1 Peter 2: 15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. I heard someone say about a past president one time and they said "I can always tell when (no name mentioned) is lying. To which I asked how? When they are talking." Foolish words that mean nothing come from our mouths at times and it is so much more than just lying. Foolish words that lift you up over another person and it is done in a manipulative way. Sometimes people who speak these words think that God doesn't notice. But He does.
In the above verse Peter, a man who had foolish empty things said to him and about him all his life speaks to the words of those who are either jealous or just plain mean. Those who speak these words know nothing of true Christ-like love and usually show they may not have been born-again. They hate the words from Jesus where He says "You must be born again to inherit the kingdom of God" because they haven't experienced it and their worldly faith shows a lack of Godly love that comes with a true relationship with Jesus. These people are drawn to judgment and meanness and the truth is not in them. Peter calls them out in the above verses because they are empty takers who do not follow the truth.
Foolish and empty talk has the fruit of judgment and superiority in its roots and it is usually done by people who could not compete on their own merit. They are the people who sit back and critique everything a true servant does so they can qualify and keep themselves above those who are serving. In fact, if they serve, they serve to elevate themselves and thus really bring themselves down in Jesus' math. You know, first will be last, and last will be first. The emperor Napoleon is a good example of the neurosis that is involved in these people and his lack of height was to be made up by conquering anyone and everyone who gets in his way. Peter spoke to this attitude in the above verses where he says Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.
The people who use their "freedom" as a way to pigeonhole and judge others are a cancer to the modern-day church and the dissension they carry with them allows that cancer to spread through others they innoculate.
So stay away from them and stay away from being like them and be like Jesus. His words and His wisdom are pure and holy and not self-gratifying. To be in this position might seem weak and may not match the standing of those foolish-speaking people, but the Psalmist says it well in Psalm 34: 8 Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! 9 Fear the Lord, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need.10 Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing. Stay away from these self-appointed people who are the rulers of their little universe because God is not in any of it. Their words are empty and their lives are temporal at best, and they are only fooling themselves. Thank you Peter for calling them out and giving us a great example of what to do.
The Pilgrimage Continues
David Warren
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