In the nineteenth century, two of the greatest English preachers were Charles Spurgeon and Joseph Parker. In the early part of their ministries, they had a good relationship, even sometimes exchanging pulpits. They were examples of unity among Christians in England. Even though differing on some doctrinal points, they remained dear friends. After several years, Spurgeon discovered that Parker attended the theater, and accused him of being unspiritual. Parker found out that Spurgeon enjoyed cigars, and countered that Spurgeon was unspiritual. Their disagreement became so intense that they stopped speaking. Innocent people were forced to take sides. Instead of remaining stepping stones for love and brotherhood, they became stumbling blocks.
The statement, "Think of your own sins, and you will be more understanding of the sins of others," is good advice. In Matthew 7:1, Christ admonished, "Judge not, that you be not judged." He then warned of focusing on "the speck," (referring to a straw, a piece of chaff, or a very small particle) in someone else’s eye, while we maintain a "plank," (logs, or heavy beams on which the temple was built), in our own eye. According to Christ, the person with a log in his own eye, who attempts to deal with a tiny fault of another, is a hypocrite, someone who pretends to be which he is not. Our obligation is to put out of our lives those glaring faults that prevent us from properly appraising the character of another, before we seek to deal with the small faults of someone else.
John Wesley wrote to a friend, "The longer I live, the larger allowances I make for others. I exact more from myself, and less from others." The more we grow in grace, the more we will see how far short we fall from the perfection which is in Christ, and demonstrate a more charitable attitude towards one another.
A young parishioner noticed on his pastor’s desk a smooth, polished rock inscribed, "The First Stone." When he expressed surprise, his pastor explained that it was a constant reminder of John 8:7, "He who is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone."
"If you judge people, you have no time to love them" (Mother Teresa).
(By David Arnold)
Walk in love,
Pastor Kevin
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