I've been thinking about this a bit lately, at least enough to warrant a blog about it. Lately things have taken place in an area of my life where, how do you say... I was "offended," or as some "Christians" may say, I was "sinned against." I thought about it, prayed about, wrestled with it, sought counsel about it, and all those other things you're supposed to do.
Then it dawned on me... what part of me was so offeneded? It was my pride. I was angry, because I felt as if I was being misrepresented. I didn't want people to believe the things that other people were saying about me, and for what? To look good? "Oh no," I said to myself, "so Christ will look good." I don't want to go into detail about the situation. Not because I want to keep it confidential, but because I'd don't think it's important. As I hashed out in my brain how, when, or even if I would approach the involved parties, it dawned on me... to what end? What was the purpose? Once my mind sat there for some time, it wasn't long to discover how involved my flesh was in the process of "reconciliation." The only thing I was interested in reconciling was my own reputation. Not only that, I'm not even fully convinced all that was said about me is a lie. A bit unnecessary, perhaps, ungodly... most definitely, but why would I kick Matthew 18 into gear?
Which brings me to the exposition... why, how, or when would anyone implement the principles found in Matthew 18? Verse 15 tells us... you have gained your brother." As much as my flesh would love to have the verse say, "Your reputation is restored" I had to swallow my pride, and find out whether bringing it up would serve God's purpose or not, and that is the salvation of their souls. Paul gives us specific instructions on how to deal with a believer who is sinning in Galatians 6:1. he even warns the "one who is spiritual" To "be careful, lest they, too, also be tempted." I love that verse. Instead of typing it out, I say you go read it for yourself. For the longest time, I thought Paul wanted us to dive into the trenches to pull them out of sin, and the temptation would be for us to start living life the same way they did... but no. The temptation is for us to come at them with any attitude other than a "spirit of meekness." How often do we want to sit people down, point our fingers in their face, open up the good book, and "hit em with the Word." I've struggled with this, it's true, but isn't it possible to say the same thing with different attitudes? Especially when it comes to professing believers. I don't recall anything in scripture that suggests we "run out of patience, get so fed up with someone's attitude or actions, that we just blow up and say what's on our minds." That seems a lot more like how the world deals with situations. Contrary to what some people seem to believe, the Bible has a lot to say about a Christian's attitude concerning conflict, and to be perfectly honest, it couldn't possibly be more self-defacing.
That's why I say don't be afraid to be a doormat. Christ doesn't need our ideas of how we can make him look good, nor does He need us to be liked or accepted for Him to be exhaulted. If possible, we should live peaceably with all men, but remember who we aim to please. Not men, not ourselves, but Christ. This post was just a really long way of saying ladies and gentlemen, when you feel that storm well up in the pit of your stomach, and the Biblical connections are made in your mind about why everything you are hearing and seeing desecrates Christ and His Word, remember you, too, were once dead in your trespasses, (Eph 2) then take time to pray, and consider why you would say anything at all.
I'll leave you with the wise (and inspired) words of Paul...
"And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God."
