SPOTLIGHTS AND POINTED FINGERS

Piers Anthony, a British author, once said, “When one person makes an accusation, check to be sure he himself is not the guilty one. Sometimes it is those whose case is weak who make the most clamour.”

Turning the spotlight away from ourselves, is the most comfortable position. It focusses attention on the place where the light shines.

From my own observations over more than fifty years in the church scene, that is also true of many who claim to be Christians.

Anthony's statement also holds true of those who are quick to gossip about such accusations.

The truth of this statement is a sensitive issue for me since my best friend, a highly respected pastor, to whom I owe much, was accused of having an affair.

He was sensitive to the needs of others, and was a truer servant of God than any other pastor I've known in my long life, and, as I was later to find out, suffered from bipolar disorder, something he hid very well.

My dear friend committed suicide, leaving a note which stated that he could not live with the shame that the accusations caused for his wife, family, and church.

The saddest part of this story IS NOT the accusation, as sad as it is, but that it was widely reported, and that it was PROVEN to be FALSE.

This sensitive servant of God had his life cut short by his own hand, most likely assisted by his bipolar disorder.

The much greatest assistance was by the tongues and pens of those who ran with the story, or should I say, the latest hot gossip.

It's a mystery that we, who claim to belong to Christ, can be so quick to condemn the failures of others, whether supposed or real, and at the same time forget that, our Lord received us unto Himself, without condemnation, but amazing grace.

Maybe it's not such a mystery, but a simple matter of religion rather than true membership in the Body of Christ? Self-righteousness rather than the grace of imputed righteousness?

It's quite amazing how the discomfort of a lump of wood in one's eye can pale into insignificance compared to the speck of sawdust in another's eye!