doesn’t tell you word use frequency, you and I have used bitch in this conversation much more often than Wilson does in general.

katecho
katecho
8 years ago
Reply to  "A Real" Dad

I suggest that “A Real” Dad not go anywhere near Scripture if he can’t allow for an appropriate use of serrated edge and obscenity. Here’s a sample: You built yourself a high place at the top of every street and made your beauty abominable, and you spread your legs to every passer-by to multiply your harlotry. — Ezek 16:25 Yet she multiplied her harlotries, remembering the days of her youth, when she played the harlot in the land of Egypt. She lusted after their paramours, whose flesh is like the flesh of donkeys and whose issue is like the issue… Read more »

"A" dad
"A" dad
8 years ago
Reply to  "A Real" Dad

Well! If imitation is the serverest form of flattery, I suppose “real’s” comment is another thing to rejoice about!???? Still, the old adage “beware of cheap imitations” holds true.????

"A Real" Dad
"A Real" Dad
8 years ago
Reply to  "A" dad

Let’s just say a “cheap imitation” of a guy who spells and writes similar to a toddler would be very difficult.

"A" dad
"A" dad
8 years ago
Reply to  "A Real" Dad

Still “real”, some how you manage! ????
Also, your gnat collection is great! I think you are ready to move on to camels!????

"A Real" Dad
"A Real" Dad
8 years ago
Reply to  "A" dad

You are good with emojis, like a teenage girl though.

"A" dad
"A" dad
8 years ago
Reply to  "A Real" Dad

“Real” one thought to consider , real dads, aka, dads with actual children don’t use the word “Toddler” in the pejorative sense. Your true nickers might be showing by your misuse of that term. Real dads love the toddler years, along with all the other years. Not only that, true, real dads love toddler literature and art, as such works adorn millions of refrigerators from sea to shining sea. When considering toddler literature, spelling typically does not come up. Finally, due to its’ prominence on refrigerators, toddler literature and art are the driver and life blood of our robust refrigerator… Read more »

"A Real" Dad
"A Real" Dad
8 years ago
Reply to  "A" dad

I love toddler art and literature, FROM ACTUAL TODDLERS. I have this expectation, strange as it may sound to you, that a grown man will put away childish things.

"A" dad
"A" dad
8 years ago
Reply to  "A Real" Dad

Sorry “real”, based on your comments here, you have a loooonnnnnnnnng way to go, before you can demonstrate that you have put away childish things.

Why would anyone think your comment:

“You are good with emojis, like a teenage girl though.”

was mature? Do you understand yet?

"A Real" Dad
"A Real" Dad
8 years ago
Reply to  "A" dad

Can you phrase that statement/question/statement in proper English?

Also, I pray you don’t homeschool your children with this sort of intellect.

"A" dad
"A" dad
8 years ago
Reply to  "A Real" Dad

Luke 6:45
A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

"A Real" Dad
"A Real" Dad
8 years ago
Reply to  "A" dad

Thanks for making my point, Wilson and his blog manifestly highlight the evil in his heart.

"A" dad
"A" dad
8 years ago
Reply to  "A Real" Dad

And hey! Look what’s in your heart!

“The only thing resembling a troll I see is the lady in your profile picture Chrissy.”

The ever so adult “A Real” Dad. ; – )

"A Real" Dad
"A Real" Dad
8 years ago
Reply to  "A" dad

Truth is still truth, even if it hurts. The lady in the picture did look like a troll. Are you saying calling someone a troll is evil?

At any rate, it’s been a fun discussion, go work on the grammar chap and we can debate more some other day. Goodnight.

"A" dad
"A" dad
8 years ago
Reply to  "A Real" Dad

And good luck on your end, in developing more honesty and maturity.
Typo’s pale by comparison.

Christopher Casey
Christopher Casey
8 years ago
Reply to  "A" dad

You seem to have attracted your own personal troll, I assume you must have bought a bridge recently?

"A" dad
"A" dad
8 years ago

1 Peter 4:16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.

No Case’, no bridges, it’s that Name thing. Seems like the same for you.