Hey Matt,
You are going great today!!
You wrote:
I have felt that way for so long that I honestly can't remember NOT feeling that way! I can't be friends with this world system. I can accept it because God's will prevails, therefore the world system is what it is because of God. However I don't have to like it! I don't have to watch the news and say, "Oh well, all is good," when I know full well it's not. I don't have to meet people who are spiritually, disgustingly degraded and think we'll have something in common.This is something that I have yet to learn how we are to
feel emotionally towards the world. The word "feel" does not get used much in the Scriptures.
Of course as you have posted already (several times today)
Mat 5:44
But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,Love them, but not what they do. But how does one turn off their emotions without becomming indifferent?
The good Samaritan was not indifferent, while the priests walked on by, indifferently.
I think Christ parable on this subject is worth more study
Luk 10:30
And Jesus answering said, A certain [man] went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded [him], and departed, leaving [him] half dead. Luk 10:31
And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Luk 10:32
And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked [on him], and passed by on the other side. Luk 10:33
But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion [on him], Luk 10:34
And went to [him], and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. Luk 10:35
And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave [them] to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Luk 10:36
Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? There is always a deeper meaning than the obvious (duh)
But let's first look at the key points. The Samaritan was neither a "religious leader" or a "lay person" (Levite) but was a foreigner, halfbreeds of whom the jews looked upon with disdain.
Who is the Spiritual Samaritan? Is it not us, the ones who are hated most by the church? With this thought in mind, we dare not become indifferent to the world, for who are we if we do? Would we not be the same as pious priests, indifferent and self-rightous? I think so.
So inlight of all this, I think we should pay pretty close attention to the world around us, and never be afraid to step in and lend a hand to whoever needs it. Indifference does not appear to be an option.
What do you think?
Many thanks in Christ,
Darren