Recently, I was reading over some notes that I had written in my Bible study software over the years of studying the Bible. I came across the following verse and remember highlighting it: “Do not let those who put their hope in you be disgraced because of me, Lord GOD of Armies; do not let those who seek you be humiliated because of me, God of Israel.” (Psalm 69:6, CSB) I made this note: This is my prayer all too often because I do not ever wish for my failures to be endured by any that I am to serve and bless. June 24, 2014
While I am certainly no example for anyone in the Christian life, this verse spoke to me on a day that I needed to hear it. I had been in a disagreement with a person in the church I was pastoring at the time. This person had accused me of being prideful, arrogant, unapproachable, manipulative, and neglectful of the people I was supposed to be ministering to. We had words over this person’s assessment of my life and character. I had disagreed and told this person so. I apologized for making this person feel this way and we parted.
Later, in my quiet time, I came across this verse. I realized that the issue at hand was not about me winning an argument and standing up for or defending myself. This issue was about what my actions were doing to another believer. I wrote this note in my journal that day and vowed to work on this issues that had arisen. I was still not convinced that this person was totally accurate, but prayed and asked God’s help to make sure that I would never be perceived this way again.
You might be wondering why this experience is worthy of an article in the newspaper. I think it is appropriate for a number of reasons. Too many Christians think that their actions are their business and that no one else has a right to expect anything from them. Others try to hide behind scripture to be rude, corrosive, or just mean-spirited as they call others to holy living. While I am a proponent of obeying scripture, we do not have a right to forsake loving others as we instruct them to live it.
Another reason this is appropriate is the other side of the aisle. There are some people who call themselves Christians that think they have a right to do anything they want with no thought of who might be harmed in the process. Paul told us not to be a stumbling block to a brother over our use of liberty (1 Corinthians 8:9). Paul said he would rather not eat meat or drink wine than to be a stumbling block to a fellow believer.
It would be helpful for me to consider Psalm 69:6 every day. I need to ask how my words can
make people think less of God. I need to think of how my attitude can make people think less of the gospel. I need to consider carefully how my actions can cause people to think less of the church. I need to be careful to think about my story. What do I want people to think of when they think of me? That I am a follower of Jesus? Or that I was a foul-mouthed, means-pirited, evil-tempered, lascivious man that is no different, or even worse than, the word?
May we constantly remember our responsibility and opportunity to affect others through our testimony and protect it from tarnishing as far as we are able.