A False Charity: Excessive Fear of a Critical Spirit

We avoid many situations by comforting ourselves that to bring our concerns would be too critical (at least face to face.) We know we should probably say something or do something but......since it would put us in a position, it is possible we would be too critical, self-righteous if we did it. Or in any case somebody would think that, so I guess I won't do it.

We live in a very tolerant age. That has its pluses and minuses. We want to be liked by all. We want to be viewed as tolerant and well liked. We are willing to overlook things that are wrong for social advantages. Does the Bible say to not judge----- it says that with what judgement we judge

we will be judged. However that does not let us off the hook in
turning a blind eye toward some of the things going on that we know are not right.

TESTIMONY OF A BLIND MAN

How can I bring a reproof without coming off or being critical? A Biblical story comes to mind.

I will keep it really brief------When the blind man was given sight--
their was no question where the honor was due. People took note that
he was blind but now he could see. He gave the credit to Jesus Christ.
He could at any time and approach others that were in the same predicament and point
them that Jesus was the one that could help them. There is humility in
that approach because honor goes to where it is due. Too many
Christians let themselves off the hook because they would rather act
that they are still too blind to help others. They like to keep enough
sickness to make them unfit to help others, but be well enough to beg for
bread. The Spirit is faithful even though the flesh is weak. We need
to fall on our face about the fact that we were unworthy to be healed,
but then we need to step forward in grace to help the next soul see
the Savior. The verse about the fact that love covers a multitude of sins never fails

to fascinate me.(1 Peter 4:8)
I can never quite figure out how sickly or slow pace everything
sounds in some of our revival counsel meetings. It seems like we need to hear more

stories of victory. I know I surely was failing in the flesh
as much as any one there, you know dealing with pride, lust or you name the temptation

---but God was always faithful to help me back
up or keep me from falling from Grace. His promises are real! So it has nothing to do with our own
righteousness. Though we do need to strive to live Holy open lives and bear our cross.

We just have to keep up the maintenance program of
recognizing our weakness and turning to the Lord continually---that is
sight and vision. From there we need to avail ourselves of the
promises of God and get up and walk even if it is summer time!

In trench warfare they call these people in the front lines sappers.
They risk their lives crawling out of the safety of the trench to snip
barb wire and other activities to open a way to gain new ground. They
know they are vulnerable, but at the same time they know somebody has
to do it.

CRITICALNESS ON A CONGREGATIONAL LEVEL

The true criticalness that
is in our midst is silent and is behind closed doors or done behind backs. In this day and age if you say something unpopular or "unkosher" to the "status quo", you usually do not hear face to face differences. Just like building projects---far too much politics are involved behind the scenes that is noticed, but not said. I have sat in counsels where motions have been passed, but many were against it, but nobody speaks. If they had the wrong spirit and spoke, we could have avoided division and festering wounds
in any case. The silence just made for problems and mistrust down the road.

Charity is a mystery in a way. A parent will reluctantly discipline a child and when it is done right the child loves the parent more for the love that it took to do it (Evidence or fruit of a childlike spirit).

A healthy congregation has this component: There is an open honesty between its members one with another--that has to be a sign of charity. The
spirit is able to flow in a group like that. What I am talking about has little to do with the legalism vs. freedom of the spirit struggle. To me
that is a distraction to the real issues that we have been exposing: the lack of true charity for one another and not having a real openness as
their should be as is the case with truly humble people. We have the most
polished religious terminology and talkers, but true charity bears hearts that have nothing to hide.

JLT