I was reading through today’s reading from a devotional help on family worship and was reminded once again of the brokenness of our present culture. I am talking about the injurious nature of discussion and comments about others, particularly about other Christians.
I must confess to being an emotional person. I sometimes speak in superlatives, and sometimes overstate my case. I know I am prone to sin with my mouth as well. My wife is really good at pointing those sins out. Her discernment in that area is a work of grace in my life. What I am really concerned with though, more than the spontaneous fruit of angry lips, though that is not unimportant, is the condition of the heart that persists in this sin.
Is what comes off our lips the result of a momentary lapse into the flesh, or of something more nefarious, something more indicative of walking in the flesh?
The feelings of our hearts can be liabilities. Jesus said so in Matthew 5:21-26. Anger leads first to personal insults, then to personal attacks. Jesus doesn’t just condemn the physical act of murder, but goes back to the root of the problem, the angry heart. Jesus points out that these “crimes of the heart” are just as hell-deserving as the physical act of murder. How many murders have you committed this week? How many times have you been “murdered” this week?
As a Pastor, I have been a frequent “murder” victim. As a public personality, and a public speaker, my every move and word is subject to being misunderstood, to being misrepresented, to being twisted and distorted, and turned against me. In the midst of a personal hunger for righteousness, I have been accused of not being a Christian, and even of doing Satan’s work. While I am very aware I do misspeak at times, since I speak publicly at least 150 times a year and review the recordings of all my sermons, most of the aforementioned situations come about because a person already has personal issues with me. So-called Christians, in their continued complaints, insults and character attacks reveal a desire for harm to come to me, though they may not realize it.
I know I am not the only one who experiences this. I see it on Twitter and Facebook. I see it on the news and in magazines and articles. It seems very rare nowadays for people to discuss and disagree on issues without resulting to murder, in the spiritual sense. What’s even more rare is for people to stand up for “victims” of acrimony.
As a Pastor, I am informed many times of people’s personal feelings about me by someone intending to be helpful. But, few of those people actually say to the complainer, “For you to feel that way is wrong.” Our society, by and large, has lost the backbone to stand up for righteousness. We can’t seem to disagree on issues, preferences, or even football teams without making it personal. Making it personal leads us to hate or despise those who disagree with us. In doing so, we have left the Christian walk and drifted right into the world’s system. We glorify the god of this age, rather than the King of Glory.
Brothers and sisters, hear Jesus’ words. You can’t hate another and still love God. Realize our natural tendency to hate those who disagree with us, but do not succumb to the natural tendencies, yield to the Spirit. Come to terms quickly with your sin and repent of it. Put away the hate, the acrimony, the personal attacks and make peace in the family of God. If you can’t do that, perhaps you are not in the family.
Remember, wishing ill upon another person is a liability, the payment is “the hell of fire.” – Matthew 5:22
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God. – Matthew 5:9
Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. – Matthew 5:20
Peace through Christ.
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