The Gospel Helps Us Hold Others in High Regard
One of the most valuable commodities we possess as Christians is our attitudes towards each other. Protecting the reputations of others in our minds is so vital to Christianity. Maintainnig our high and good opinions of others is largely what maintains the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph. 4:1-3).
The moment we allow ourselves to be critical or judgmental of someone else, our view of them becomes denigrated, and our opinion of them degraded. We just don't see them as we used to, and we seem to not respect them as much anymore. Our minds and hearts slowly and strangely begin to view them as less than honorable, not worth our emotional or filial investment any longer. And before you know it we are talking about them to others with less than respectable speech, if not downright gossip and slander, degrading their reputation in the eyes of others also.
But if the gospel remains the active agent in all our relationships, then forgiveness, gentleness, patience, meekness, humility and forbearance will maintain a foster a spirit of unity, just as these same things maintain unity between the Heavenly Father and ourselves.
This is the reason the text of Ephesians 4:1-3 got put where it did, right before one of the most formidable passages on the doctrine of the church. And that is also the reason why this formidable chapter on the church ends the way it does - on kindness, forgiveness, and tenderheartdness (4:29-32). The church just can't function with any degree of health, growth, nor unity when its members are not doing all they can, with regard to these qualities, to maintain their loving opinion and respect for one another in their hearts and minds regardless of what we may do to each other.
Does the gospel function this way in your relationships with other saints? Does it function this way with your wife? Your husband? Your children? Your annoying coworker? Your pastor? Your church leadership? Your nosy neighbor? Does it function this way with everybody you know (including your stubborn Beagle!)?
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7 comments:
Well, I don't know if it needs to function with the stubborn Beagle! ; ) But maybe that's good practice.
Great post, Rob. God used your words to convict me of a wrong attitude toward a brother in Christ. Thank you.
Becky
Hi Rob,
Are you feeling OK? Two post in a row that doesn’t take 20 minutes to read…ha!;) Good post. This is something the Lord has been working with me in my life for quite sometime, and recently I am seeing some good victories in this area. That 10 years on a Teamster dock added words to my vocabulary that I am still trying to withhold from coming out with when certain circumstances occur.
Your post here still leaves me somewhat wanting, and I don’t think you answered the questions I posed. When time allows I will repost for more clarification.
{{{Candleman}}}
Good one, Rob. I gotta keep this in mind when I start ranting about guys like Rick Warren and Brian McLaren...thanks for the attitude reset.
The pastor of the church my father-in-law attends asked me to speak at their Wednesday night meeting later this summer. The suggested topic was my experience as a Christian and a teacher in a public school.
As I was praying about this, the Lord showed me three things to share. One was about relating to students, especially 9th graders.
One of the things that I have found helpful in keeping a good attitude toward others, and especially toward students, is to remind myself that we are all made in God’s image (Gen 1:26,27).
And “all” means “all.” That image may be unrecognizable in some. (Insert the name of the dictator, movie star, politician, or annoying student of one’s choice.) Yet I am commanded to love my brother, my neighbor and my enemy. Each is an image of God, and beloved by my Creator.
Additionally, for my Christian brothers and sisters, we are all being transformed, recreated into His image. Together, we are all fallen; we are all sinners; we are all saved by grace. None of us, least of all me, deserve His blessings. And yet He has chosen me (and chosen each of us) to be transformed into the image of His Son. How can I, undeserving of His grace, justify to Him, demeaning His image by holding it less than the highest esteem?
And yet, I am also going to fail at that. So as I remind my self that we are all made in His image, I also remind myself that the cross covers where I fall short.
Blessings to you for your post.
To all,
Grace to you for your encouraging comments. This post is an item I have worked out with fear and trembling for years and yet still, often times, with a great measure of failure. So let us encourage one another daily so that none of us will become hardened in our hearts towards others by the deceitfulness of sin.
Thanks Rob. Great stuff.
This has huge implications for evangelism to the third-world. Think of the dignity the gospel brings to people say in Zambia, for instance. The gospel brings a life completely new way of life for those people.
Amen.
Mike at Theologica posted a great piece on October 5, 2005 called "Don't Take it Personally." It is a great follow up to my post here.
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