Why should believers seek a better path than the ‘gotcha’ game?

By Dean Collins

There is a big difference between “gotcha” and “I am with you.” Sadly in current culture and even in the church, there seems to be a preference for playing “gotcha.” It seems like we have become more interested in finding ways to disparage, ridicule, and embarrass than finding ways to help, share, and encourage one another.

I don’t think the apostle Paul had in mind that believers would look to catch one another in misbehavior or sin. When I explore his closing admonitions in Galatians I see him saying that if we are living by the Spirit we will treat each other consistently with the fruit of the Spirit and not the works of the flesh. Paul summarized this well as chapter 5 concludes:

“And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”

Spiritual transformation

The spiritual transformation that occurred when we surrendered to Jesus resulted in the crucifixion of the works of the flesh. As new people, we now live the life of Jesus that expresses itself completely differently from the world. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control are the characteristics of our daily lives. This fruit of the Spirit doesn’t exist as a decorative bowl of fruit on a table but is to be lived out in our relationships with each other.

This fruit of the Spirit doesn’t exist as a decorative bowl of fruit
on a table but is to be lived out in our relationships with each other.

We are not to come to one another with suspicion, trying to discover misbehaving. We are to be shoulder-to-shoulder with each other, supporting our new life in Christ, and demonstrating the transformative power of the gospel to the world around us. We are to bear witness to the nonbeliever with the same fruit of the Spirit. Sadly, we often reinforce each other’s weaknesses, seeking to devour those inside and attack those outside the church.

Every day is filled with headlines about someone’s failures, sins, and mistakes. We love the juicy story of a life gone wrong. Feeling superior to someone is not a characteristic Jesus demonstrated nor one that the Holy Spirit gives as a gift. Our social media feeds suggest we are more interested in outing a politician, an executive, an athlete, a celebrity, or a preacher than in loving, serving, and helping them in their brokenness.

Helpful hand

Imagine what would happen if we acted more like what Paul described in the first few verses of chapter 6: “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness.” What if instead of “gotcha,” we showed up with a helpful hand that demonstrated that we were present for something better than to gloat at a mistake?

Paul warns us to do a self-evaluation of our motives and to be careful that the enemy doesn't tempt us to pride. Instead, our action can be to stoop down to bear the burden of the weaker person helping them find the sure foundation of Jesus so they can rebuild their lives.

Paul gives a strong warning about getting what we give or reaping what we sow. Whatever approach we take to our neighbor will come back toward us full grown. Following the instruction of loving others the way Jesus loves us is a far better approach than looking for the faults and mistakes of others.

Reaping goodness

We are never to grow weary of doing good because it will always reap goodness in the end. It may not be tomorrow, but as we daily crucify the desires of the flesh and allow the fruit of the Spirit to grow in us, we look for the ending of Psalm 23 to be evident in our lives. Our prayer is for goodness and mercy to follow us all the days of our lives as we seek to live in the house of the Lord forever!

Your time with God’s Word
Galatians‬ ‭5:22-26; 6:1-10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Photo by Cherry Laithang at Unsplash.com

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