Ephesians 5:6-12, “Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.”
Many people completely misunderstand
the difference between Biblically exposing evil verses committing evil by
slandering and hurting others with gossip. First and foremost, God searches
and knows the thoughts of our heart. Hebrews 4:13, “Neither is there any
creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and
opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.” God fully knows if
our heart intends on standing for the truth of God's Word, or if we intend on
tearing down, hurting and being malicious and unkind to someone. We may live
in denial, but we cannot fool God. Proverbs 24:12, “If thou sayest, Behold,
we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that
keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man
according to his works?” Having said that, God knows that my heart is pure
when I write articles. I'm not trying to hurt anyone. My only goal is to open
people's eyes about spiritual matters, uplift the precious name of Jesus,
exalt the inspired King James Bible, and win souls to Christ to further the
Kingdom Of God.
The Bible teaches The Golden Rule in Matthew 7:12, that is, treat others the way that you want to be treated. The Lord will judge us in eternity on that basis, measuring out to us the same brutality or mercy that we measured (dished out) to others (Matthew 7:1-2). Hypocritical, self-righteous, critics who vehemently slander and destroy the good name of others who make mistakes and sin, will be shown the same intolerance as they have shown others. This is true of the evil people who attack preachers, condemning them and trying to discredit all the good they've done for the Lord because of some unfounded gossip they heard through the grape-vine (or destroying a thousand good deeds because of one sin).
A man can spend his entire life helping others, the poor and the hurting; but then sin once and have his name ruined until his grave. Although many people see no fault in that, we must remember that God is going to judge us by the SAME standard by which we have judged others. Would you want your sins forever cast up into your face? God promises to do to you the same that you do to others (Matthew 7:1-2). Think about that! The proper heart's attitude ought to be forgiveness, mercy and a willingness to let the past be buried in people's lives. After all, you're just as big a sinner, you probably just don't realize it as most people don'. Until a person is publickly shunned, ridiculed and ostracized for their sins, crimes or mistakes, they can never truly comprehend the damage that gossip causes, and the pain of rejection and the the hurt of utter humiliation.
Please understand that I'm not talking about trust here. Trust and forgiveness are two entirely different things. You shouldn't trust someone who has given you a reason not to trust them anymore. However, you can love, forgive and not hold a grudge against that person (James 5:19). It depends much on the situation. Obviously if a maniac takes a baseball bat to your child's head, you're not going to be able to shake hands and let bygones be bygones just because they apologize. God doesn't expect us to do that either. But you can forgive IN YOUR HEART, and place that person into God's hands for judgment (which is exactly what Romans 12:19 teaches, and for us not to avenge ourselves). Forgiveness is for us more than anyone, so that we won't become embittered with hatred for those who hurt us or our loved ones.
The Bible teaches that we should instead “HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST” (1st Corinthians 2:16). As believers we are commanded by Jesus in John 5:39 to “SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES!!!” Turn off Oprah and turn on some Bible-preaching. Turn off the radio and listen to the Bible. Turn off the electronic toys and spend time in prayer. You won't get the mind of Christ by listening to heathens like Dr. Phil, Iyanla Vanzant and Professor Fat-Bottom. You won't get the mind of Christ from listening to apostate neo-ecumenical phonies like Rick Warren, Pat Robertson and Joel Osteen. If you want THE TRUTH, then you want the Word of God, which is the truth according to John 17:17. Jesus said that His Words are truth (John 6:63). Jesus is the truth (John 14:6). This wicked world is blinded by Satan, filled with secular teachings, the bogus lies of evolution, and the heathen principles of humanism and atheism (Colossians 2:8).
Ephesians 5:8-9, “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)”
I walk with God as a sinner saved by God's grace, and His Holy Spirit speaks to my heart as His child (Romans 8:9). When I see evil, I am obligated as a Christian to expose it. Country music has always glorified adultery and the industry is saturated with wickedness, greed and sexual immorality. The wicked world is ruled by Satan, although the physical earth itself all belongs to God (1st Corinthians 10:26). God has been so good to all of us, giving us the earth for our enjoyment. Pseudo-scientists are telling us that the earth came from “Accidental Aftermath” in the universe. God deserves so much better from us!
“For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God." —John 12:43
