WEDNESDAY'S WORD - TRIANGULATION - Sadell Bradley - 09/29/21

 

WEDNESDAY'S WORD TRIANGULATION 9/29/2021 “There IS an answer to the exhaustive chaos of a triangulated dynamic. Excuse yourself from the triangle and refuse to play. It works every time." - Unknown Last week, one of my Seminary classmates was talking about TRIANGULATION—the technical definition is the formation of, or division into triangles. In psychology though, triangulation is a family theory term. If a two-person emotional system is unstable, when under stress it can form itself into a three person system. For example, dad is angry at mom, and their communication is strained. Instead of directly confronting mom about the problem, dad goes to his daughter to talk to her about mom. His daughter feels special because dad has confided in her. Triangulation can be used as a substitute for dad's direct communication with mom, as a way to get his daughter on his side, or to prompt his daughter to be the third-party messenger and carry what he's said to mom. The third party, in this case the daughter, has been 'triangulated' into the relationship. The daughter's duty was to refer her dad back to his wife. Triangulation is not limited to family spheres. This unhealthy pattern is seen in the workplace, with friends, and even in churches. Conversations that should be held directly between the conflicted parties become fodder (food) for what the Bible terms backbiting. "For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other." (Galatians 5:14-15) Triangulation or backbiting is talking about someone maliciously who is not present. Some triangulations may not go to the level of defamation or slander, but they all extend past the boundary of Jesus' instructions on how to handle conflict,“If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector." (Matthew 18:15-17, NLT) Jesus doesn't want us to form triangles. He wants us to form a CIRCLE around conflicting parties, speaking truth in loving ways so that relationships are not fractured, but restored.

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - ENMITY - Sadell Bradley- 9/22/2021

WEDNESDAY'S WORD ENMITY 9/22/2021 “I speak of peace, while covert enmity under the smile of safety wounds the world." - William Shakespeare ENMITY - is the state or feeling of being actively opposed or hostile to someone or something. We often use the word enemy to describe a person's negative posture toward us, but enmity - the term for their hostility and opposition, is not very familiar. Webster's definition of ENMITY is positive, active, and typically mutual hatred or ill will. That description goes well with the first mention of enmity in Genesis 3. The devil disguises himself as a serpent, deceives Eve, and she eats from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. She shares the fruit with Adam who eats as well, directly disobeying God's command and opening the portal of sin and judgment for all mankind. God declares judgment on them all. In verse 14, He curses the serpent to crawl on the ground in the dust forever. In verse 15 God says, "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” There will not be a mutual admiration society between Eve the mother of all living's seed and the devil's. Throughout all generations, there will be hostility and opposition—enmity. Satan thought he'd won the war against God and His new human creation, but it was only a skirmish. Genesis 3:15 is called the protoevangelium or 'first gospel' because it is the initial Messianic prophecy that points to the coming Savior. Jesus Christ won the victory over Satan, sin, and death at the Cross of Calvary. 1 John 3:8 says, "He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose, the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil." There's a war going on. Maybe in this season, you're experiencing spiritual warfare, oppression, or hostility. Revelation 12:12b explains one of the reasons why "Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.” The enemy has anger, fury, and rage because he only has a little time left until his end and ultimate destination, "The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever." Rev. 20:10 Despite the warfare you're currently experiencing, your end is victory! That's a great part of the Good News!  WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY BLESSED are the PEACEMAKERS TONIGHT 7:00 pm EST @warehouseOTR on Facebook or YouTube thewarehousechurch.org

 

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - ZERO-SUM - Sadell Bradley - 09/15/2021

 

WEDNESDAY'S WORD ZERO-SUM 9/15/2021 “Takers believe in a zero-sum world, and they end up creating one where bosses, colleagues and clients don't trust them. Givers build deeper and broader relationships - people are rooting for them instead of gunning for them.”― Adam Grant- American Author In prayer I was cautioned by the LORD to avoid zero-sum thinking. ZERO-SUM is a game-theory term used by people who study how games are played and won. ZERO-SUM is a situation in which whatever is gained by one side is lost by the other. If you get an advantage, I lose one, therefore the sum of the game is zero. This kind of thinking eliminates any possibility that we both could win and the sum be two or even more. As the graphic to the left shows; we talk about win/win propositions, but we generally act in win/lose ways, pitting ourselves against one another. If you win, that must automatically mean that I lose. So I can't celebrate when good things happen to you because I believe that in some way takes away from the possibility of something good happening for me. And when good things happen to me, I must hoard them to ensure you don't get a chance to share in my blessings. The Apostle Paul wrote, "Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep." (Rom 12:15) We are generally ok with the weeping part...misery loves company...but at times we find it difficult to be happy for the advancement of others—particularly in areas where we've failed, longed to excel, or where others might be further along than we are. It can be a bitter pill when 'their gain' emotionally equates to 'our loss.' This is real talk. Zero-sum thinking is at the root of all kinds of societal and relational divisions like racism, sexism, and classism. It causes sibling rivalry (if mom and dad love or give attention/affection to you, I can't get any). Zero-sum thinking brings envy, jealousy, comparison, and competition into marriages, workplaces, and even churches. It is black or white, and all or nothing. This perspective leaves no room for grey nuances or extenuating circumstances. It pits us against each other, causes all parties to lose, and shows we really do not love. Zero-sum thinking reveals a scarcity mentality and our God is all about abundance. When you've grown up with zero-sum, it's hard to transition to the truth that the LORD desires and has provided for all of the families of the earth to be blessed (Genesis 12:3). We are greedy— fighting over 'pieces of the pie' in everything from money to love. What if there is no pie? only a huge stratosphere of God's blessing available to all if we're willing to stop fighting over perceived slices. Whether in finances or forgiveness, the economy of the Kingdom is win/win and abundance, not lack. Givers understand Jesus' exhortation to, "Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” (Luke 6:38, NLT) What if God's blessings, His possibilities, and opportunities were as abundant as the air we breathe? We don't argue over whether or not someone close to us is taking a piece of our air! Maybe it's not the competitive environment. Maybe it's not the proliferation of churches in the City. Maybe it's not the advancements your spouse, child, friend, or neighbor is making that feel like your loss. Maybe the problem is your zero-sum thinking.  WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY BLESSED are the PURE of HEART TONIGHT 7:00 pm EST @warehouseOTR on Facebook or YouTube thewarehousechurch.org

