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Throw Down the Stones—Let the Rocks Drop!
By Pastor Wes | February 27, 2009
“I can’t go to church, it’s full of hypocrites,” is a statement often heard and said. But have you really considered what it means to be a “hypocrite”?
The harshest words spoken by Jesus were directed toward hypocrites—legalistic, religious leaders of the day (Matthew 23). He rebuked these men for being prideful and focused on rules, appearance, titles and position. “Hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs” He said, “—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity . . .” (Matthew 23:27, NLT).
Immediately after that strong statement, scripture tells us Jesus grieved over His people, saying, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me” (verse 37).
In other words, the Lord loved and wanted to help these hypocrites. All it would have taken was a willingness on their part to allow Him to do so. The same is true for every person today. Humility will get us everywhere with God. No doubt there are hypocrites in churches, just like there are liars, murderers, back-biters, adulterers, covetous people . . . SINNERS in churches! Why is that so? Because sinners live among us — they are us! The Church actually is a hospital for sinners.
Christians are not called to judge others. The Lord made that plain enough when He addressed the crowd gathered to enforce the law and kill a woman caught in adultery. He said, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her” (John 8:7).
We need to throw down the stones. Let the rocks drop. And focus our attention on loving God and loving others. Church is all about coming together as the family of God, learning His Word and His ways, and providing support for each other as we grow in the Lord. Our church life should be the most rewarding and uplifting experience of each week. It should be a place that will help us overcome our weaknesses, and become healthy, spirit, soul and body. A consistent church life will strengthen us and help us stay on the right course.
Jesus said people would know we’re His disciples by our love for one another, not by our judgment of one another’s faults. Let’s not be robbed of this great gift as the family of God by being consumed with the flaws in others. None of us are perfect . . . only forgiven.
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