Raising Hell

Given March 3, 2006
We’ve seen this term, and others like it; raising a ruckus, raising cain, raising the roof, and probably used them from time to time. They all mean we’re complaining, arguing, in conflict with or something of that nature. The Bible says, “A hot-tempered man stirs up conflict, but a man slow to anger calms strife.” Proverbs 15:18

One of my boys got a big disappointment recently from somewhere he’d applied to and his first inclination, as was mine, was to retaliate. We wanted to let them know how we felt! And how wrong they were! But, in his youthful wisdon, after thinking about it, he said this, “When you raise hell, you only bring up fire and misery.”

I thought that was a very true assessment. As Christians, we’re supposed to do our best to be at peace with everyone, to turn the other cheek, to forgive. Our flesh wants to retialiate and fight back but that usually only does what he said, brings up bad things and makes the situation worse. His reply to these people was goinig to be more Christlike, and that makes me proud of him. Way to go JD.