It seems to me it is sometimes difficult for us to discern the difference between a person's words and actions [or behavior] and that person's motive or character. It is legitimate for us to discuss and evaluate the first but the second is beyond our purview. In fact, 1 Corinthians 4:5 forbids us attempting to do so.
We can assess a person's action/behavior as being right or wrong, good or bad, correct or incorrect, helpful or harmful or even sinful or not sinful. [Depending on our understanding of the biblical standard.] When we do believe their action violates a biblical standard [by our understanding] or a legal, socially accepted or an ethical one, we can, in a free society, take them to task for doing so. This is even/especially true of political leaders. It extends, in fact, to leaders of every kind including those of the Church in my opinion.
A person's words may sound arrogant and full of pride as Wade wrote recently about our President on his blog and it is legitimate to question such words which Wade did. I've heard many of these kinds of words of late from not only our President but the political leaders of both parties unfortunately. That kind of speaking or behavior gives me pause in any leader whether it's one locally, nationally, Church or otherwise.
But any assessment of the heart is God's only. This is where we can go astray if we're not careful. It may be this refusal to question a person's heart/motive is what separates a genuine truth seeker and one who wishes to build relationships from those who seek to tear down relationships over differences. This is what makes a great blog such as Wade's, his mother's and many others I read.
In fact, in my own journey I've observed that when I do the first I am loving people and speaking the truth as I see it about behavior. But when I do the second I'm loving behavior and speaking an untruth about people. [Since I can't know.] I know which of these Jesus produces in me. So that leaves the other as flesh.
Then there is the question of how we can know we're doing only the first, assessing words/actions and not the second, assessing heart/motives. [I'm assuming the leadership of the Spirit and the knowledge of the Word here.] I think there is often a simple one word clue...anger. Now you get the image at the top.
Anger is frequently an emotion that can indicate a person has goals for another person that are being blocked. Much as at a four-way stop sign and the person is cheated out of their turn to cross and they get angry at the offending driver. If I have a goal for another and I get angry when they fail to produce what I desire, the issue that is at play is not so much the behavior of the other as it is my desire to control...thus anger is felt.
Anger signals in me that the problem is mine at the moment. This may be the reason the scripture reminds us to be wary of an angry person because we can be sure they are twisted inside in some way.
You realize I'm sure that anger is not evil in and of itself, but, as shown, it could be just a negative emotion that might be signaling that one's thinking and motives are screwed up. If I'm wise I'll learn from my own anger. That's certainly worth my looking into when I'm angry in a discussion or commenting on a blog. It sure makes for a better comment section on blogs I assure you.
[I'm not discounting the reality of righteous anger, just our actually having it nearly as often as we think.]
Spurgeon said this..."Men can with a few hasty words set loose a torrent of anger and uncharitableness, and cause the sweeping away of much good service and sweet fellowship, but who shall rule, restrain, or call back the raging flood.'
'Anger does a man more hurt than that which made him angry. It opens his mouth and shuts his eyes and fires his heart and drowns his sense and makes his wisdom folly."
The Prince of Preachers may have said it best.
Just a thought.
Paul B.
We can assess a person's action/behavior as being right or wrong, good or bad, correct or incorrect, helpful or harmful or even sinful or not sinful. [Depending on our understanding of the biblical standard.] When we do believe their action violates a biblical standard [by our understanding] or a legal, socially accepted or an ethical one, we can, in a free society, take them to task for doing so. This is even/especially true of political leaders. It extends, in fact, to leaders of every kind including those of the Church in my opinion.
A person's words may sound arrogant and full of pride as Wade wrote recently about our President on his blog and it is legitimate to question such words which Wade did. I've heard many of these kinds of words of late from not only our President but the political leaders of both parties unfortunately. That kind of speaking or behavior gives me pause in any leader whether it's one locally, nationally, Church or otherwise.
But any assessment of the heart is God's only. This is where we can go astray if we're not careful. It may be this refusal to question a person's heart/motive is what separates a genuine truth seeker and one who wishes to build relationships from those who seek to tear down relationships over differences. This is what makes a great blog such as Wade's, his mother's and many others I read.
In fact, in my own journey I've observed that when I do the first I am loving people and speaking the truth as I see it about behavior. But when I do the second I'm loving behavior and speaking an untruth about people. [Since I can't know.] I know which of these Jesus produces in me. So that leaves the other as flesh.
Then there is the question of how we can know we're doing only the first, assessing words/actions and not the second, assessing heart/motives. [I'm assuming the leadership of the Spirit and the knowledge of the Word here.] I think there is often a simple one word clue...anger. Now you get the image at the top.
Anger is frequently an emotion that can indicate a person has goals for another person that are being blocked. Much as at a four-way stop sign and the person is cheated out of their turn to cross and they get angry at the offending driver. If I have a goal for another and I get angry when they fail to produce what I desire, the issue that is at play is not so much the behavior of the other as it is my desire to control...thus anger is felt.
Anger signals in me that the problem is mine at the moment. This may be the reason the scripture reminds us to be wary of an angry person because we can be sure they are twisted inside in some way.
You realize I'm sure that anger is not evil in and of itself, but, as shown, it could be just a negative emotion that might be signaling that one's thinking and motives are screwed up. If I'm wise I'll learn from my own anger. That's certainly worth my looking into when I'm angry in a discussion or commenting on a blog. It sure makes for a better comment section on blogs I assure you.
[I'm not discounting the reality of righteous anger, just our actually having it nearly as often as we think.]
Spurgeon said this..."Men can with a few hasty words set loose a torrent of anger and uncharitableness, and cause the sweeping away of much good service and sweet fellowship, but who shall rule, restrain, or call back the raging flood.'
'Anger does a man more hurt than that which made him angry. It opens his mouth and shuts his eyes and fires his heart and drowns his sense and makes his wisdom folly."
The Prince of Preachers may have said it best.
Just a thought.
Paul B.
