Blog - Joyful Curmudgeon - Blog
A Mary T. Hoffman Commentary from All-Creatures.org

 

"Joyful Curmudgeon" An oxymoron?
No! I see all the beauty of God's creation and I'm joyful.  At the same time, I see all the suffering and corruption going on in the world, and feel called to help expose and end it so that we may have true peace and compassion.

 

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A Message for Good Friday - 14 Apr 2006
By Mary T. Hoffman

Two thousand years ago Jesus was crucified. The Prophet Isaiah, in this passage of the Hebrew Bible, describes the character of this Man Jesus who would be sent to this earth by God: (Isaiah 42:3)

3. “A bruised reed He will not break,

And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish;

He will faithfully bring forth justice.”

~New American Standard Bible

And in the New Testament we find the following passage in Matthew 26:51-52:

51. And behold, one of those who were with Jesus reached and drew out his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest, and cut off his ear.

52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword.”

~New American Standard Bible

I think you’ll agree that the above description of the Lord’s character is in stark contrast to the “macho” image that has become so popular in recent years. It doesn’t seem to matter whether one is a man or a woman – from the vehicle driven, to the food eaten; from the “sports” watched, to the music listened to; “toughness” is “in.”

Several years ago, I noticed this macho attitude being introduced into a popular Christian television program. I wrote them a polite letter explaining how this appeared to be a trend that was not in keeping with Christ’s teachings. (I don’t remember whether or not I kept a copy of my letter.) Well, I did not receive an answer from them. Since that time, it has gotten worse than I had anticipated: this “fashion of violence” has spread around the globe.

I’ll end this Blog with 1 John 2:16-17:

16. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

17. And the world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever.

~New American Standard Bible

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