How to Follow Jesus: A Practical Guide for Growing Your Faith by Craig Springer

Author:Craig Springer [Springer, Craig]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Zondervan
Published: 2019-12-02T00:00:00+00:00

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

—Matthew 7:3–5

Yeah, that feels a little abrasive, but those are Jesus’ words, not mine. Jesus was speaking to a group of religious folks who were trying to clean up everyone else instead of themselves. Modern translation: “Realize you have bad breath and focus on your own Listerine moment first; then you can kindly help others in small ways with their issues.”

When we redirect our evaluation energy toward ourselves, a few tectonic shifts occur.

First, we see the reality that we are part of the problem within this Christian community. Some of the problems exist because we brought them into the church. Sometimes what we don’t like in others is really their reaction to what they see in us. For example, when people act defensive, it can often be a result of something offensive we’ve said or done. We look at their defensiveness with disdain, but we may have played a part in stirring it up.

Second, we begin to learn this mantra that took me many years to acknowledge: if you spot it you got it. Often when our frustrations toward others are triggered, it’s because we see a trait in them we admittedly despise in ourselves. Have you ever had conversations in your own head like the ones I’ve had? “I really don’t like being around John. It only took me one conversation with him to see how judgmental and dismissive of others he is. He jumps to quick conclusions about them and doesn’t even try to understand what’s going on in their lives. Yuck. I’m going to stay away from him!”

Did you see it? I created the same negative spin about John in my head for which I was judging him. I spotted what I didn’t like in him because underneath the surface I do the same thing and don’t like it about myself. We need this kind of self-awareness with others, so we can develop the humility required for community.

Third, when you realize the only Christian you can control is yourself, you’ll begin to see a powerful pattern emerge. The more Christlike your own humble “my plank first” self-examination, the more people will want to be with you and be influenced by you. Your “plank-work” will inspire and assist them in removing what’s broken in their lives. This builds the health of your Christian community through a holistic cycle of everyone focusing on their own growth and then everyone growing together.

This only happens, however, if you don’t bail. You need to be willing to stay at the table, not condemning but working together toward transformation in love.

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