There's an old song that we used to sing in Children's Church that said, "They will know we are Christians by our love..." Unfortunately, many of today's Christians are viewed as judgmental, negative, and prideful. And most of that perception is based on how we treat each other.
Christians are notorious for "shooting the wounded". When a brother or sister falls, instead of loving them, many fellow Christians tend to judge them. Instead of helping them back up and on their feet, we hold their actions over their head, keeping them in a state of defeat. We are so concerned with the minors and trying to keep fellow Christians "in line" that we are completely neglecting one of our primary purposes as believers...TO SAVE THOSE WHO ARE LOST.
"If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand."
-Mark 3:25
I love the way that the New Living Translation says it, "A family splintered by feuding will fall apart." The arguing and backbiting among the Church causes splinters of division that will slowly lead to a broken and weakened body. Don't you think that's exactly where the enemy wants us? There are people who desperately need God's message of hope, peace, and forgiveness! But if we are constantly focusing on other believers, pointing out ways they could live their lives better, how will we have the time and energy to go and seek out the lost? Beyond that, how can we tell them about Christ's love when our actions towards those in our own Church family show the exact opposite?
While we ARE to hold each other accountable, we shouldn't major in the minors. We shouldn't look at fellow Christians with a microscope, but rather through the lens of God's grace, mercy, and love.
