By Judith Niewiadomski
The loud and ungodly throwdown at Beczak reveals the critical need for wisdom and virtue in our city. No one was blessed nor benefitted by this degrading and troubling altercation. Sadly, it brought more strife and confusion not only to the perpetrators and their audience, but to people who weren’t even there. How did we descend to where grown women are so degraded and one their worst moments has been broadly displayed and is now a permanent matter of public record?
God is omniscient; He knows the human heart and mind, and the long term results of our words and actions. And He did not leave us to flounder through life tossed about and deceived by every devilish doctrine or opinion. He did not form, make, and create us to be slaves to emotions. His Word shows us both the causes of evil and how to overcome it. 2 Peter 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:” (2 Peter 1:3) Let’s rise up to virtue and shine the light.
Jesus Christ said there are two essential choices in life: “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. The thief “ (John 10:10) Every individual gets to choose between the two every day. Sitting in a church or synagogue is good thing, but not enough. Personal studying and applying God’s Word in daily situations makes the difference between being a victim of circumstances and driven by every wind of ideology, emotion, and deceptive tribalism or being something higher: an ambassador for Christ and having God’s guidance for how to be more than a conquerors in all situations (Romans 8) . Here’s a look at how things blow up, and how to act to prevent, mitigate, and overcome them.
“For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God “ (James 1:16-20) Was this not just demonstrated for all to see? Learning and living by God’s wisdom would have prevented this altercation—and does for many people. We need to expect more. Our public behavior needs to be an exemplar of the best a man or woman can be.
How can this be practically applied? Control your thinking and keep your mouth shut unless you have something edifying to say. That requires thought, effort and study to rise up to God’s standard. I didn’t write the book. It isn’t “just” my opinion; it is God’s. “Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.” (James 3:5,6) Want a good result? ” Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning….Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. (James 1:17, 19, 20)
Want better political candidates? Want to restore, in action and reality, public service? Start
with reading the book of Proverbs every day. Proverbs was God-given to teach young people and to teach leaders how to have self-control, wisdom, judgement, and understanding the qualities of a public servant. Here is the stated purpose of Proverbs: “To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; To give subtilty (discretion and prudence) to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: “ (Proverbs 1;2-5) Equity does not mean the contemporary marxist lie of taking someone else’s property and giving it to someone who didn’t earn it, that is superficial and carnal and ultimately, an ungodly bribe. Equity biblically incorporates the qualities of concord, rectitude, things that are right and sweet. Shouldn’t this be mandated reading for everyone in pubic office? An entire chapter is devoted to the characteristics of the virtuous woman. “She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.” (Proverbs 31:26 )
Who do you want to be? Someone whose words are a weapon of destruction and cause contention or someone whose words of wisdom heal? Every day, every place, there is a need for those whose words of wisdom will heal and that is far more valuable than any government office.
Examine your heart. What is your motivation for saying what you are about to say, doing what you are about to do? Is it love? Is it service? Is it pride and ego? Pride is what took Lucifer from being an angel of light, second in command to GOD, and cast down as the adversary, the accuser, the thief whose objectives are to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10) Control your thinking. Blowups don’t come out of nowhere but out of a pattern of wrong thinking that is not brought to the Word and corrected.
We can have better; we can be better. We need public servants in all public jobs, not people who want an easy living and who can vote themselves raises but people whose motives are to be true servants. So read Proverbs every day, better yet, several times a day.
And to the ladies involved: your worst was displayed for people all over the country to see. You should be ashamed, but that shame should bring humility, repentance and a heartfelt effort to make things right. Work on reconciliation, make a plan to change your thinking, apologize to each other, agree to live and work by a higher standard of civility, service and kindness. This is more important than getting elected. Repair the damage. Then call a press conference and be an example of how to resolve conflict and reconcile–as an opportunity to teach and show repentance and HOW you are acting to henceforth live by the highest standards. That would be worthy of respect. That would be real leadership. That would inspire other people to do better. We, the people deserve this from you. What you want to deserve, give. God has promised that what you sow you shall also reap.
Want to be real women, virtuous women? Take the lead in changing politics from (literally) a blood sport to public service in the manner of Jesus Christ. “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.” (Isaiah 53:7) What could you have achieved had you walked in love and wisdom. The only things you can always control, the only
things you have a right and a duty to control are you own thoughts, words, and actions. Thoughts lead to words lead to actions.
Do it. Do it publicly. Build your thinking and self control so that you can treat each other like loving sisters. Do it and you may start a roll of restoration that will change both the city and the county.
Resources:
The Companion Bible E.W.Bulllinger
The Lifestyle of a Believer – Victor Paul Wierwille
Judith Niewiadomski, Yonkers