If You See Something, Say Something

“For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when you do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.”  I Peter 2:20

I suppose one could put the Apostle Peter’s admonition something like this:  What have you to complain about if you mess up and then receive a reprimand from those affected by your mistake?  However, if you are doing a good job, yet still receive criticism and harassment, but you don’t let it steal your joy, entice you to retaliate, or have a pity party, then you have behaved like God would have you to.  If one is really concerned about presenting himself or herself as a child of God, then correction for errors, sins, and omissions, while not pleasant, should be appreciated as constructive criticism which leads to spiritual maturity and a closer walk with the Lord.

We do not like to have our faults pointed out to us.  It rubs us the wrong way.  Many times folks will try to rationalize, excuse, or blame someone else for their failure to adhere to sound Biblical teaching.  They know what is the right thing to do, they just don’t do it for one reason or another.  If we confess to be a follower of Jesus Christ, then the unbelieving world watches us to find some fault in us so that they can feel better about themselves.  “Well, I’m just as good as they are.”  They actually may see us do something that they know is not in keeping with God’s standard of Christian living.  I think most people who are not committed believers have a basic understanding of what godly behavior looks like, and perhaps, at times, they see some error or failure in our spiritual journey that we don’t see, just like we see in others.

Believers watch each other as well, not as spies, but as partners in accountability.  We need to be bold enough to approach a fellow brother or sister in Christ who has slipped off the straight and narrow and lovingly coach them back on the right path.  However, we also need to be willing to hear and receive correction from others when they see us acting in a not so Christian way.  We are all on this journey together, and we need each other’s support, prayers, and loving correction, and we also need a willing heart to accept correction.

Have you ever been on a job, doing a task the wrong way, because no one would tell you that you were doing it wrong?  When you finally discovered your error, you ask, “Why didn’t someone say something, rather than letting me do it wrong all this time?”  This applies to our spiritual lives as well.  If we see a fellow Christian walking at a guilty distance, then say something.  Jesus said in Matthew 18:15 to talk to your brother about his sin against you.  If he receives your instruction and repents of his sin, then he will be grateful that you cared enough about him to set him straight.  And, that is the bottom line, to care about one another.

As the second part of the above verse states, what really sets the committed Christian apart from the rest of the world, is his or her ability to take criticism even when it is not deserved.  It takes a lot more grace to hear correction or condemnation from others when there is no reason for it.  Our human nature wants to strike back, but our spiritual nature which God has instilled in all who belong to Him, can give us the power to be graceful and kind when criticized unjustly.  That is not what people expect.  They expect us to lash out, but when we remain calm and peaceful in the face of unjust criticism, that is bound to make an impression upon them.  It is up to believers to set an example.  How else will the unbelieving world see Christ in action if they don’t see it in us?