09 October 2022
Two-Minute Features | 16 October 2022 | 02 October 2022

Similar Christians Flocking Together, Part 1 (TMF:1960)

Friday, October 14, 2022
Peace to Live By: Similar Christians Flocking Together, Part 1 (TMF:1960) - Daniel Litton
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       Notice how James says, “have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts.” That’s two things we need to analyze here: “distinctions” and “judges with evil thoughts.” Yes, I think the less distinctions we see within the people at church the better. What I mean is, the less the cliques. It certainly is true, and should be admitted here, that birds of the same feather flock together. And this is particularly true in our American setup of church going. Since we have so many choices, since God even allows us to pick where we want to go to church, hence The Law of Liberty, then we often find ourselves around people who think in a similar way to the way we think. That’s okay, though. Let’s not get too literal about this. But we can see cliques within a single body of believers. Often these cliques can be based on positions within the church. Like, for instance, all the leaders may tend to hang out together. This can become problematic when the group develops a feeling of superiority or awesomeness about themselves wherein they feel the are best and brightest within the church.

Accepting Everyone in Church, Part 2 (TMF:1959)

Thursday, October 13, 2022
Peace to Live By: Accepting Everyone in Church, Part 2 (TMF:1959) - Daniel Litton
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       The overall point that I believe James is trying to make to us is that we, as Christians, particularly as individuals of our local church body, are family. Yes, we have our Lord Jesus Christ, but the beautiful thing is that we also have our family within our local church. And it doesn’t matter what our position is—whether we are rich or whether we are poor—we are part of the family. Yeah, we can judge based on superficial things. We can be like middle and high schoolers who care only about appearance. We can judge people based on what they wear and how they look. I think it’s funny that James here tells us not to judge a person by what they are wearing. Don’t judge a movie based on the picture on the Blu-Ray, or the poster hanging in the theater. Some of the best movies have the worst posters. That’s besides the point. Whether we look to be rich, or whether we look to be poor, whatever path of liberty we choose, our personal attitudes are to be acceptance. Notice how James says, “have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts.” That’s two things we need to analyze here.

Accepting Everyone in Church, Part 1 (TMF:1958)

Wednesday, October 12, 2022
Peace to Live By: Accepting Everyone in Church, Part 1 (TMF:1958) - Daniel Litton
(Tap or right-click link to download two-minute feature)

       “My brothers and sisters, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?” (James 2:1-7, ESV). The overall point that I believe James is trying to make to us is that we, as Christians, particularly as individuals of our local church body, are family. Yes, we have our Lord Jesus Christ, but the beautiful thing is that we also have our family within our local church.

Others Putting Us to Shame, Part 2 (TMF:1957)

Tuesday, October 11, 2022
Peace to Live By: Others Putting Us to Shame, Part 2 (TMF:1957) - Daniel Litton
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       It’s a sad day when people who don’t necessarily identify as Christian put to shame those of us who do. It’s sad for us when they are doing more, when they really are fulfilling James commandment here more than we are. Really, it comes down to this prayer: “God, save us from being self-righteous. Save us from those who say they do good. Save us from those who criticize the ones who are actually doing good. Help us to be like them.” Yes, I have actually prayed that God helped me to be like a person I know who has practiced sin, but actually showed more care for the needs of others than I had. Let us be careful, fellow Christ-followers. Let us be sure that our hearts are in the right place. Let us be the ones who’s religion is real, genuine, caring, and loving, and not the one’s who are among the worthless, the pretenders, the criticizers, and the wannabes. Let us be unstained from that which is in us, that evil lurking inside of us, which finds its origin, its happiness in the world. Let us actually be like Jesus.

Others Putting Us to Shame, Part 1 (TMF:1956)

Monday, October 10, 2022
Peace to Live By: Others Putting Us to Shame, Part 1 (TMF:1956) - Daniel Litton
(Tap or right-click link to download two-minute feature)

       All this gets really annoying. When I noticed those around me doing more than I am, I am not one to try to outdo them—though, perhaps I should. I actually admire what they are doing, no matter who they are. I assume people do these things out of right motive. I mean, why not? Why should I be assuming people have an ulterior motive? Who has been stained by the world? Them or me? We’re busy in the world, with our work, our families, our church activities. They’re busy helping the needy. We’re stained, captured, by the world. That’s our focus. It’s a sad day when people who don’t necessarily identify as Christian put to shame those of us who do. It’s sad for us when they are doing more, when they really are fulfilling James commandment here more than we are. Really, it comes down to this prayer: “God, save us from being self-righteous. Save us from those who say they do good. Save us from those who criticize the ones who are actually doing good. Help us to be like them.”