June 25, 2009
Button Pushers
Don’t you just hate it when someone learns how to push your buttons? People can really get under a Christian’s skin by characterizing them as holier than thou, hypocrites or Bible thumpers. Recently a person said of me, “…ya know that you sound pretty judgmental and sarcastic for being such a ‘good christian’.” At one time I would have defended myself against this type of criticism. And most likely I’d also have felt discouraged, dejected and worried that I’d somehow devalued my Christian witness. I find it interesting that Jesus didn’t defend himself or react when he was called a blasphemer, law breaker, or criminal. I think Jesus is a good example of how not to let your buttons get pushed.
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Gail;
-----Thank you! Your presentation of this point shows that you clearly get it. The charge of “hypocrisy”, “being judgmental”, and “sarcasm” is only and indictment, not a verdict. And whether or not that indictment reaches a guilty verdict depends as much on the hypocrisy, judgmental character, and sarcasm of the judge and jury as it does upon the evidence of the case. The reason the charge can be made is because many Christians are simply guilty of it. But many are wholly innocent. It is up to a clear thinking and honest judge and jury to distinguish between the two.
-----Jesus knew the evidence of the case made against Him was that of a not-guilty verdict. In fact, it was so conclusive and apparent from any honest observation of His life that it not only spoke for itself, but it also indicted the judges and juries who were attempting to persuade the public of a false verdict. So Jesus allowed the evidence to speak for itself, and simply used the truth to indict His accusers on the grounds of their own falsehood and error.
-----Paul told Titus, “Show yourself in all respects a model of good deeds, and in your teaching show integrity, gravity, and sound speech that cannot be censored, so that an opponent maybe put to shame, having nothing evil to say of us.” (Titus 2:7-8) To the Thessalonians he wrote, “But we exhort you…to aspire to live quietly, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we charged you; so that you may command the respect of outsiders,” (I Thess 4:10a-12a) and to Timothy he said, “Take heed to yourself and to your teaching; hold to that, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.” (Tim 4:16) He charged the Galatians to, “…do good to all men…” (Gal 6:10) Our charge lies in how we align with the truth and treat one another, and that charge is not a charge against us, but a charge for us. We make our case by how we build our character. And when our character is built upon carefully following the exhortation of the Word, it is a character that is not against anyone, but is for everyone through serving unabashed truth.
-----In this character is the unity which Jesus asked for us. (John 17:20) It is a character of concern and care for one another as much as it is for the truth, and not just for those of the family of God, but for all men, as Paul confirmed to the Galatians. It is a character of truth which will not serve the wine-bibber more wine, but pure water. And if the bibber charges us with hypocrisy, judgment, and sarcasm for that, then his own end will be enough of a verdict to be the perfect defense of our case. So, to this end Jesus affirmed in His prayer that our unity would convince the world that He was sent by the Father.
Love you all,
Steve Corey
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