Matthew 5:21-26
“You’re familiar with the command
to the ancients, ‘Do not murder.’ I’m telling you that anyone who is so
much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder. Carelessly
call a brother ‘idiot!’ and you just might find yourself hauled into
court. Thoughtlessly yell ‘stupid!’ at a sister and you are on the brink
of hellfire. The simple moral fact is that words kill.
“This is
how I want you to conduct yourself in these matters. If you enter your
place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a
grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave
immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only
then, come back and work things out with God.
Scripture
quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002
by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs,
CO. All rights reserved.
Whew, boy! This is a tough passage to digest! I’m reading Everybody’s Got Something*,
written by ABC’s "Good Morning America" co-anchor Robin Roberts. She
repeats the title of her book throughout its text...a phrase frequently
spoken to Roberts by her late mother, Lucimarian. Roberts uses this
phrase to refer to struggles...challenges...issues. But I want to use
it today to refer to an entirely different kind of “something” –
offenses...grudges...hurts...insults, and those things that make you go,
“Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr!”
Don’t pretend for one minute that you don’t
know what I’m talking about...and do not judge. Because we all have
these feelings and behaviors! We are human...and human beings get angry
and irritated with one another! But here’s the thing. Jesus tells us
that we cannot STAY angry. We cannot call others names - even when we
feel that they deserve them. In the words of this scripture
passage...”The simple moral fact is that words kill.”
As a
society, we have honestly grown so comfortable – and complacent – with
name calling and being angry about this, that or another that I don’t
think we even realize the damage we do...to others AND to ourselves.
Don’t you know someone who is always angry or in turmoil about something
or someone? Have you really stopped to consider their overall
attitude? If you did, I bet you would see someone who is “emotionally
turbulent”...a person whose “insides” must be churning much of the time
with the stress and unsettledness of these feelings. Now think of
someone who seems to let things “roll off his/her back”...someone who
appears to have a pretty good handle on the gifts of grace, mercy,
forgiveness and kindness toward others. Which one seems to have the
more peaceful life? With which of these people would you prefer to
spend time?
In my experience, anger and resentment are like
cancers that eat away – at YOUR soul, not the other guy’s. And clearly,
God is not pleased when we harbor these feelings. When we operate in
anger and unforgiveness...when we speak unkindly of others and call them
names...we essentially say, “Jesus wasted His time on this earth. His
life – and His death on the cross – are meaningless.” I don’t believe
this for one minute...do you? We also deny the scriptures that tell us
that every single person is precious to God...not one person is more
important or special than another. To speak angrily or hatefully of
another is to say, “I’m better than him/her. God loves me more.” And
this is simply not the case. So we have to make a concerted effort to
change our attitudes and what comes out of our mouths.
Who’s with
me here? Who is feeling pretty sheepish and “called out” right about
now? I know I am! I’m telling you...Christian discipleship ain’t for
sissies or wimps! The next time you are tempted to be openly critical of
someone...or to call him/her a name...remember this passage. The next
time you feel anger welling up in you (and you will!), take a deep
breath and ask God to help you operate in a spirit of mercy and
forgiveness.
Whether you ever approach the person with whom you
have the beef is not really relevant. Scripture tells us to make
things right with those whom WE have offended...but we are not
instructed to go around confronting others and telling them, “You made
me mad or hurt my feelings, and I forgive you.” It seems to be pleasing
enough to God that you forgive in your heart, which He discerns –
unless you are asked to by someone to forgive them verbally. Honestly, I
think others will know your heart, too...because your overall demeanor
will reflect your inward spirit – and your peace through Christ Jesus.
Don’t
be known as someone who is angry or unforgiving. Don’t be reputed to
be a cynic and a grump. This is not representative of the grace, mercy,
love and forgiveness of Jesus. If we want to represent Him...to be a
genuine disciple of Christ...we have to work hard and be willing to
accept His instruction in all things. Everybody’s got something...don’t
let yours be a grudge!
©2014 Debbie Robus
*Everybody’s Got Something - ©2014 by Robin Roberts ~ Grand Central Publishing, Hachette Book Group
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