Getting up on the wrong side of FAITH

     Getting up on the wrong side of the bed is a phrase that has come to describe a day gone bad. I would like to modify this with a new phrase ‘Getting up on the wrong side of faith’ (which from now on will be referred to as WSOFs) to describe moments of faith gone bad.
     The Crusades are a BIG TIME example of getting up on the wrong side of faith. The Salem Witch Trials were another not so bright and shining moment ‘executed’ (insert pun here) by organized religion. Dare I say Snake Handling is not on the radar of what the Lord intends.
     These are a few WSOF Hall of Shame moments while most WSOFs fly under the radar without the extreme consequences of misguided Crusades, Witch Hunts.. or snake bit parishioners.
     The following are a few every day WSOFs whose accumulative affect is definitely getting up on the Wrong Side of Faith as God intends.

1. LEGAL Beagles walk the straight and narrow of church rules spoken and unspoken, without real joy of the Lord in their lives. Legal Beagles confuse a TO-DO list faith walk or guilt driven service with heartfelt love & devotion.
   
2. DRINKING is not wrong.. This is a new WSOF movement in the church that is right in noting the Bible does claim drinking is wrong BUT.. drinking is a Pandora’s box of trouble in too many lives to be ignored. This was my WSOF moment for about 10 years until I it became obvious FOR ME it was a problem.
   
3. Low SELF-ESTEEM should not be confused with humility. Low self-esteem does not take into account God’s Grace, or our value in God’s eyes.
   
4. PRIDE should not be confused with confidence. Pride loses sight that our abilities and goodness are a relative and tentative state of being and a gift from God.
   
5. My GOODNESS is only as good as my best kept secret. If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it.. did it make a sound? In the same way if I sin but no one knows… is it still a sin?
   
6. PANIC is getting up on the wrong side of faith. If God is for me, then who can be against me? Romans 8:31
   

These are just a very few WSOFs in a world of WSOF moments.

So the next time any of us wake up on the 'wrong side of faith', pray for a Godly perspective valuing each of His children. May God bless the rich and powerful, and the lowly and meek for His Glory as we are all ONE BODY MANY PARTS.. ALL IMPORTANT. Love God, love others.. the rest is trivial pursuit.

Jeff