How about an app to tell us our moral failures and selfish tendencies?
By Dean Collins
How many times do you miss the target each day? Since we are obsessed with making note of all our accomplishments, why not our sins? My watch gives me a continual update of how many steps I take and how many times I stand and exercise. I can see how many hours I slept and how many times I was restless each night. I can tell you my pulse at any given moment, and my phone lets me run an EKG. So why not an app to track all of the times I wasn’t loving, wasn’t listening, didn’t really care, ignored someone in need? Should that be so difficult? We can use a webcam to see what is visible, but we haven’t yet found the device that tracks our motives and our less -than-righteous ideas.
On the other hand, maybe we don’t need any cool tech to do that for us. After all there are many people, sadly many Christians, who seem to pride themselves in catching and exposing another person’s misbehavior and inconsistencies. Social media is their helper to make sure everyone knows who had an oops with their words or actions.
Catch me if you can!
I’ve read the Bible cover to cover for several years now, and I just can’t find the chapter and verse that gives us instructions on when and how to catch each other sinning. Yes, there are many stories of people who sinned. In fact Romans is very clear that all of us have sinned and will sin. The Scripture also contains many examples of Jesus forgiving the sins of people. Even from the cross Jesus asked God to forgive those who crucified him.
The apostle Paul seemed more concerned about how to help someone who is caught or stuck in behaviors and attitudes that don’t honor God than in trying to catch someone making a mistake. There’s a big difference. If our motives are to catch each other sinning, then we actually might be the ones needing to be corrected and restored. Paul’s focus is the same as the focus of the gospel, restoration. It is the great and consistent message of the whole narrative of Scripture, from early in Genesis and continuing until the return of Jesus promised in Revelation. Restoration is the Kingdom way.
Help me if you will!
Paul says if we demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22, 23), then we are ready to help a brother or sister who is struggling under the bondage of sin (Galatians 6:1-10). If we are still focused on self and making sure everyone knows how good we are compared to others, then we are the ones who need the gentleness of a mature believer to help us discover the freedom of grace. The world is full of people who enjoy pointing out others breaking the rules. We need more of those who sow grace and forgiveness.
I will make another mistake soon. I will miss the mark of living Christlike in every way. And I might not even notice my error. So please pray for me. Feel free to call or write me directly so I can correct my behavior. I’ll do the same for you. I’m willing to bet that if we took this approach, we might see a multitude of people willing to join us. Before we know it, we might even see those who despise Christians leaning in to learn how we live so joyfully and peacefully together
Your time with God’s Word
Galatians 6:1-10 ESV
Photo by Alessia Chinazzo on Unsplash
