“For You have been a defense for the helpless, A defense for the needy in his distress, A refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat; For the breath of the ruthless Is like a rain storm against a wall.”
- Isaiah 25:4 NASB1995
As I read this passage today I wanted to know what the word ‘ruthless’ meant. It wasn’t hard thanks to the Internet.
It turns out that it means ‘cruel, without mercy or compassion.’ This struck quite a chord in me as living in America I see the ‘ruthless’ often in the actions of the self-proclaimed ‘conservative Christian right.’
I’m not being political here. I’m speaking of Christians. This post is about Christian behavior examined by Biblical scripture and its importance.
Yes, many are heavily involved in politics. The more involved, often the more ruthless because politics is about the affairs of this world. And we’ve many lessons about the warfare between our flesh (worldliness) and the spirit (the kingdom of God).
And many of the political leaders of the ‘right’ easily proclaim they are Christian or stand for Christian values. And many of these are absolutely ruthless. They are the epitome of ruthless in this scripture. They are the opposite of all God is in this passage. Their words and deeds defy Christian teaching.
Again, I realize this comes off as political but it isn’t about politics to me. It is about the Word of God. It is about the instruction given by Jesus Christ to those who call themselves His followers; about their behavior and conduct.
Those who use God’s name in vain need to see the danger of their behavior. Gone are the times when ‘once saved, always saved’ is a cop out for those who consistently do evil on Earth. This is not how things work. You see, if you have truly committed your life to Jesus Christ vile & evil behavior toward your fellow man ends. Manipulation, self glorification, injury, violence and the love of the things of this world ceases. Defending earthly nations end. Jesus said you will know a tree by its fruit.
And then comes the passage in Matthew 25 that should give us all pause. It is when Jesus speaks of the separation of the goats and the sheep. Both professed Christ. But not all were of Christ. And it was judgement given at the end in regard to how they treated the poor and needy.
Those who forget the needy and helpless and are ruthless yet say they are Christian or represent Christian values need to be examined by every Christian. And Christians must examine them by the standard God gave us- the Word of God.
What we do and who we support and those we listen to and follow must be tested always by God’s Word- as the Holy Spirit teaches to us.
Man spends too much time trying to make God fit their idea of holiness instead of seeking God with the right heart to know God and His desire for man.
Long gone are the days when debates about how the Bible we now have became the Bible we now read. All intellectual debate among believers are a waste of time. Paul addressed this repeatedly. Do we Gentiles have to circumcise themselves now that they are Christians? Can we eat the leftover meats sacrificed to idols? Should women cut their hair (this was about a specific custom of that time)? Looking at Paul’s responses as a whole, he said our focus is to be on Christ, humility, low tolerance of those who were self seeking, arrogant and cruel to other Christian groups (which is why there was a time of disagreement between he & Peter).
Jesus dealt with pointless debates consistently in his ministry here. And one of the most interesting points he made was when he spoke of David & his men eating the shewbread. By Levitical Law eating this was abhorrent. It left the religious leaders speechless.These are religious semantics that are void of the important tenants of Christianity.
Christians should DO what Jesus did. He wasn’t supporting Israel. He didn’t work to overthrow Roman rule and being the southern and northern kingdoms back together. His focus was specifically to serve His Father, fulfill the Law, fulfill the prophets. And He summed up what was important in these two scriptures:
“But when the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered themselves together.
One of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”
And He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment.
The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.””
Matthew 22:34-40 NASB1995
