If I said I need to decrease, it may be decreasing my drinking, my eating of junk food, or my weight. Those last two may be related.
But, I would not make this my goal and then say another person needs to increase their drinking, their habit of eating junk food, or their weight.
Of course, if the other person is skinny ...it may be conceivable for a person to want to increase their weight in the form of muscle. But, I would not personally say such a thing. I believe every person's worth is of a high value ...and that the majority of what should be emphasized is what is in their heart, and hopefully they also look to Him who is worthy. And often going beyond that focus tends to lead to unhealthy perspectives.
And speaking of that ...yes, I had in mind the statement John the Baptist made in reference to Jesus.
John the Baptist was setting the stage per se for the announcement of Jesus.
When you go to a concert, usually the main attraction has someone opening for them. Some sporting events announce the players before a game. And when someone is a public speaker, they usually have someone else say a few words before introducing the main speaker.
I personally believe Jesus should be the main speaker in everyone's life ...and though I've never attended an event where Jesus was going to speak, that did happen for many people over two thousand years ago. And much of what He said is written down for us to read what He said ...if we desire to read the Bible.
Jesus also wanted a very important increase for each and every one of us ...to increase the number of people that would be with Him in Heaven.
Yet, there is something that does concern me.
Yes, I am so happy that so many people and organizations promote the very truth of the love of God. And I am speaking of the Bible's description of God. In short (and I am rarely short with my explanations), I believe that morality and goodness are not subjective. I believe that good and evil do exist, and that good is 'supreme' ...and love exists as furthering of goodness. That being said, I also believe love would want us to know what love is ...as love cannot contain itself, and would in fact reveal to us that love.
So, I believe God reveals to us His love ...and with that belief, I felt certain that the truth of that was not hidden ...it could be easily found so it could be known. And I find that in the Bible.
Back to the concerning part ...as God's love increases, I believe our desire to want to share that truth would also increase. And we would have a common goal with that in mind.
Yet, I often see faith groups dividing, instead of uniting. And I do hear them talk of uniting, but they differ on how they view that desired unity.
So many faith groups say they believe in Jesus ...and that is great. Yet, if they feel they have the best way to do that, and worse yet, if they speak their own conceived authority ...well, it just tends to acknowledge equal status with their belief in Jesus, yet there is this implied sense that they are doing it the right way, or better than others. And oftentimes it is not just felt, but clearly stated.
They may say they are doing things right, yet it seems they are unifying the belief in Jesus, but believing the best way is to unite under their own banner.
When this is done, if seems their own faith groups is 'increasing' their view of correctness ---and it seems to focus too much on that perceived correctness, and it really does seem to take away from the beauty of the simplicity of truth ---saying and believing that Jesus died to make it possible that we can have eternal life, with Him.
The discussion among the apostles as to who would be able to sit on the right of Jesus and who could sit on the left ---is something Jesus did not encourage, yet we seem to establish our own claims of it here on earth ---providing our own rank as being more correct.
I'd like this to become a discussion ...yet, it would take much work, and I am not convinced there would be 'ready' commitment or cooperation.
(check out my blog about 'Salvation'.)
