Quote:
Originally Posted by ZNPaaneah
The way to react to seeing the merciless judgments and abuse in the LRC or anywhere is with mercy.
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If you ever go on a farmer's property, likely the "house dog" comes out in an antagonistic posture, attempting to warn his owner with loud barks, and signalling you to stay away via raised hackles, bared teeth, growling, and an "attack posture". I always found that the most successful strategy was to show no fear, but to continually say, "Nice doggie", etc.
The dog was saying, in effect, "You are alien; you are enemy, and I will not receive you", and I was signalling, "You are friend, you are nice doggie, and even if you growl I will receive you." In almost every case, mercy would triumph using this strategy. Peace would conquer antagonism.
The word "dominion" is much underappreciated, I think. When we see "Have dominion over the earth and subdue it", we think of bulldozers and strip mines and parking lots. But when you go back to the "Alpha male" posturing scenario with the farmer's dog, maybe dominion is when you show unrelenting tranquility and love. You are saying, "In spite of everything you may try to do to me, I still have enough power to love you". This is, I believe, the power of Christ, and the foundation of His kingdom. In spite of the grief, and the wounds we caused Him to suffer, He still loved us so much that eventually we were subdued. The power of His peace overcame our strife. I love that Jerusalem can mean "foundation of peace".