Have you ever noticed how we seem as a culture to have no brakes on our mouths?
Not too many years ago, we debated issues and ideas. Now we slam anyone’s character when they don’t agree with everything we think is important. Instead of addressing the idea or topic, we think the only way to win an argument is to make the person we are talking about appear small or insignificant.
As a Christian, I have found myself in many debates and sometimes I realize I have gone off the proverbial rails by attacking the person rather than the ideas they are promoting. I learned when I was young that you have two major options in life when it comes to people criticizing you or the people you care about. One is to be silent so you don’t become the target, and in this way save your own skin, while the other is stand up and refute the argument, which means you become the focus of people’s anger and rage.
Now I don’t think you should engage in every controversial argument about small things, but I do think we need to speak out about the important things. Age and experience has a way of teaching you what you should stand for but, with the internet and texting, it seems any fool can start ranting about stupid things because there is no way to bet a bloody noise using these medium. An example of others being unfairly attacked is the recent attack on the looks of White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders. She was so mocked at the last Washington elites dinner filled with journalists and a so-called comedian. This dinner has become so destructive that they are talking about not doing them any more. Then there is a pastor I know who posted an open letter about Sarah by some bigoted “Christian” who was questioning her Christian faith because she works for the president. Like everyone only works for god fearing bosses and companies. Right! Truthfully, this makes me spitting mad. Talk about ideology or policy, not personal faith and looks!
Jesus had the same problem. People criticizing him as being an unfit rabbi because he had meals with tax collectors and “Sinners” of all things.
Mark 2:15-17
And it happened that He was reclining at the tablein his house, and many tax collectors and sinners were dining with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many of them, and they were following Him. When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that He was eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they said to His disciples, “Why is He eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners?” And hearing this, Jesus *said to them, “It isnot those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
So Jesus is being blamed for eating with broken people. Why would that be a surprise? As Christians, we are supposed to care for broken and lost people, aren’t we? If we ostracize or shun such people, do you think they will want to hang with us and get to know the one we say we follow? I think not. The pharisees were known for openly shunning people who did not honor them or embrace their concepts of religion, which is twisted.
Luke 6:32-36
“If you love those who love you, what credit is thatto you? For even sinners love those who love them. “If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is thatto you? For even sinners do the same. “If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is thatto you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount.“But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
As long as people were not trying to brag about how good they were, Jesus was kind and more than generous. Even his own disciple, towards the end of 3 years of ministry training, were still talking about who was the greatest leader amongst them, yet Jesus loved them and tried to reason with them. I find as a Christ follower I still have areas of brokenness in my life, how about you?
Matthew 26:3-5
Then the chief priests and the elders of the people were gathered together in the court of the high priest, named Caiaphas; and they plotted together to seize Jesus by stealth and kill Him. But they were saying, “Not during the festival, otherwise a riot might occur among the people.”
After reading the scripture all their lives, these Jewish leaders couldn’t see the hypocrisy in their own lives. When you let hate seep into your heart it blinds you to even the words of Jesus. I have witnessed many Christians, captivated by the world’s bigotry and hate, that don’t see it as a sign of their own brokenness, but as righteous anger. How stupid we can become even though we know a savior who is willing to forgive our sin and failures.
John 15:17-19
“This I command you, that you love one another.
“If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. “If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.
Loving people doesn’t mean condoning their sins, especially sins that wound and hurt others, but we need to follow the advice of Jesus about judging others.
Matthew 7:1-5
“Do not judge so that you will not be judged. “For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. “Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? “Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
Questions:
- Have you asked the Holy Spirit to search your heart for any judgmental attitude? He is ready to help.
- Have you criticized another believer for the purpose of making them small and yourself righteous? Let the Holy Spirit bring cleaning today.
May the Holy Spirit convict us all if we have wounded others with our words.
Pastor Dale
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