January 17, 2011
Giving Us the Once-Over
Many years ago my mother lived in another state so we didn’t see each other on a regular basis. One time when she came back for a visit she asked, “What’s wrong with your neck? You’ve got a big lump on your throat.” It was news to me. As it turned out, my thyroid was out of whack and a goiter had started to form. What amazed me was that every day I looked in the mirror to do my hair and put on make-up, but I never noticed the enlarging Adam’s apple. Scripture tell us of the need to examine ourselves, but sometimes we just need to allow another believer give us the once-over.
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4 comments:
Gail;
-----James wrote, “My brethren, if any one among you wanders from the truth and some one brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.” (James 5:19-20) Paul wrote to Timothy, “As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.” (I Tim 5:20) To Titus, he wrote, “As for a man who is factious, after admonishing him once or twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is perverted and sinful; he is self-condemned.” (Titus 3:10-11) John wrote, “If any one sees his brother committing what is not a mortal sin, he will ask, and God will give him life for those whose sin is not mortal.” (I John 5:16) God’s Word clearly presents dealing with one another’s sins as part of our service to one another in the Lord. “It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and of a kind that is not found even among pagans; for a man is living with his father’s wife...you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” (I Cor 5:1, 5) And it does not get any clearer than that. Yet some churches hardly bat an eye about the immorality happening amongst their people. While others busy themselves with measuring hemlines and banishing jewelry.
-----It wouldn’t appear helpful that Paul wrote, “Then let us no more pass judgment on one another, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother,” (Rom 14:13) or that James wrote, “Do not speak evil against one another, brethren. He that speaks evil against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law.” (James 4:11) So, can what the Bible speaks straight forward about be taken with easy indifference? Some churches are ordaining women as preachers and elders to the horror of other churches. But those horrified churches often have women teaching men in Sunday school classes, which also seems to be a problem, not just for Paul, but also with God. (I Tim 2:12, I Cor 14:37) And in most churches today, women pray with their heads uncovered (I Cor 11:6). Then Paul somewhat grabs a little distance for himself by writing, “For why should my liberty be determined by another man’s scruples? If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?” (I Cor 10:29b-30)
-----Not all things shake down into the two categories of “the Bible is clear” and “the things of your own conscience”. Therefore, amongst everyone turns up a variety of perceptions about what is definitely right and what is clearly wrong. It is important to know yourself well for approaching God in faith, but faith is ultimately important. The Bible forbids us to destroy the work of God in others over differences of faith. Rather, it entreats us to build it up. Pointing out the goiters, bruises, pimples, and blackheads of another may actually help him improve, but then again, we may only learn something about the conscience he understands from his faith with God. But in the end, it is the love from which such concerns flow and by which such concerns are considered that builds us together into His body caring for itself.
Love you all,
Steve Corey
Adam's apple and thyroid gland are differ3nt things although thyroid nodule sometimes looks like adam's apple
Thyroid Geek
Often comments on the blog send me to the Bible, however your comment sent me to the Internet. After reading the various symptoms of a malfunction thyroid I’ve scheduled an appointment to re-check my thyroid and see if my medication needs to be adjusted. Thanks for taking time to comment.:)
Gail
Gail, best of luck to you with your appoitnment!
An interesting fact that the swelling of pyramidal thyroid lobe (found among 20% of the population)and located on the thyroid cartilage is often perceived as enlarging Adam's apple.
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