Friendly Fire

by Brian Manning

A few years ago America experienced a time of war on the foreign soils of Saudi Arabia. During this time we went through periods of patriotism, times when we were proud, and times when we were afraid. After the war was over they began to investigate how our soldiers were killed. It turned out that many U.S. soldiers were killed by this thing we call "friendly fire." That is where we literally killed our own soldiers, whether it was by mechanical failure or some sort of human error, but our men died when they really shouldn't have. They would not have been killed by the enemy, but lost their lives to this thing called "friendly fire."
The book of Nehemiah talks about the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem. When the enemies saw these walls, the idea they had to bring them down was impressive. Instead of charging from the outside they planned to destroy the walls from within. That's how Satan is! The danger of the church being destroyed isn't from without! We don't have beer stores coming in trying to shut Mt. Juliet down! Why? I believe if something like that tried to happen it would just motivate us to fight back. So it makes sense if you are going to bring down the church that you do it from within!
James 3 talks about the tongue being a dangerous weapon. We as people like to complain, we will complain about anything. No matter what situation you are in someone will complain. I hope we at Mt. Juliet Church of Christ will not kill each other with our griping and complaining. May no one leave here because of our complaining. We have people in the church being killed this type of "friendly fire" everyday, and they will not forgive us. When we rip them or their children we do the very thing we set out not to do. James also talks about the tongue being like a bit in a horse's mouth. The purpose of a bit is to keep control and direct. The tongue doesn't have to be a destructive weapon. If we use it in the right way it can be a mighty tool for God. I encourage you to use your tongue in such a way that will lift others up and glorifY God. May no at Mt. Juliet lose their soul because of our "friendly fire."

In Christian Love,

Brian

• Say AAAHHH! -Apr 29, 2007
• Wars, a Result of Worldliness -Feb 04, 2007
• On Being a Soldier -Jun 05, 2005
• The Power of Words - The Negative Side -Sep 07, 2003
• Thoughts on about the War on Terrorism - Is It Right? -Mar 23, 2003