Page 44 - In Defense of the Gospel PUB

They produce a low sense of self worth. They produce resentment,

unforgiveness and bitterness — at God, ourselves, and others.

These type churches harm our relationship with God. If they

don’t produce guilt and condemnation, they produce pride and self-

righteousness. This causes people ti develop a critical, judgmental,

condemning spirit toward those who don’t live on the same level

they do.

Here’s a truth to ponder. If law is preached, it produces

differences between people. Some live life better and do good things

more than others who don’t live life as well and do more bad things.

Yet we are told to live in love toward one another. Do you

realize that you really can’t love people who are not on your same
level of existence in life? — who are either above you spiritually, or

instead are beneath you spiritually?

If someone is above you, and you view them as being better

than you — you can look up to them, admire them, ask their help,

model after them, and even ‘brown-nose’ them, as the expression
goes. But you can’t LOVE them because they’re above you.

If someone is beneath you, and you view them as being lesser

than you — you can still be nice to them, pity them, pray for them,

and perhaps even help them be better in some way. But you can’t

really LOVE them because they’re lower than you are.

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