Proverbs 11:2
Too much pride can put you to shame. It’s wiser to be humble.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A
candidate for the 2016 Presidential election has declared that the Pope
should refrain from offering an opinion on global warming. He is said
to have told a reporter…“The church has gotten it wrong a few times on
science. We probably are better off leaving science to the scientists,
and focusing on what we’re really good at, which is theology and
morality.” Apparently this candidate missed the fact that the Pope
received a “Chemical Technician’s Diploma from Escuela Técnica
Industrial N° 27 Hipólito Yrigoyen…and once worked at more than one
laboratory performing chemical testing.
Open mouth – insert
foot. We do it all the time. But as Christians who genuinely desire to
represent Jesus – and serve Him well – we ought to be paying closer
attention to our words, actions and deeds. Before we criticize anyone
else – about anything – we ought to check our facts – and check with God
to ask Him which of His purposes our judgment of others will serve.
I’m talking about how we characterize and/or criticize everyone from
our neighbors and the cashier at your local grocery store or
restaurant…to the workers who collect your garbage each week or work in
some other “service” position…to our political and religious leaders
(including the President of the United States – and even the Pope)…and
all of those in between. As the old rhetorical question goes…”Who died
and made you king?”
Let’s get something straight…none of
us knows what is in another person’s heart. And quite frankly, we have
no clue what goes on in another person’s daily living, for the most
part. The person you dare to judge or disparage may have challenges and
heartaches that you could never imagine. He/she may have knees so raw
from kneeling in prayer and spending time with God that it’s hard to
walk across the floor. Were we to stand side-by-side before God with
this person and hear our good deeds – and our sins – listed…we might
have to hang our heads in shame by comparison.
Too many of us
make snap judgments – and harsh ones. We SAY that we are Christians and
then proceed to elevate ourselves to almost God-like status…and judge
everyone who is “beneath” us. And by that, I mean anyone who doesn’t
view every aspect of life exactly as we do and act accordingly. Let me
assure you…God is not impressed by this. In fact, He is downright
brokenhearted.
We had better learn to stop puffing our
chests out in pride at how devout and faithful we are, and humbly serve
God by loving one another – each and every one! We’d better get our
facts straight and not accuse others of something in which we aren’t
fully versed. And we had better start learning how to get along…with
everybody.
I do not mean to sound angry – or to be critical and
become “one of those people” in the process. But I am disheartened at
the number of so-called Christians who have created an atmosphere of “us
vs. them” and set themselves up as superior to others. I am saddened
by the condescension and hate…and I am truly sickened to think about the
inroads that this gives to the devil. What unbeliever could possibly
want to become a Christian when he/she sees how so many of us behave
toward each other?
We can’t have it both ways. We cannot be prideful and truly represent Jesus Christ as His disciple. Who do
you think you are? How are you representing Jesus to others…with an
arrogant, condescending attitude…or as His humble servant who extends
His love in every direction? How you answer this matters – greatly.
God wants foot soldiers for His army…not another Commander-in-Chief.
Which one are you trying to be?
©2015 Debbie Robus
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