Who Gives You The Right?

Good morning and welcome to Our Daily Walk.

Audio version at http://tinyurl.com/2fs6pc

Most everyone understands authority. A teacher is paid to teach students and has the authority to set the lesson plans, give exams and grade the work being done. She had the right to check your work and make corrections as needed.

A coach on a ball team has the authority to set a practice schedule, determine which plays to be used and to evaluate the players on the team. He has the right to give instruction on what a player needs to do to improve his play.

Although we may not always like it, others often have the responsibility to critique our actions and provide us with needed feedback and correction. In most cases they exercise this right in order to make us better.

But does anyone have the right to tell us that we are wrong in something we do? Preachers are an easy target here as we often stand and teach or preach on sin. Inevitably someone in our audiences will be involved in some sort of sin discussed. When a message really hits home sometimes a remark heard is, “You really stepped on our toes today, preacher.” That phrase usually acknowledges that the topic discussed does need improvement and that the message should be helpful for improvement.

On the other hand, preachers sometimes hear the question, “Who gives you the right to tell me that I’m wrong?” In this case the same message may have been delivered, but the reaction is quite different.

Several years ago I was in a discussion with a man and woman who were living together but were not married. They had been attending worship services and were interested in becoming Christians. As the talk unfolded the details of their relationship came to the surface.

I made a note of that fact and later in the discussion the topic of repentance was presented. They seemed to understand that repentance meant leaving behind things that were unacceptable to God. But then when I mentioned that it would also mean no longer living together unless they were married, I received the, “who gives you the right,” speech.

Despite all of the verses in the Bible that specifically state that those who commit fornication and adultery are not going to heaven, this couple was indignant. They were not going to give up their relationship.

So, did anyone have the right to tell them that they were in the wrong? Jesus says, “Yes.” In Matthew 7:1-5, He clearly shows that we are to help out one another. That passage begins with, “Judge not, that you be not judged.” Most people stop there and think that Jesus was saying that no one should judge another. But read on and you will find that Jesus first wants you to be spiritually right, and then go and help your brother with his sin or problem.

Paul speaks of this as well in Galatians 6:1-2. “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

Jesus fully intended that His own people would be able to detect sin in the lives of others and would be spiritually fit so as to help that person out of that sin. Jesus not only gave the right to do so, but also expects that we can be effective in saving the souls of others by correcting them in a spirit of gentleness.

One more passage on this comes from James 5:19-20. “Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.”

The school teacher and coach both judged our efforts and helped us to be better. They pointed out things that were incorrect and helped us replace them with the things that were right. We are better today because of their efforts.

On Our Daily Walk today, may we be reminded that God is our ultimate judge, but that we also will be judged by the words of His book. May we always seek to be spiritual enough to be able to help others when they fall into temptation. And may we ourselves be open to correction when we are wrong.

Our thought for the day: “There is no fear of judgment for the man who judges himself according to the Word of God.” Howard G. Hendricks

May God bless you on your daily walk.

© Our Daily Walk, Mike Baker, 2007. Permission is granted to copy these articles provided they are not sold and the author's name and copyright are included.