kayfromhome

Last week, I was scrolling through Facebook (my obvious first mistake), when I came across a comment that made my blood boil a little more than the usual rubbish.

This is not an attack on you. I know you are human. Yes, of course you are human. Human and weak; fragile and filled with mistakes that are yet to be made.

But, not many of us should wish become teachers, or preachers, for this very reason:

Though we are not perfect, we will be judged for what we say. For what we teach. “…for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” (James 3:1b)

And that standard isn’t limited to the pulpit.

Pastor, preacher, public speaker… Your platform is your pulpit. What you say over social media, in hasty quips in congregational conversation, or in flippant flicks of your fingers—that is your preaching.

When you take a hard stance on anything that isn’t clearly delineated in scripture, you risk marginalizing everyone in your sphere of influence that doesn’t agree with you over “best guess” work and opinion.

Don’t you know that abuse of the respect people have for your role is disrespect to responsibility given to you by God?

“They need to grow up.” “They’re gonna learn today!” “They shouldn’t be so sensitive.”

Callous, callous, callous.

Maybe the problem isn’t that people are too sensitive, rather, that you aren’t being sensitive at all.

Friend, guard your witness. Not to put on airs of perfection, or in a mistaken attempt at maintaining your salvation… but because you are held to a higher standard. And a good reputation is precious.

The gospel is offensive enough to those who are perishing. Must you slather it with the stink of your own hot takes and bad behavior?