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - DISSIMULATION - Sadell Bradley 9/8/2021

WEDNESDAY'S WORD DISSIMULATION 9/8/2021 “To dissimulate is to pretend not to have what one has. To simulate is to feign to have what one doesn't have.” ― Jean Baudrillard- French sociologist I am from Philadelphia, PA, which has been dubbed, "The City of Brotherly Love." In 2020, it was also the city with the 2nd highest murder rate. DISSIMULATION - doesn't just happen with cities. It happens with people. It means to conceal or disguise one's thoughts, feelings, or character. Dissimulation is pretense—an attempt to make something that is not the case appear true; a false display of feelings, attitudes, or intentions. Dissimulators invent imaginary situations or sometimes hold affected or ostentatious/showy speech or behavior—all for the purpose of cloaking or hiding what is truly going on. Dissimulation and love are incompatible. You pretend to have loved when you do not even possess it. Simulating love with a counterfeit substitute is not any better. Paul admonished the Church in Rome, "Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good." (Romans 12:9) The NLT renders that, Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. Other translations say, Love must be free of hypocrisy. (NASB), Love must be sincere. (NIV), Let love be genuine. (ESV) and, "Let the inner movement of your heart always be to love one another and never play the role of an actor wearing a mask. Despise evil and embrace everything that is good and virtuous. (TPT) The world has many opinions on hypocrisy in the Church—especially in its leaders. Certainly, scandals happen...but I'm not sure folks ever consider the shedload of dissimulation and pretense, or the amount of academy award-winning acting that pastors and leaders see on a day-to-day basis. We hear and confront all kinds of tales. Sometimes we smile and nod when we know folks aren't ready to reveal the truth. King Solomon said there is nothing new under the sun. That's why Paul taught the Church at Ephesus thousands of years ago that truth-telling is a key ingredient to establishing and maintaining a healthy Christ-following community. "Therefore, rejecting all falsehood [whether lying, defrauding, telling half-truths, spreading rumors, any such as these], SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are all parts of one another [and we are all parts of the body of Christ]. (Ephesians 4:25, AMP) The Church was designed by the LORD to be a place where hiding and concealing are replaced with confessing, speaking, and receiving the truth in love. It's supposed to be a place where we can be honest, grow, and heal. Maybe for that to happen, it's time for us to stop faking the funk.  WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY BLESSED are those Who Hunger & Thirst for Righteousness TONIGHT 7:00 pm EST @warehouseOTR on Facebook or YouTube thewarehousechurch.org

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - TOGETHER- Sadell Bradley -09/01/2021

 

WEDNESDAY'S WORD TOGETHER 9/1/2021 “Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.” - Edward Everett Hale- Clergyman TOGETHER is a word that brings with it warm feelings. As an introverted only child, I am very familiar with expressing myself in our individualistic society. Being African-American and a part of the Church has helped me better understand the value of togetherness. TOGETHER means with or in proximity to others; in companionship or close association; so as to be united or in agreement. When we say, "She is a very together young woman," it means self-confident, level headed, or well organized. That's a lot of power packed into a single word! In Isaiah 1, the prophet details the consequences of Judah's rebellion against the Lord. The land was desolate. The cities were under siege. The courts did not render justice, and Israel's prayers and offerings were of no effect because their hands were covered with blood, so God would not hear them. The LORD commands them in verses 16-17,"Wash and cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil! Learn to do right; seek justice and correct the oppressor. Defend the fatherless and plead the case of the widow.” Then the LORD entreats them, “Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD.“Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will become like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best of the land. But if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” (18-20) God knows difficult matters that yield calamitous repercussions cannot be settled unless we first come together. The CEV says it this way, "I the LORD, invite you to come talk it over." This time last year we were in the throes of the pandemic and in a struggle on race relations. The Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd killings, etc. were at the top of the news cycle and tensions were high. Protests were held across the US and around the world. Folks from every country witnessed the fallout of America's great historical sins: slavery, Jim Crow segregation, inequities like redlining and mass incarceration, our prejudices and implicit biases. Our Country still is divided, but last year we saw something new and beautiful. We saw people across ethnic lines, ages, socio-economic statuses, and languages come together to state explicitly that this racism, discrimination, and oppression of the poor are wrong and we don't want our world to be this way anymore. We also don't want the Church to be this way— even though it is 10X more segregated than our schools and the neighborhoods in which we live. So, at The Warehouse Church, OTR this Sunday, we've decided to Come Together again across all those lines to celebrate and reason together., We invite you to join us. Helen Keller once said, "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much."  WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY BLESSED are the MEEK TONIGHT 7:00 pm EST @warehouseOTR on Facebook or YouTube thewarehousechurch.org