Yesterday we talked about the log of hypocrisy that sometimes gets lodged in our eye. I’d like to break that down a little more today. We are all guilty of hypocrisy at times. Even followers of Jesus Christ can be hypocrites. We pretend that our quiet time with God is more frequent than it is or we act like we are not in sin when we really are. Honestly, the church is filled with hypocrites in some way, shape, or form. But we are called to honesty and to love one another!
We like to point out other people’s sins. Now, when we are doing it to restore them to a right relationship with God, that is exactly what we are supposed to do. But, when it is to blame others for where we are falling short or to gossip to other people to make ourselves look better, we are being hypocrites. We are talking about someone else’s sin while committing our own. And the enemy is pointing and laughing.
Because this behavior just causes division in the body, and it is exactly what the enemy is about, he is the one urging us to have that conversation about our brother or sister. He is the one who whispers those lies that we repeat as mere “embellishments”. All the while, he sits back and watches us cause division in the body of Christ.
No church is perfect, no Pastor is perfect, and no congregate is perfect (including you and me). Now, we can nitpick every little thing that others do. But what is our motive? Are we going to our brother or sister the way scripture tells us to so that we can restore them to a right relationship with God? Do we want that restoration because we love one another?
Or are we talking about them behind their backs? If so, why are we saying the things we are? Is it to make us look better and less guilty or hypocritical? Are we tearing down the character of our brothers and sisters? Are we being critical and do we lack understanding? Do we blame them for why we are not in church? Do we blame them for leading us down the wrong path or in the wrong belief? And are we doing it behind their backs? If so, then we are gossiping. And we are being hypocrites! The very things that we blame others for, we ourselves are guilty of.
And the gossip and hypocrisy that we spread causes great harm! It pushes people apart. It pushes us from each other. And it pushes others away from the one that we are gossiping about. ” A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends” Proverbs 16:28.
It also robs God of glory! Why would anyone who doesn’t know Jesus want to know the God of people who treat each other this way? They get all the gossiping, blaming, and hurting that they can stand every day. What would be any different if they joined a church where people treat each other like this? God warns us about that in the scripture. “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:29.
He also warns us about what a wicked person will do, “A worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with a corrupt mouth, who winks maliciously with his eye, signals with his feet and motions with his fingers, who plots evil with deceit in his heart– he always stirs up conflict.” Proverbs 16:12-14.
Do we really want to resemble what a “wicked man” looks like?
If we are gossiping or pointing out the sin in our brothers or sister’s life to others, we need to ask ourselves why.
Is it to make ourselves look better? If so, we have failed to recognize that the only opinion that matters is God’s. We also have to be secure in who we are as a beloved son or daughter of the King of Kings (who, by the way, adores us)!
Is it to take the blame off of us? Are we using a mistake someone else may have made as an excuse for our own bad behavior? If so, we need to repent so that God can heal those wounds and restore our relationship with Him and our brother or sister. “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,” Acts 3:19. He can help us to begin to love one another.
Assuming for a moment that perhaps we have been wronged, mislead, or taught wrongly, are we not guilty of the same things? Have we not wronged, mislead, and taught others wrongly? Of course, we have! Aren’t we glad that God doesn’t judge the way that we do? “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32. We need to love one another.
The scripture warns us not to speak evil against one another. “Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you.” James 4:11.
The enemy longs to divide families, both biological and spiritual (not just members of our church, but members of “the Church” who is any follower of Christ). The question is, will we allow the enemy to use us to tear the family apart? Or will we bind our tongues, forgive, and love one another?
Jesus loved, forgave, and died for us so that we could be forgiven. All He asks us to do is forgive and love. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34.
Let’s be a family (whether biological or spiritual). Let’s forgive, love, and speak well of one another. By that speech, those who do not know Jesus will be drawn to Him. And isn’t that why we are here?
Father, forgive us when we lack love. Forgive us when we rob you of glory. Holy Spirit, help us to stop listening to the lies and whispers of the enemy. Help us to love and honor one another. Help us to glorify and honor God in a powerful way. Father God, be glorified by our speech and love for one another. We praise you, Jesus, for the love and forgiveness that you provided which enables us to love and forgive others. We pray this in your precious and holy name, Jesus.
Have you been hurt by gossip, slander, lies? Have you been hurt by a dysfunctional family? God wants to welcome you into His family. He wants to adopt you as His own precious child. He wants to heal those old wounds. Let Him. All it takes is a simple prayer of repentance, prayed from the bottom of your heart. We have outlined a prayer like that on our Life Preserver page (https://forgiven-n-loved.com/life-preserver/). Please go to this page and pray that prayer (or one like it). Once you have, please reach out to me and let me know. I’d love to be in prayer with and for you. And, I’d love to welcome you into the family!
Luv Ya!
