Are we able to see things in truth or do we deny truth to be able to feel good?
The cultural Christianity of our nation focuses on food, clothing and pleasure far more than they enjoy the things of the Lord. We know this by what they talk about far more than anything else.
There are many people in our culture who have been trained by the culture to ignore the "negative" to embrace the "positive" to "feel" good.
Sadly ignoring the truth about things only serves to feed and grow the negative. The more we seek solutions for those things which are broken the more we can grow in holiness as well as improve our walk.
Edmond Burke said: "“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil was that good men should do nothing.”
The same is true of negativity, when we ignore the bad to embrace only what we like, the evil will grow because it is not being attended to as it should be.
If we care about people we spend more time focused on the things that need fixing than we do on the things that are done right. After all, the right things don't need fixing.
Some might call it encouragement to continually praise others for their good deeds. This makes me sad because praise does nothing more than build pride. That's not to say that we never thank someone for their kindness or acknowledge their efforts in something.
Encouragement is far more valuable than praise. Praise builds pride but encouragement brings confidence.
An example of encouragement might be to express a desire for someone to take a look at themselves. Self reflection helps us grow and improve. Encouragement might be a word of help to keep going the way you are going, it might be a word of correction to take another path. Encouragement is not praise.
Praise elevates the ego and diminishes the conscience.
Thanking someone is good, expressing appreciation is encouragement. Asking for clarification about something is encouragement to cause critical thinking, this brings rational evaluation of matters.
Encouragement says "keep going your on the right path" or "change direction." Encouragement helps us stay focused on Christ.
Praise says: "you're a good person" or "you are already wonderful", it focuses on building pride. Praise is focused on the natural man doing well and less on Christ.
Isaiah 41:10
10 ‘Do not fear, for I am with you;
Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,
Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
Psalm 118:14-16
"14 The Lord is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation.
15 The sound of joyful shouting and salvation is in the tents of the righteous;
The right hand of the Lord does valiantly.
16 The right hand of the Lord is exalted;
The right hand of the Lord does valiantly."
2 Timothy 1:7
"7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline."
Those who are confident in the Lord need no praise from man. Our strength comes from Christ and from knowing truth. Those who depend on praise will fail miserably. Those who depend on people will be continually changing their stance to accommodate people they wish to impress.
Those who depend on Christ will continually be moving forward to change and grow.
Colossians 3:15
"15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful."
Psalm 27:1
"27 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the defense of my life;
Whom shall I dread?"
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