The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy and said, “Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people’s sins; keep yourself pure” (1 Timothy 5:22).
This verse is a caution about ordination — don’t put someone into public ministry without a thorough examination of their qualifications. Should that unqualified person mislead people, you will share in their guilt. Keep your own life clean.
I don’t ordain leaders, but do see a principle for my own life: Don’t do the same things as those whose lives I disapprove — keep my own life clean. I can think of dozens of ways to apply this. If people are gossiping, telling crude jokes, griping about something, engaged in any doubtful activities, or disobeying God in any way, I’m not to share in that, approve of that, even stand around and let it happen.
Instead, I’m to speak the truth in love, rebuke those who need rebuking with the attitude that they become pure and clean also, and keep my life clean while I’m doing it. That is, I cannot confront a gossip and then gossip about them. I cannot tell someone to be thankful and then gripe about their griping. I cannot challenge someone’s lifestyle and turn around and do the same, or talk about them behind their backs, or grumble that no one cares about purity but me.
The standards and demands of Christian living are very high. No way but by the grace of God can I ever be this kind of person. I need forgiveness for trying to help others live purer lives when I myself need help, sometimes with the very same thing that I have criticized in them.
No comments:
Post a Comment