When people develop their own standard of religion and morality, they inevitably judge by their own standards. The scribes and Pharisees had done just that. Over time they gradually modified God's Word to fit their own way of life. By the time Jesus came on the scene, their traditions had taken such a hold on Judaism that it replaced Scripture. Jesus exposed their hypocrisy by pointing to a higher standard for judging. He uses the present imperative in verse 1, "stop at once judging." That word "to judge" means "to separate, choose, select, or distinguish." In John 17:24, Jesus warns, "stop judging by mere appearance; judge righteous judgment."
What was He trying to teach us? Simply that we don't know a person's motives and therefore, we judge from a prejudicial point-of view. When we do that, we tend to "separate, select, or decide" based on external forms. Think of the times you may have passed judgment on another person: by the way they look or looked at you; the snide remark made; their past or present performances; their background or ethnicity. Paul warns in Romans 14:13, "stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way."
The illustration in verses 3-5 is metaphorically graphic! "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye." We can easily identify with part of that picture, can't we? Drive down a dusty road with the window down and suddenly a speck of dust gets in your eye, momentarily blinding you. Thankfully tears helped to wash it out. But "a plank!" What is the point? Too often we judge others because we are hiding behind hypocrisy and by judging others we get the spotlight off of us. That is what the Pharisees were doing! The outside looked good but inwardly they were corrupt. It was a glaring case of inconsistency. Jesus' warning in verse 5 is poignant: "you hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." Before we qualify to help others, we need to make sure we examine our own hearts through honest transparency (2 Cor.3:18) and confession (I John 1:9). Otherwise in judging others we "divide, select,or choose" based on our prejudices and not the Word of God. Galatians 6:1 reminds us that "if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual restore him gently." God is in the business of restoration , uniting, and healing. He taught by example! Should our lives be any different?
Showing posts with label slander. Show all posts
Showing posts with label slander. Show all posts
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Thursday, February 5, 2009
TAMING LEVIATHAN
Thomas Hobbes once stated, "words are the counters of wise men, and the money of fools." Jesus put it best, "by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned" (Matt.12:37) True Christian character is to result in Christ like conduct. James 1:26 makes this clear, "if anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless." Later he warns, "out of the same mouth come praise and cursing" (James 3:10).
The real power to build up or destroy lies caged just behind our teeth! The articulation of thoughts either results in good or harm. As Pythagoras once wrote, "a wound from a tongue is worse than a wound from a sword; for the latter affects only the body, the former the spirit." Like a fire out of control or a rudderless ship, the tongue can spread destructive calumny. Untruths or half-truths are deadly poison. Dipping the tongue in the slime of gossip is like writing out a death warrant for a friend.
The etymology of the word "gossip" is insightful. Originally it came from the Anglo-Saxon word "godsibbe" meaning "godparent." The word referred to a sponsor at one's baptism. A "godsibbe" was a very close friend who knew all about you. He was your confidant. it didn't take long for the idea of "knowing about you" to change to "telling all about you," thus giving birth to the present meaning of the word ""gossip."
In The Comedy Of Error, Shakespeare writes, "be not thy tongue thine own shame's orator." The tongue is the orator of praise or cursing. It is the commentary of our real selves. Psalm 45:1 states, "my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer," and Solomon adds, "a word spoken in due season, how good it is" (Prov.15:23). In the play, Don Juan, Byron wrote, "but words are things; and a small drop of ink, falling, like dew, upon a thought produces that which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think."
When James asks, "can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs?" (James 3:12), he was linking character to conduct. In other words, the quality of character will be reflected in the quality of our conduct. Just as a good tree is judged by the kind of fruit it produces, so Christian character is measured by the words we use and the life we live.
Since the tongue is an untamed monster, control is imperative. Our tongue should reflect His control. Psalm 34:13 warns us to "keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies." Later he prays, "set a guard over my mouth, O Lord, keep watch over the door of my lips" (Ps.141:3). So how do we cage this monster?
First, begin with confession. John reminds us that through confession the cleansing blood of Christ removes all sin (I John 1:7,9). However, freedom from guilt requires that we also make right any offense done to another person. "Confess your sins to each other so that you may be healed" (James 5:16)
The second step is submission. As Jesus abdicated all personal rights to the will of the Father, so we are to turn over the reigns of control to His will. Under His control God renews our minds by introducing thoughts that are commensurate with His holy character. In the words of Paul, "whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable, think about such things...put into practice" ((Phil.4:8,9).
The third step is to walk the talk. In the play Hamlet, Shakespeare writes, "to thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man." James puts it succinctly, "be doers of the word and not hearers only," and Paul warns, "speak the truth in love" (Eph.4:15). It is easy to "speak," even to "speak the truth," but unless it is spoken in "love," it is like a "resounding gong or clanging cymbal" ((I Cor.13:11).
If we are to reflect Christ-likeness we must cage that monster behind our teeth!
The real power to build up or destroy lies caged just behind our teeth! The articulation of thoughts either results in good or harm. As Pythagoras once wrote, "a wound from a tongue is worse than a wound from a sword; for the latter affects only the body, the former the spirit." Like a fire out of control or a rudderless ship, the tongue can spread destructive calumny. Untruths or half-truths are deadly poison. Dipping the tongue in the slime of gossip is like writing out a death warrant for a friend.
The etymology of the word "gossip" is insightful. Originally it came from the Anglo-Saxon word "godsibbe" meaning "godparent." The word referred to a sponsor at one's baptism. A "godsibbe" was a very close friend who knew all about you. He was your confidant. it didn't take long for the idea of "knowing about you" to change to "telling all about you," thus giving birth to the present meaning of the word ""gossip."
In The Comedy Of Error, Shakespeare writes, "be not thy tongue thine own shame's orator." The tongue is the orator of praise or cursing. It is the commentary of our real selves. Psalm 45:1 states, "my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer," and Solomon adds, "a word spoken in due season, how good it is" (Prov.15:23). In the play, Don Juan, Byron wrote, "but words are things; and a small drop of ink, falling, like dew, upon a thought produces that which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think."
When James asks, "can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs?" (James 3:12), he was linking character to conduct. In other words, the quality of character will be reflected in the quality of our conduct. Just as a good tree is judged by the kind of fruit it produces, so Christian character is measured by the words we use and the life we live.
Since the tongue is an untamed monster, control is imperative. Our tongue should reflect His control. Psalm 34:13 warns us to "keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies." Later he prays, "set a guard over my mouth, O Lord, keep watch over the door of my lips" (Ps.141:3). So how do we cage this monster?
First, begin with confession. John reminds us that through confession the cleansing blood of Christ removes all sin (I John 1:7,9). However, freedom from guilt requires that we also make right any offense done to another person. "Confess your sins to each other so that you may be healed" (James 5:16)
The second step is submission. As Jesus abdicated all personal rights to the will of the Father, so we are to turn over the reigns of control to His will. Under His control God renews our minds by introducing thoughts that are commensurate with His holy character. In the words of Paul, "whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable, think about such things...put into practice" ((Phil.4:8,9).
The third step is to walk the talk. In the play Hamlet, Shakespeare writes, "to thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man." James puts it succinctly, "be doers of the word and not hearers only," and Paul warns, "speak the truth in love" (Eph.4:15). It is easy to "speak," even to "speak the truth," but unless it is spoken in "love," it is like a "resounding gong or clanging cymbal" ((I Cor.13:11).
If we are to reflect Christ-likeness we must cage that monster behind our teeth!
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