78. Specks in our eyes

I have misplaced the drafts of pieces that I have been working on, so here I am typing out a new posting.

Matt 7:5 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.

This week I have been reading various on line magazines and came across an article that identified bible verses taken out of context.  It was titled something like “The ten bible verses most often taken out of context.”  The article then went on to list a number of verses that people cherry pick.

          The article included the verse in Matthew about judging others.  Where Jesus says, “Look you idiots, stop judging other people for the little things they do, when you are a complete mess.” (Please excuse the paraphrasing,) The article then states that once we have taken the log out of our own eyes, in other words, have become less of a mess; we are then free to judge others.

          I will not post a link to that article.

I find it interesting that Jesus’ direction to us is that once we have removed the plank from our own eye, we can see clearly to remove the speck from our brother’s eye.  It does not say that we are free to judge our brother or sister.  It says that having stopped our nonsense we are then a position to help.

          At first consideration you might think that I am being too picky and that I am even joining in the act of judging.  But I think there is a truth that is revealed about us, and that would include me.  That truth?  That we are drawn to, or compelled to, judge others.

          It is that religiosity of “Look Daddy, I am so much better than he, or she, or they are!”

The emphasis of this verse, at least as far as I can read it, is moved from judging to helping. Once again, I see within scriptures a command to move towards love.  Once again, I see within scripture an emphasis on making sure that I am obedient to God.  My participation in your life is one of compassion and support, or as Pastor Dan referred to it “One Anothering.”

          I am not called to point out the errors of your ways, I am called to help you in your walk with Christ.

          If I were to take this verse one step further, a reflection of my own belief, my Christianity is lived out in my relationships with others.  While I am rather private in my faith – it is not one of the first things you will come to know about me – it is in how I am with you that I work that faith.  Maybe I take the Bible Camp song “They will know we are Christians by our Love” too seriously.

          We need to take seriously the call to tend to ourselves first.  In a recent study they found that Christians were no more moral than those of other faiths, or even atheists.  Think about that, I have.  If the only thing that lets people know that I am a Christian is my mouth, I am better serving God by shutting up.

Then there was this:

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2014/09/24/foul-mouthed-pastor-heath-mooneyham-ran-the-most-masculine-church-in-america-until-last-weeks-dui/

A church that boasts of being the most "masculine" church in America!! The church comes complete with a full array of weapons, including a sniper rifle that causes the minister to get an erection.

There is still room for judgement.  If I am a steward of my life and all that I have, then it is up to me to ensure that my time and energy is duly focused; as for me and my house we will serve the Lord!  As the above link attests there are very different views of our faith.  Some of those do merit my appreciation and participation, others don’t.

          While I might appreciate an erection producing sniper rifle, I would not construe either the erection nor the rifle as being part of my faith.  I would also be leery of attending a church where assault rifles were needed.  In fact it kinda contradicts Jesus’ instructions to love my enemies.