"If you propose to speak, always ask yourself, is it true? is it kind? is it necessary?"
On my way to the doctor's office yesterday (It was just a regular check-up. Don’t worry.), something occurred to me. Then, last night--at Bible class--the theme re-surfaced. It made me feel that I need to discuss it.
We--as Christians--always claim to be these really loving people, yeah? Sometimes, I wonder if we're really living up to our claims. Tell me--how many times have you heard someone refer to Ellen Degeneres as Ellen Degenerate? Perhaps I am being a crazy liberal here (which I'm not, by the way), but how useful is it to call her names (or any other people who publicly advertise their sins)?
It isn't--AT ALL!
1) It doesn't make us look like anything other than ungodly, hateful jerks which--at that moment--is EXACTLY what we are being.
2) It certainly doesn't--in ANY way--help to compel her to repent of her sins and begin walking a life on the straight and narrow
3) It is wrong in the sight of God.
Is Ellen Degeneres' behavior unacceptable according to biblical standards? Yes, I believe it is. Does that mean she is less lovable to the people who love her? Does it mean that she is less a human being? Does it mean she has fewer feelings which can be hurt by these ugly, hateful words? No. No. and No.
Here is something to ponder, y'all. Do you think we are any less sinful than she is? If you do, why don’t you pick up your Bible and peruse I John 1:8-10, huh? "8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us." We may be saved right now, but we sin on a regular basis and we know it. All sins are equal to God. Our sins are just as ugly in God’s eyes as are Ellen’s.
When those people who always talk during Bible class--not always with anything useful to say--talk, once again, should we REALLY be sighing loudly and telling them to shut-up under our breath, just loudly enough for the person next to us to laugh? Really? REALLY? I just don't think so, y'all.
When we talk about the "less than exemplary" (we think, anyway) skills of a substitute preacher or song-leader, do we actually consider it useful dialogue? Do we not consider what would happen if that guy's wife overheard us? Was our gossiping really useful for either him or the church? Why, No. No it was not. Why can't we just be happy someone wants to preach or lead singing? Or if we JUST CAN'T handle it, why not offer to help him learn how to work up a sermon or go to his house and teach him music theory? Or pay for singing lessons--if we think we can do such in a way which will not hurt his feelings or discourage him?
Mike said last night he heard a member—at one time--called a lady who struggled with controlling her libido a whore at the top of his lungs in front of the entire congregation and then said, “Well, it is the truth. The Bible calls women like her whores!” Did he think he was actually serving God in an appropriate manner at that moment?
God's Word says, "Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear." Do any of the above examples adhere to God's command given in Ephesian 4:29? No. No they do not. We--as Christians--really MUST begin thinking about the way we speak and behave. Clearly, I include myself in that admonition. We are supposed to be children of God, are we not? We are not better than anyone, but--instead--blessed beyond description because we are adopted sons. It is disheartening that we don't act like we believe we are blessed.
How can we expect to change the world if the world sees us as cruel and hateful? What is that quote? Oh yeah. “A man won’t care what you know until he knows that you care.” Calling Ellen cruel names or being hateful to Mr. So and So who talks more than you do will not accomplish that goal at all. It simply won’t.
Truly, I think that when we behave in the manner I described above and others like it, we ought to feel two things:
1) Strongly ashamed of ourselves.
2) Strongly compelled to participate in some introspection and make serious changes in our behavior. God expects more from us than the above-mentioned examples. The truth is that these things REALLY happened! How sad!
Once again--“If you propose to speak, always ask yourself, is it true, is it necessary, is it kind?
Well, is it?
Just some food for though, y’all.
