Dream Haters: Belligerent Brothers

If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God. Whom he has not seen.

1 John 4:20 (ESV)

Belligerence begets combativeness: a readiness or eagerness to fight– to harm physically (or more commonly) through sharp, cutting words. Belligerent people are “dream haters.”

The counter to belligerence is peace: 'Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God' (Matthew 5:9). Peaceful people might be called “dream lovers.”

In both Testaments, EMPHATICALLY, God tells us to 'Seek peace and pursue it' (Psalm 34:14, 1 Peter 3:11). 

Consider the last Prayer of Jesus: Therein, 'The Prince of peace' (Isaiah 9:6), 'The Lord of peace' (2 Thessalonians 3:16), pleaded for unity between brethren:

'That they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me' (John 17:21).

Is Jesus saying…

  • When CHRISTians treat each other hatefully… the people watching won't believe in CHRIST? YES! (We’re misrepresenting the God of love!)

  • When outsiders seek hope, love, and purpose… who wants to join belligerent brothers? NOBODY! (At least nobody with good intentions.)

Actors, models, and talent for Christ: 

Jesus denounced dream-hating naysayers with the contingency of damnation: 'Whoever says, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell' (Matthew 5:22).

Hellfire? Just for calling someone a fool? 

'The temper condemned is that in which anger has so far gained the mastery that we no longer recognize a 'brother' in the man who has offended us, but look on him with malignant scorn' (Ellicott's Bible Commentary on Matthew 5:22).*

Scorn is a serious offense to God.

Actors, models, and talent for Christ:

You’ve seen the hate. It’s not “new” news to you. Most likely, you've already faced Christians who labeled you and/or your dreams… FOOLISH! If you have, consider four reminders:

  1. Pray for all your belligerent brothers.

  2. Love them anyway. Don’t scorn the scornful.

  3. Be patient with them, as God is with you.

  4. Don't let angry kin rain on your parade.

  5. Rise, shine, and follow God’s call… anyway.

Dream Haters: Belligerent Brothers (Part 13)

* http://biblehub.com/commentaries/matthew/5-22.htm

NOTE: God is my Ghostwriter. If what I write is good, it’s from God. You may see notes to 'Actors, Models & Talent for Christ.' If you think you're not in show business, think again. Shakespeare said, 'All the world's a stage and all its men and women merely players.’ Mostly true. But you're not merely players. You are messengers and ambassadors for the King of kings.

Carey Arban