Lakeside Visitor October 2010

 

Last month we talked about the vulnerability of children that is sometimes covered over by our adult tendencies to whitewash our own issues. We look to everyone but ourselves when the hammer’s gotta fall, and hope that the wrongs of another will somehow take the focus off of us. That kind of selfishness needs to die in us or we’ll watch it grow to new life in our kids. But there are times when we need to be ready to confront what is wrong (and do so with a loving heart and gracious attitude) so our kids will also know how, and when, they need to stand up. Think about Peter, Paul and, marry, a difficult confrontation in Antioch (Gal 2:11-16)! Go back in time with me and read the scene: Enter those of the circumcision.

We, like Paul, will sometimes have to confront the wrong we see in other believers so that others are not also led into sin. That takes, at bare minimum, two things: 1) knowledge of the truth according to God’s word (2 Tim 2:15) and 2) the courage to speak the right words (4:2). Thank God that He gives us these things if we rely on Him and learn from His word! I don’t mean to imply that doing this is easy. It’s not. Confrontation is often one of the most difficult things we have to do, but it is a natural consequence of living with others. I’m sure that even if we got away from everyone else in the world, we would soon be arguing with ourselves like Tom Hanks in Castaway. We must learn to say (in love) what needs to be said when the time comes or instinct and/or sin will take over… either way it will not be pretty.

Think about it from a recipient’s perspective. Have you ever done something that seemed like a good idea at the time but the fall-out wasn’t worth the pay-off? What if someone had just said something, or you had listened when they did? If Paul hadn’t rebuked Peter, maybe the other Jews and Barnabas would have “learned” that a necessary double standard exists for Jews who follow Christ. “With Gentiles, we can do whatever we want, but when other Jews are around, we have to reject the Gentiles to win the Jews.” That double life would have fall-out on both sides, and the body of Christ would be harmed. I don’t always think of my words and actions as having that kind of consequence, but maybe I should. Perhaps you, like me, can think of times when our speech in church, in the community, and even on social networking sites on the computer show less of Christ in us than, well… something else.

We all need a gentle rebuke sometimes. If it can happen to Peter–one who walked and talked with Jesus–it can happen to any one of us. If we don’t hold each other accountable, we can be misled by almost anything (Eph 4:14-16, 2 Tim 4:3-4) and that’s not what we’re called to in Christ. We need to grow up (in Christ), speak truth in love, and present a mature body to both the world and our Lord and Savior. The alternative is to keep quiet and let sin do its dirty work in us, and those around us. But, hey–at least that way we won’t hurt anyone’s feelings. I know, talking about sin is messy business, but where sin abounds God’s grace, love, and open arms are always waiting for the repentant heart. What will you do this month?