Unfortunately
Christians these days routinely and confidently assert their supposed insight
into the thoughts and motives of those with whom they disagree. God’s people
are regrettably mirroring the practice of the world by all too often claiming
to know what others are thinking. While it is common to routinely impugn
motives, the Bible prohibits such arrogant judgments. We may be told to
adjudicate words and actions (cf. 1Cor.5:11-13; 6:2-5; et al.), but we cannot
possibly judge someone else’s motives. When it comes to “why” someone did what
he or she did, the Bible affirms what should be obvious to all: “no one knows
the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him” (1Cor.2:11). Paul
says that when it comes to another’s motives we must “wait until the Lord
comes” when Christ “will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will
expose the motives of men’s hearts” (1Cor.4:5). So let us refrain from saying
we know “why” he or she did or said this or that, and let us only deal with
ourselves regarding motives. Let us each spend more time allowing the
convicting word of God to expose the “thoughts and intentions” of our own
hearts as we prepare for the Lord’s arrival (Heb.4:12). Transgressing God’s
word in this matter and engaging in accusing one another based on the
speculative guesswork of appraising one another’s motives can only lead to
trouble.
--Pastor Mike
No comments:
Post a Comment