Josh Hatcher's Blog
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Harsh Words
NOTE: I took out some of the things that seemed a bit too personal out of this... so it's not quite so specific to any particular situation.
People can be cruel.
Some people can have a tendency to point out everything else that they think everyone else is doing wrong. They like to accuse, finger point, and to be judgemental.
Yes. Even some times people at Open Arms can do this... Jesus had harsh words for people who accuse, finger point, and judge.
If you've gossiped against someone, go to that person and be honest, and apologize. And I'm not asking if you STARTED something, I'm saying that if you opened your mouth, and said something hurtful about another person, go to them, and tell them you are sorry.
If you know that someone has hurt you, go to them. And let them know, lovingly, that they hurt you. We're talking about what Jesus said to do.
Regarding those of you who think that you are without sin, and have a blast pointing out everyone elses, read what Jesus said to people like yourself....
4-7"Instead of giving you God's Law as food and drink by which you can banquet on God, they package it in bundles of rules, loading you down like pack animals. They seem to take pleasure in watching you stagger under these loads, and wouldn't think of lifting a finger to help. Their lives are perpetual fashion shows, embroidered prayer shawls one day and flowery prayers the next. They love to sit at the head table at church dinners, basking in the most prominent positions, preening in the radiance of public flattery, receiving honorary degrees, and getting called 'Doctor' and 'Reverend.'
8-10"Don't let people do that to you, put you on a pedestal like that. You all have a single Teacher, and you are all classmates. Don't set people up as experts over your life, letting them tell you what to do. Save that authority for God; let him tell you what to do. No one else should carry the title of 'Father'; you have only one Father, and he's in heaven. And don't let people maneuver you into taking charge of them. There is only one Life-Leader for you and them—Christ.
11-12"Do you want to stand out? Then step down. Be a servant. If you puff yourself up, you'll get the wind knocked out of you. But if you're content to simply be yourself, your life will count for plenty.
Frauds!
13"I've had it with you! You're hopeless, you religion scholars, you Pharisees! Frauds! Your lives are roadblocks to God's kingdom. You refuse to enter, and won't let anyone else in either.
15"You're hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You go halfway around the world to make a convert, but once you get him you make him into a replica of yourselves, double-damned.
16-22"You're hopeless! What arrogant stupidity! You say, 'If someone makes a promise with his fingers crossed, that's nothing; but if he swears with his hand on the Bible, that's serious.' What ignorance! Does the leather on the Bible carry more weight than the skin on your hands? And what about this piece of trivia: 'If you shake hands on a promise, that's nothing; but if you raise your hand that God is your witness, that's serious'? What ridiculous hairsplitting! What difference does it make whether you shake hands or raise hands? A promise is a promise. What difference does it make if you make your promise inside or outside a house of worship? A promise is a promise. God is present, watching and holding you to account regardless.
23-24"You're hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You keep meticulous account books, tithing on every nickel and dime you get, but on the meat of God's Law, things like fairness and compassion and commitment—the absolute basics!—you carelessly take it or leave it. Careful bookkeeping is commendable, but the basics are required. Do you have any idea how silly you look, writing a life story that's wrong from start to finish, nitpicking over commas and semicolons?
25-26"You're hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You burnish the surface of your cups and bowls so they sparkle in the sun, while the insides are maggoty with your greed and gluttony. Stupid Pharisee! Scour the insides, and then the gleaming surface will mean something.
27-28"You're hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You're like manicured grave plots, grass clipped and the flowers bright, but six feet down it's all rotting bones and worm-eaten flesh. People look at you and think you're saints, but beneath the skin you're total frauds.
The Truth is, that's what's been going on... and it will stop. God wants us to examine our own hearts, not those of everyone else.
If you think you do see your brother in sin, it's not up to you to tell EVERYONE about it, it's up to you to confront that person in love. Not in jealousy, hatred, anger, contempt, criticism.
So let's stop it now, before it goes from a little thing that was said, to a lifetime of backbiting and gossiping.
Let's start making it right by making it right with God.
Father, please forgive us for our attitudes. I know I am not perfect, and I know I'm not as important as I've told myself I am. I am a piece of this puzzle. I'm a part of this body. I'm not here to focus on what everyone else does wrong. I'm here to focus on doing my job, which is to serve and love the rest. I'm sorry if I've hurt anyone, help me to make it right. Forgive me, and help me to make it right. Amen.
now...
when you read this, did I offend you? Do thoughts come in your head like, "yeah, but you just don't understand!" or "What does Josh know?!", then call me. We'll talk.
People can be cruel.
Some people can have a tendency to point out everything else that they think everyone else is doing wrong. They like to accuse, finger point, and to be judgemental.
