Where do you stand
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Where do you stand
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Benoni Bulletin 14/05/06 "Where do you stand?""WHERE DO YOU STAND"Do you have a pet peeve? What irks you? What gets your goat? To some, it is the supermarket cart that refuses to be steered so you have to fight it all the time to keep it on the "straight and narrow". Others hate inefficiency of the persons entrusted with serving them, such as shop clerks and public officials. Some are irked by sometimes unintelligible English accents on the public media--radio and TV--where workers are described as "wekking" on the job, etc. In fact, in New Zealand, Donna understood a waitress to ask if we wanted "scratch paper". Now Donna is never one to turn down a "freebie" so she smiled back and said, "Yes, that would be nice". Next thing she knew, the waitress had given her "black pepper"! Who would have thought that a misunderstood accent could change scratch paper to black pepper! Jesus also had pet peeves. One was the hypocritical actions and attitudes of the Pharisees (Matthew 23) who made a mockery of religion. Another was the underhanded intrigue in the heart of Judas Iscariot, the betrayer. No wonder, then, that he drove the calloused money-changers out of the temple on a couple of occasions. My pet peeve is the tendency of some people who justify the wicked and despise the righteous. Where do you stand on that? Isaiah 5:20 gives God's view of that. He says, "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter" (ASV). How would we feel if someone put allum in our tea instead of sugar? Wouldn't that be a rather tasteless [pun intended] thing to do? How would we react if someone suggested we investigate suspicious sounds in the night and denied us a torch because "it's not that dark outside!" Do you get my drift? I get the impression that some people pretend to be more righteous and merciful than God. They justify the disobedient and they disparage those who encourage evil-doers to clean up their act! The Bible says that "to show partiality in judging is NOT good" (Proverbs 24:23). In fact, Solomon informs us that God detests such mindless self-righteousness--"don't acquit the guilty and condemn the innocent" (Proverbs 17:15). He also says, "It is not good to punish an innocent man or flog officials for their integrity" (Proverbs 17:26). In New Zealand, a used-car salesman was fired for refusing to lie about a car after his boss directed him to do so for a quick sale. The "honest previously-owned car salesman" ( I didn't think there was such a thing) was later reinstated by the labor court judge who commended him for his unexpected integrity. Imagine that--hired, fired and re-hired all in the cause of impartiality in judgment. Bravo for the judge and hallelujah for the honest car-seller! Crime might pay, but, eternally, honesty is the best policy. Furthermore, the Lord warns of consequences for such an "unjust, partial and prejudiced judge." He states "it is not good to be partial to the wicked or to deprive the innocent of justice" (Proverbs 18:5). The Lord says that "evil will never leave" such a person's house (Proverbs 17:13). He adds that people will "curse such a leader and nations will denounce him" (Proverbs 24:24). Jesus reminds us that the Word "judges" people according to the dictates of our God (John 12:48) and not based on external features, such as good looks. (1 Samuel 16:7). Where people fall down here, is when a family member or a close friend is involved in some sin and they try to justify it. We colour their actions by our own prejudices and we suggest others should overlook things that obviously should be corrected. I know they are well-meaning, but they are misguided, too. They often give support and affirmation to people who need to be kicked in the pants. God won't be so lenient on unrepented and rebellious acts of sinfulness. Be sure to read 1 Timothy 5:21. God will call the perpetrators to account. Watch out! Have you counted the cost if your soul should be lost? It is too horrible to contemplate. Love you all, Al |
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