Recommendations and accusations are both verbal assessments of something. One is positive and the other is negative. One comes from a sense of 'above and beyond'-ness and the other transgressed a person's sensibilities in such a way that they feel they need to say something in order to balance the scales.
How do we deal with recommendation and accusations?
We can ignore them but that sends a message. People pay attention to those they respect and ignoring something a person says implies a lack of respect for that person (or group).
If we don't ignore the assessment then we have to process it in some way and there are several ways to do that.
"But the serpent said to the woman, 'You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.' So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate." - Genesis 3:4-6 ESV
In one statement 'the serpent' accused God and recommended the fruit of the forbidden tree. Eve was totally unprepared for an accusation. It is the first one ever recorded.She was also unprepared to ignore anything someone said because she never had a reason to do that either.
Accusations have barbs. They trigger a 'knowledge of God and Evil' response.
People must know what God says on a subject. He must become the overriding voice in order for our minds to be whole. Then we can say, 'God said' and ignore without disrespect while at the same time we can recommend from a sound point of view.
If God is better than both of us we can still say, 'You and I are equals.'
That is why the attack on the Bible is so forceful. If people can invalidate that Book truth is up for grabs and no one can ever be equal. Emotionalism or intellectualism will always provide other strong winds of doctrine that blow people off course.
"And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified." - Acts 20:32 ESV
Grace is truly amazing. If we live in it we can 'recommend it' and what we are saying is valid. Grace is only found in God and only communicated by His words. Grace is truly amazing. If we live in it we can 'recommend it' and what we are saying is valid.
"The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost." - 1 Timothy 1:15 ESV
Wow. The Apostle said this and the people who heard it knew it was true. In his former life he hunted Christians. Most speakers list some credentials so that their recommendations (or accusations) will be received. Paul's terrible past was his recommendation. Amazing. Paul is basically saying, 'You shouldn't respect me but I am not recommending myself. I am revealing God's power to save.'
We are surrounded by ideas and groups that say, 'If you don't hear us it is disrespectful.' and they are right... to a degree. If we ignore God it is also disrespectful to Him but He gives 'grace words' and no one else has those.
"Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!" - Psalm 34:8 ESV
"Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool." - Isaiah 1:18 ESV
Accusations may have sunk down deep if our soul but God can take the 'red' and make us 'white as now'. Will we trust His recommendation?
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