Yes. Even some times people at Open Arms can do this... Jesus had harsh words for people who accuse, finger point, and judge.
If you've gossiped against someone, go to that person and be honest, and apologize. And I'm not asking if you STARTED something, I'm saying that if you opened your mouth, and said something hurtful about another person, go to them, and tell them you are sorry.
If you know that someone has hurt you, go to them. And let them know, lovingly, that they hurt you. We're talking about what Jesus said to do.
Regarding those of you who think that you are without sin, and have a blast pointing out everyone elses, read what Jesus said to people like yourself....
4-7"Instead of giving you God's Law as food and drink by which you can banquet on God, they package it in bundles of rules, loading you down like pack animals. They seem to take pleasure in watching you stagger under these loads, and wouldn't think of lifting a finger to help. Their lives are perpetual fashion shows, embroidered prayer shawls one day and flowery prayers the next. They love to sit at the head table at church dinners, basking in the most prominent positions, preening in the radiance of public flattery, receiving honorary degrees, and getting called 'Doctor' and 'Reverend.'
8-10"Don't let people do that to you, put you on a pedestal like that. You all have a single Teacher, and you are all classmates. Don't set people up as experts over your life, letting them tell you what to do. Save that authority for God; let him tell you what to do. No one else should carry the title of 'Father'; you have only one Father, and he's in heaven. And don't let people maneuver you into taking charge of them. There is only one Life-Leader for you and them—Christ.
11-12"Do you want to stand out? Then step down. Be a servant. If you puff yourself up, you'll get the wind knocked out of you. But if you're content to simply be yourself, your life will count for plenty.
Frauds!
13"I've had it with you! You're hopeless, you religion scholars, you Pharisees! Frauds! Your lives are roadblocks to God's kingdom. You refuse to enter, and won't let anyone else in either.
15"You're hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You go halfway around the world to make a convert, but once you get him you make him into a replica of yourselves, double-damned.
16-22"You're hopeless! What arrogant stupidity! You say, 'If someone makes a promise with his fingers crossed, that's nothing; but if he swears with his hand on the Bible, that's serious.' What ignorance! Does the leather on the Bible carry more weight than the skin on your hands? And what about this piece of trivia: 'If you shake hands on a promise, that's nothing; but if you raise your hand that God is your witness, that's serious'? What ridiculous hairsplitting! What difference does it make whether you shake hands or raise hands? A promise is a promise. What difference does it make if you make your promise inside or outside a house of worship? A promise is a promise. God is present, watching and holding you to account regardless.
23-24"You're hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You keep meticulous account books, tithing on every nickel and dime you get, but on the meat of God's Law, things like fairness and compassion and commitment—the absolute basics!—you carelessly take it or leave it. Careful bookkeeping is commendable, but the basics are required. Do you have any idea how silly you look, writing a life story that's wrong from start to finish, nitpicking over commas and semicolons?
25-26"You're hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You burnish the surface of your cups and bowls so they sparkle in the sun, while the insides are maggoty with your greed and gluttony. Stupid Pharisee! Scour the insides, and then the gleaming surface will mean something.
27-28"You're hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You're like manicured grave plots, grass clipped and the flowers bright, but six feet down it's all rotting bones and worm-eaten flesh. People look at you and think you're saints, but beneath the skin you're total frauds.
The Truth is, that's what's been going on... and it will stop. God wants us to examine our own hearts, not those of everyone else.
If you think you do see your brother in sin, it's not up to you to tell EVERYONE about it, it's up to you to confront that person in love. Not in jealousy, hatred, anger, contempt, criticism.
So let's stop it now, before it goes from a little thing that was said, to a lifetime of backbiting and gossiping.
Let's start making it right by making it right with God.
Father, please forgive us for our attitudes. I know I am not perfect, and I know I'm not as important as I've told myself I am. I am a piece of this puzzle. I'm a part of this body. I'm not here to focus on what everyone else does wrong. I'm here to focus on doing my job, which is to serve and love the rest. I'm sorry if I've hurt anyone, help me to make it right. Forgive me, and help me to make it right. Amen.
now...
when you read this, did I offend you? Do thoughts come in your head like, "yeah, but you just don't understand!" or "What does Josh know?!", then call me. We'll talk.
:: posted by joshhatcher, 5:30 AM
2 Comments:
AMEN JOSH WELL PUT. I LOVE AND MISS YOU GUYS WHEN I HAVE TO WORK SO MUCH.
AMEN JOSH WELL PUT. I LOVE AND MISS YOU GUYS WHEN I HAVE TO WORK SO MUCH.
