Sunday, February 3, 2013

Right - Dead Right

There is a problem, a vice, an illness that many Pastors have.  The need to be right.

What?  How can that be a vice?  Well, it is, it is the gravest of vices - it is the need to self-justify.  The desire to self-justify is always bad... especially if you actually are right.

What do I mean by this?  Well, let's say something is going on... and you are right.  And there is still some disagreement - you have spoken the truth, but the people will not listen.  They have agreed, but only in part.  What do you do?

Do you exercise patience, letting the other thing and ponder more?  Do you work with them then in private and quiet, away from prying eyes.  Do you rejoice that they have learned some, and pray that they will continue to learn?

Or do you jump up and down and talk about how you are right?

Yes, you're right - but you're dead right.  Dead. 

Dead as in without love.  Without care for the neighbor.  Dead as whitewashed tombs that glisten and gleem so nice and bright and white.

Because this is the thing - when we speak truth, the point isn't to show that we are right and the other guy is wrong.  The point isn't to shed light upon every flaw that they have.  The point is... to proclaim the truth, to scatter the seed as it were.

If you are trying to prove over and over that you were right... you aren't scattering the Seed anymore.

It seems to me that too often we who care about theology can be affronted, offended by those who are wrong.  We seem to take almost personal offense that they wouldn't listen to the truth that WE proclaimBut, that's just the way that it's going to be.  There will always be tares among the wheat -- and we shouldn't be too quick to assume that this person who is annoying me is a tare - and we certainly shouldn't be eager to tare them up by the roots.


Love is patient.  Love is kind.  It doesn't seek its own way.  It bears all things.  And if you speak without love you are just a noisy cymbal. 

Don't worry about being "right".  There is One who is Right - that is Christ Jesus.  Speak His Word, proclaim Him -- and then let the chips fall where they may. 

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Praying Psalm 25 for you today Pastor Brown. Thank you for your words here and in other blogs. Actually, praying Psalm 25 for all our dear pastors today. May God be with your spirit. -Barbara