“But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. 19 How strange a body would be if it had only one part! 20 Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. 21 The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you.'” 1 Corinthians 12:18-21
My personality is not soft and gentle — as good Christian woman should be according to so many in our culture. I grew up with a mentally retarded brother and I was his warrior. You messed with my brother? You messed with me.
I was taught to fight for the person who cannot. I grew up hearing my mom talk to countless doctors and organizations that didn’t want to do their jobs. She got them to do their jobs. And I learned.
It’s not more Christian to watch abuse take place just to avoid conflict. Sometimes, conflict needs to happen so that those who are acting unrighteously have the opportunity to correct themselves and repent. I truly wish I wasn’t that person who has the ability to confront, but I am. When I see an unfairness, I want people to make it right.
I was raised Catholic. We were taught the fire and brimstone version of God. He sees everything — and even scarier? He sees your motives. So even if you’re doing something right for the wrong reasons, you’ll answer for that. God is constantly working on our hearts because he wants us to come to Him with the purity of a child. The only way to make that happen is to be honest about ourselves and our sins.
For many years, I tried to be the good Christian wife who crafted and made casseroles. I did a fine job at it, but that is not who God created me to be. I couldn’t sit by and allow people to use their Christianity to do evil. It hurts the cause of Christ.
There’s a quote falsely attributed to Winston Churchill. Apparently, it was novelist Victor Hugo who first stated this concept, but it resonates with me.
“You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life. -Winston Churchill?
False peace is not from God. Sometimes, we are called to confront. It’s not fun, it’s not easy and if it’s not your personality…lucky you. Some of us are more prickly than the next guy.
Christians Read 
Unfortunately, or I fortunately, I too have been known to be the mouth. I come by it honestly, my mom is the mouth as well. But, as you said sometimes someone has to stand up for others. That characteristic helped when I became a homeschool mom long before it was popular.
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Nothing will turn on that characteristic faster than being a mama bear. Good for you for homeschooling before it was popular!
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I wish I’d had you to fight my battle today, Kris. Now I have to revisit that battle and face it another day.
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Move on down here, I’ll tell that pharmacist a thing or two. : )
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Wish I’d had you with me to fight that particular battle. When a town only has two pharmacies within 100 miles, you can’t make waves.
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Such an encouraging piece. I am the mouth, hands and feet at times. Expanding God’s Kingdom in a counter culture is NEVER EASY but James 1:27 and Matthew Chapter 5, are my teachers. Be blessed!
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I love that you’re so young and know your purpose and who you are in Christ. That’s wonderful!
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He is my life!
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When Christians attempt to shame using kindness above all I remind myself that Jesus braided a whip (a time-consuming task, suggesting serious control) and used it to drive the money changers out of the temple and turned over tables. He is also the one who said that those who offend His little ones will wish they’d had a millstone hung about their neck and they’d been thrown into the depths of the sea. Jesus is not milquetoast but a lion. God taught you lessons from a young age. Glad you’re still using them. 🙂
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When I was in Italy, I took a picture of a millstone from the Etruscan era. It was enormous and it really spoke to me about what that verse truly means. I’ve seen the church heap on abuse and help an abuser in the name of kindness. It changed my faith immensely and that makes me sad, but also determined to tell people the truth. That God will not be mocked by such “believers.”
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Sadly, it doesn’t help the abuser at all and heaps on abuse on the victim. Not many are willing to acknowledge that God will not be mocked, even though He’s made that clear. Keep fighting the good fight.
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I am not good at a being the mouth. I shy away from speaking up at all. But it’s necessary sometimes. So I am trying to learn to be braver. Thanks for this great post!
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It may not be your gifting and that’s okay! Embrace who God made you to be. That’s all I meant in this post. Trying to be a mousy, craft-loving homemaker is what I was striving for, but it did not utilize my gifts at all.
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So true! We do sometimes try to be what others expect of us or what we think is “right.” But we do need to embrace who God made us to be. ❤️
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Proverbs 14:26
[26]In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.
You have strong confidence, and because of you, your brother had refuge.
You are a good daughter of our Heavenly Father.
Signed
http://www.welovetheoldestparents.com
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