Tricky Planks

One question I hate being asked is "What is your biggest pet peeve?" I don't like being asked that question because I'm always afraid I am one of my own pet peeves. For example, I've heard someone say, "My biggest pet peeve is bad table manners." But I've known the person and I know they smack and put both elbows on the table, etc. How does this happen? How do we become the things we dislike so much?

When Jesus spoke against judging he said, "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." Matt. 7:3-5

Those verses drive me up the wall, b/c they are so true. Anytime I've ever wanted to point out someone else's sin, I've prayed for God to reveal any planks in my own eyes. I'm not going to lie, I feel like God reveals a whole deck, not just a plank when I pray that. Most of the time, I've realized that I noticed my friend's sin only b/c it was in me. It may have looked a little different, but nonetheless it was sin.

You maybe wondering what got me on this pet peeve/ judging kick. Well, last night I was reading some else's blog and they were completely bashing a Christian leader I really admire, respect, and know personally. One believer posted his disagreements he had w/ this leader and it become a full out bashing fest. Other people began to comment and agree. One person went so far as to say they wished this leader would cheat on his wife, so his ministry would fall.

Bashing Christ's bride is one of my major pet peeves. However if you know me, then I'm sure you've heard me say negative things about churches. It makes me sick that I've ever said anything negative about specific churches and to think that my negative words could have brought someone else down too.

Unity, harmony, peace...why is it so hard for us? Why is it so easy for us to find fault and so hard for us to forgive? Love. Love. Love. Love should be our prayer.

I may have quoted this scripture a million times on this blog, but I cannot get over these words of Jesus: "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:35

Let me just add, I don't think that means that if the truth isn't being preached in our churches that we should just sit back and claim we're promoting unity and not discord. I think there is a reason why the church in Berea is mentioned in Acts. Scripture says, "... for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true." Acts 17:11b

We can learn a lot from the Bereans...