Wrong Side of Faith (WSOF) -rr

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. Religious wars sanctioned by the Church was maybe not such a good idea.
• The Salem Witch Trials were another not so bright and shining moment ‘executed’ (insert pun here) by organized religion. .. and dare I say 
• Snake Handling is not on the radar of what the Lord intends.  Nuff said.

These are a few WSOF Hall of Shame moments that stand out, but brothers and sisters there are a boat load of other WSOFs. These WSOFs fly under the radar without any sign of a 'holy war', a witch singed, or a parishioner snake bit.

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So without further delay let me present a few WSOFs that I find too commonplace in the church today.

1. LEGAL Beagles walk the straight and narrow of church rules spoken and unspoken, while missing the real joy of the Lord in their lives. Legal Beagles confuse a TO-DO list faith walk or guilt driven service with heartfelt love & service of our God.
2. DRINKING This is a growing WSOF movement in the church. It is important to note the Bible does declare drinking is wrong BUT.. drinking is a Pandora’s box of trouble in too many lives to be ignored. This was my WSOF issue compromising what God intended for my life. I was on a road to RUIN.
3. Low SELF-ESTEEM is a WSOF 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 is a WSOF 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? To rely on my 'goodness' is another misguided WSOF moment.
6. PANIC is a WSOF that is another one of my challenges in my busy mind. PANIC loses sight of the truth.. If God is for me, then who can be against me? Romans 8:31

Anytime we tweak God's perfect plan with our 'man divined' <-oxymoron methods we are headed in for a bumpy road.  
​So put down that snake, stop 'redacting' scriptures you don't like, and quit pointing out the 'denominational specks' in the eyes of others all whilst fashioning a light pole in your own eye.

Instead .. love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. ..and love your neighbor as yourself. - Jesus Mt 22:36-40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets... which excludes Crusades, Witch hunts, and anything to that requires a snake bite kit. 
 
May God bless and use us all in the unique ways He has wired us.  May we listen to God's voice, and minimize our bunny trails in ways that honor God and serve others.

Jeff 

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