Excerpts from Jessica Murry (Craft to Christ) dated September 12
"One of the biggest dangers during family conflict is allowing hurt to multiply. One person says something. Another person tells somebody else. People start choosing sides. Old grievances get dragged back out. Suddenly everybody is responding to everybody else’s version of events rather than actually speaking to one another.
And this is exactly where we need wisdom.
You don’t have to participate in every argument. You don’t have to defend yourself against every accusation. You don’t have to retaliate because somebody has hurt you. And forgiveness doesn’t mean pretending harmful behaviour is acceptable or allowing someone unlimited access to you."
"We know Jesus tells us to love people, forgive people, pray for our enemies and show grace. But that somehow gets turned into “you have to keep everyone in your life.”
You really don't.
Jesus actually warned us about people. He told us to pay attention to behaviour, to recognise bad fruit and to be careful who we listen to.
Matthew 7:15–20 warns us about false prophets who look like sheep but are actually wolves. Jesus says we will know them by their fruit.
Matthew 10:14 tells us that when people refuse to receive or listen, sometimes you shake the dust off your feet and carry on.
Matthew 18:15–17 talks about confronting someone who has wronged you. If they refuse to listen, even after others have tried to help resolve it, eventually the relationship has to change.
Matthew 23:2–3 warns about people who say all the right things but don't actually live by them.
Mark 12:38–40 warns about religious people who look impressive on the outside but exploit people behind the scenes.
Matthew 16:6 and 11–12 warns us to be careful about false teaching.
Matthew 7:6 teaches us not to keep giving something precious to people who are just going to trample all over it.
Matthew 24:4–5 warns us not to let people deceive us, even when they're using the name of Jesus.
And Luke 12:1 warns us about hypocrisy."
"There is a difference between someone making a mistake and someone showing you a consistent pattern.
There is a difference between someone struggling and someone refusing accountability.
There is a difference between forgiving somebody and trusting them.
You can forgive someone and still decide that you don't want the same relationship with them anymore.
You can pray for someone and not speak to them every day.
You can love somebody and have boundaries.
You can want the absolute best for somebody while recognising that having them close to you isn't healthy.
Jesus was loving, but He wasn't naive.
Sometimes the most Christian thing you can do is forgive, stop fighting, stop explaining yourself, shake the dust off your feet and carry on with your life.
No hatred. No revenge. No bitterness…
Just wisdom, boundaries and peace!
Original post here: https://crafttochrist.substack.com/p/who-does-jesus-tell-us-to-stay-away?r=12g2di&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web
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