Holy Ground

3/17/2003

Answer to an overseas question this morning.........

We have a family that meets with us from time to time who is hard to be around at times because of how they handle their children. It is much less relaxed when they are present, and some have openly expressed their desire to not have them around. How do you maintain an environment that is proper yet not exclusive, that welcomes without compromise, and allows people to screen themselves out without placing yucky traditions on them?

One thing that is not “an optional idea,” but the only answer to that, IF you want to see Jesus’ Life on an ongoing basis, is to say to such a situation, “TAKE YOUR SHOES OFF—this is Holy Ground. You are not a part of our Lives and Jesus’ Future here if you will not apply His Words about (raising your children His Way, or fill in the blank), and that would be a shame. Not saying we wouldn’t love you and care about you, but there will be no lawlessness and anarchy here. If you will APPLY His Truths about reflecting HIS authority in your parenting to YOUR children, then we can all work that out together over time, and we know that situations are not easy. But, if you don’t WANT to apply His Ways and will not ‘Take your shoes off,’ then you should go do something else.

“That rebellion and chaos will never be welcome amongst God’s People, IF you are not doing anything about it and willing to ‘love the Light’ as others are involved. It is Teamwork towards ‘on earth as it is in Heaven’ (and there will be NO such rebellion in Heaven!), or we can’t allow you to ‘leaven’ or ‘corrupt character’ of the other children and parents. SO, it’s not about ‘perfection,’ but about LOVING THE LIGHT (a Salvation issue, actually: 2Thes.2:10; Jn.3:19-21 and has EVERYTHING to do with ‘fellowship’: 1John 1). If we can work together to solve this rebellion, and it’s clear that you hate it and are willing to fulfill YOUR mandate before God to be a Godly leader in your home, then superb. If you want it to stay in this disorder and rebellion because of your unwillingness to correct and lead, and humanism and psycho-babble are your ‘guides’ instead of Godliness, then you should find some others who agree with that (they won’t be hard to find) and not hurt others here. You can decide, but rebellion and leaven are not an option HERE.”

THAT (above) is a good example of how we MUST live with one another if we want to see much more than the mundane, and being consumed with “homeschooling” and “stuff,” instead of Jesus’ Kingdom and Life. Jesus’ Lampstand has PLENTY of “fun” intrinsic in its Life Together—sport and laughter, and even “entertainment” are all possible and plentiful IF they are “WINDOWS” into each other’s lives rather than ends in themselves. But, when these contradictions to Jesus’ Character become evident by or within these “windows of the soul and spirit”—then we must talk about taking our shoes off, on His Holy Ground. It’s Teamwork, against which “the gates of Hell cannot prevail.”