And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. - Matt. 7:3-5
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. - Matt. 23:23-24
What do these two passages have in common? Besides the fact Christ is addressing the Pharisees …
The bulk of Jesus’ ministry was sandwiched between these two incidents. He warned them (Pharisees) in the beginning, and He warned them at the end. Over the course of three years, I’m sure He warned them multiple other times. If you’re going to hold someone to a certain standard – make sure you meet that standard yourself.
One of the very basic tenets of our faith is that we must have authority for what we do. Some say we must have explicit commands – or we are free to make our own choices. Others say an example is just as binding as an explicit command. Regardless – it all boils down to a view, one way or the other, on authority.
Names are thrown around, accusations are made, arguments and strife abound amidst brethren. Men, and women, who claim to be Christians, are pointing fingers and telling each other “you’re going to HELL!” – all because the other person(s) don’t share their view on authority.
The idiocy of that conflict aside … it’s a whole ‘nother subject … let’s not get into it here; that’s not the point of this post.
I am really tired and frustrated, and yes – angry, when statements are made that actions and choices of mine are not within the bounds of Scriptural authority – statements made by the very people who say they don’t have to have authority for the things they do.
Camel meat, anyone?
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