Specks and Logs

Why do you see 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,' when there is the log 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. Matt 7:3-5

I've been challenged over the last couple of days to consider what the focus of my Christian ministry is. I must confess that I have spent too much mental energy being critical of others around me. There certainly are a plethora of very significant problems within the evangelical church but I think that I've been spending to much time focusing on my rejection of those problems rather than working toward what is better.

The fellow that was indirectly challenging me was arguing that one of the biggest enemies of the gospel is backbiting and disunity rather than the things that people tend start backbiting and dividing over. He used 1 John 4:20,21: "If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother." and Gal 5:14,15: "For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself. "But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another." I am heartily challenged.

The issue at least for me is what is my heart. Am I bitter? Is it just easier to see the problems around me and complain about them then to do something better? Frankly, for me, I think that both of these have been a problem at least to some degree. I have mixed feelings when I write critical articles about evangelical practices. I long to be a part of something better. I long to be busy doing other things. I long for the church to be healthy. My motivations are just not pure. Part of me likes to be critical. I like seeing problems because it deceives me into thinking that I'm above all of that. Some of the problem has been that for years we have been isolated because of some of our convictions, partly because of our attitude and partly because we are not encouraging of things that the world endorses. Having little fellowship is not good for anyones soul.

I do think that there is still a time and a place to correct, to warn others, to rebuke and to spur one another on. It's a matter of how and with what attitude. If we do this in love but it results in division then it is not our fault. We are not to be surprised when the world hates us. Unfortunately sometimes the world is in the "church." The light can not have fellowship with the darkness. Conflict can not be avoided but we can do our part to see that we are not to blame for divisions.

This is what I need to live out. I'm just not sure that I know how. I don't know when to speak up and when to remain silent. I think that the answer is in just focusing on Jesus, emulating him, loving him and he'll show me the way. I'm glad I serve a merciful king!