Scrolling through my Facebook News Feed the other morning I came across a picture of a fairly well known Christian Pastor with a caption that was obviously quoting something they had said, and then a statement slamming what they said as being "unchristianlike". The slam was by another fairly well known Pastor.
In the comment section it was obvious that many of the "flock" of christians who saw the picture were only too happy to jump on the "tear down this soul" bandwagon, and not only were there plenty of agreement type comments, but also many "and they did this, too!" or "they said this too!"
Being unfamiliar with this person I dug a little deeper. I actually read the article the "quote" came from.
Sure enough, they had said the statement they were accused of saying. But just as surely, it was separated from the REST of the sentence and then displayed completely out of context.
In fact, I discovered I fully agreed with the premise and full statement that had been made as both were biblically sound.
So why did this other Pastor feel the need to tear this person down? And why did so many who call themselves Christians gleefully join in?
I thought about the admonition of Apostle Paul in Galatians 5:14 - 16:
For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this "you shall love your neighbor as yourself". But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another. I say then, walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.
In Ephesians 4:3, we are clearly admonished to endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
So why oh why do we waste so much time and effort destroying instead of building up?
SIN.
Anytime we do the opposite of what the Lord has instructed us to do, we sin. The only way out of sin is to repent and ask God to forgive us. We talked about this in an earlier post.
When we focus on ourselves, elevating ourselves, grasping for power and prestige for ourselves - we do disservice to the Lord we represent. I learned this the hard way.
By tearing down another in the mistaken idea it lifted me up. It didn't. It made me look like just what I was being. Small, petty, human, sinful. And I hurt the one I tore down. I didn't teach them anything, or inspire them to "do better".
We can cover it up and dress it up and label it "correction, instruction or speaking the "truth" in love" all we want, but once you get past the pretty pasted on fake facade you know it for what it is.
Ugly sin.
It puts me in mind of the story of the crabs. You've probably heard this one. Why can you just throw crabs in an open bucket and not worry about them escaping? Because if one does try to get out, the others grab hold of him and drag him back down!
That's us, when we tear others down. We not only hurt them - we hurt ourselves. We all end up staying trapped in a bucket of sin.
It isn't our "job" to school others on what we think is correct doctrine. It isn't good christian behavior to point out other christians mistakes.
Remember what Jesus told His disciples when they came to Him complaining that others were casting out demons in Jesus' name, but they weren't one of the disciples? See Mark 9:38 and Luke 9:49. Jesus rebuked that kind of thinking. The kind of thinking that separates and destroys unity. He told His disciples
if they are not against us they are for us.
We are without excuse when we disobey the Lord and cause division.
True Christianity is when we submit ourselves and our selfish desires to the obedience of Christ for the sake of UNITY in the Body of Christ.
If we would get this through our thick skulls, the "world" wouldn't be so successful in coming against us. Think about that next time you want to "call someone out".
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