Christianity is not rooted in self-help; it is rooted in grace through faith. It isn't a matter of "We're good enough." It begins with "dead in sin." Sin is the fundamental problem Jesus came to solve and "born again" by believing in the Son is the required solution.
In this, then, we find some basic guidelines that, I think, are often missed. Grace is key, but sin is a problem -- a fatal one. Ignoring that makes zero sense. On the other hand, we are all sinners, so self-righteousness is also nonsense. Why is it, then, that we are accused of being unkind and judgmental? Part of that is, of course, due to the fact that no one likes having their sin pointed out. Part of it is our own failure to love rather than condemn.
I would like to suggest that if you have not mourned over sin, you might not want to address it in others. If you haven't taken into account the logs in your own eye, addressing the splinters in others is not wise. If your motivation is not first a love for God and a love for others, pointing out sin is perhaps not a good idea. If we despise sin in others but embrace it in ourselves, we are the height of hypocrisy. The answer is not to ignore sin in others. The answer is to pray and repent of our own sin and then love others. When we are among the most self-righteous, we do not well.
7 comments:
If I ever get rich; I hope I am not mean to poor people, like I am now..
it would be great to go to church if it wasn't for all those Hippocrates inside.
I love God but i hate all those sinners. why cant they be more like me?
Minor quibble, with which you might even agree.
It doesn’t begin with dead in sin, it begins with “God created man in His own image”, then moved to dead in sin.
I probably wouldn’t have thought of this had I not just read something about how, like Paul when talking to secular culture, it’s probably better to start with creation.
Again, it’s really minor. If it’s too nitpicking don’t post.
The text I had in mind was Eph 2:1. That is preceded by Christ above all "and you were dead in your sins." I'm the post I merely meant we start with "I'm ok" while Scripture considers all of as "not okay" without Christ.
And, Bob, I can only aspire to be as good as you.😁
Again, it's a minor quibble. I agree with your post.
Something I thought of that I can't believe I never saw before. We are warned to take care of the log in our eye before pointing out the splinter in another. What about the other way around? I've never heard a sermon about what the person with the splinter in their eye can or should say to the person with the log.
Yes, Craig, I saw it was minor.
David, since we never get beyond "splinter," if we, at all, address "logs" in others, we would do so the way Christ said. "Take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye." (Matt 7:5). Or like Paul said. "Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." (Gal 6:1-2)
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