Dewayne Bryant's Blog, page 6

Imitation is More than Flattery

Some people view imitation as a negative thing. Books and movies that appear too similar to previous productions can be labeled with dreaded words like “derivative” and “unoriginal.” In the western world, we like to be imaginative, innovative, and unique. But in Christianity, imitation can be a very good thing.

Paul told the Corinthians to imitate him as he imitated Christ. He wanted them to pursue righteousness and imitate him in suffering for the sake of the gospel. There’s no doubt he was an impressive person, and a model believer. But what does it mean to imitate Paul? 

Paul had several especially noteworthy qualities worthy of imitation. First, he never minimized the importance of the truth. Although he admits that he does not use “lofty speech” (1 Corinthians 2:1), this doesn’t mean that Paul was a poor speaker. Instead, he chose to be direct. Rather than try to impress his hearers with woodcraft, he put truth at the front and center in his messages.

Second, Paul was bold. When writing to the Galatians, Paul rebukes them and expresses his disappointment in their lack of conviction. He confronts their errors but does so both boldly and lovingly. He is concerned enough about their spiritual well-being to tell them about it. He doesn’t let his personal dislike of confrontation stop him from telling his audience what thy desperately needed to hear for their own good.

Third, being uplifting was part of Paul’s personal strategy. He praises, encourages, and strengthens the Philippians. he even tells the Corinthians that he is thankful for them (1 corinthians 1:4-9) before showing them some tough love. A well-placed word of kindness can do a world of good, and Paul regularly praised others before admonishing them. 

In Paul’s range of responses to those around him, we see a man driven to imitate Christ. To do likewise, we must focus on God’s will, maintain the purity of our character, and adopt the heart of a servant. We are never more honorable or more commendable than when we are patterning our lives after the example of Jesus. But we might also learn to follow the example of other Christians who exemplify praiseworthy qualities. Imitation isn’t bad—we could argue that it’s the backbone of faith. 

Defeating Bitterness

Many of us think that it’s harmless to harbor negative emotions toward other people. We often excuse it as something natural, like when we get angry at bona fide injustice or unfairness. At other times, we spin negativity into something positive, such as when we hold a grudge against someone else as a defense mechanism to remind us that we cannot trust them. Bitterness can be of those things. But if we are going to be the salt and light Christ commands us to be, we have to defeat bitterness in our lives. Here are four things we can do. 

Be Self-Aware. Becoming bitter takes time. It grows slowly with every disappointment, frustration, and failure. In time, we can adopt a negative attitude toward everything—and we are more than happy to let other people know it. All of us complain at times. But if it becomes habitual, then we have probably given ourselves over to bitterness. Detecting it requires exercising self-awareness. 

Resist Envy. We have a way of measuring our success against that of others. We want to outdo and outperform our rivals. If we are bitter, this becomes more just a game or a goal, but a necessity we must achieve no matter the cost. A great biblical example here is Saul, whose envy drove him to hunt David like an animal (see 1 Samuel 23:14) and even attempt to murder his son Jonathan in a fit of rage (1 Samuel 20:30-33). The Bible teaches that envy and jealousy are deadly and cause us to rot from the inside out (Proverbs 14:30; Job 5:2; James 3:14-18). 

Resist Suspicion. Bitterness breeds suspicion. If someone glances at us over or mentions our name in conversation, are we consumed with finding out exactly what was said? Do we assume that others are naturally deceptive or exploitative? Do we immediately blame others for adverse events in our lives? Do we doubt the personal loyalty of friends, family, and associates? Such a pessimistic outlook on life is a constant source of trouble (Proverbs 17:20).

Offer Forgiveness. Human beings are capable of absolutely amazing things, and forgiveness is one of them. Some of the most inspiring stories involve family members forgiving criminals who murdered loved ones or spouses forgiving the unfaithful partner who betrayed them. Jesus indicates that forgiveness should defeat grudges we hold against other people (cf. Matthew 5:23-24). No matter how difficult it may be to forgive, it is far better than the alternative. Holding onto hurts is like gripping a knife—it cuts deeper with each squeeze. Forgiveness means letting go of the blade. 

Bitterness makes people resentful, disgruntled, and sullen. It is a lazy, uncomplicated way of dealing with life’s problems that keeps us chained in an emotional prison of our own creation. Bitterness is a hard master better let go of than served. 

Is Your Christianity Too Comfortable?

All of us like to live in comfort. Who wants to live a life of hardship? (Unless you’re a monk or some other kind of masochist, amirite?) The same thing holds true for our spiritual lives. We can get too comfortable—we might even say lazy—in our faith if we aren’t careful. 

C. S. Lewis—who once dubbed himself “the most reluctant convert in all of England—recognized the rigors that Christian commitment entails. He said, “I didn’t go to religion to make me happy. I always knew a bottle of Port would do that. If you want a religion to make you feel really comfortable, I certainly don’t recommend Christianity.”

But some of us are quite comfortable in our faith. So what gives? Maybe we aren’t as committed as we imagine we are. Here are some signs that we might not be as dutiful as we think.

You never feel challenged. It could be that you just don’t read the Bible very much. If you haven’t already heard, God has some pretty exacting standards. Christ requires us to put him first above any other relationship (Luke 9:59-62; 14:26). We must be willing to let go of material possessions when necessary (Matthew 19:21; Luke 14:33) and be ready to suffer persecution (John 15:20; 2 Timothy 3:12). Even the apostle Paul said that he felt like the “chief of sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15) and admitted that he struggled to do what was right (see Romans 7:14-25).

You see no disagreement between the Bible and your political party. It doesn’t matter where a person is on the spectrum, from the far left to the far right and everything in between. No Christian can be completely comfortable when it comes to worldly politics. It’s suspiciously convenient if our spiritual beliefs line up perfectly with our political perspective. 

You never have any questions. A life of reflection is going to generate some questions about our spiritual lives, our place in this world, our behavior, or about the Bible in general. None of us are perfect, and we’re going to be wrestling against our worldly tendencies if we’re growing in Christ. If we aren’t doing this, maybe we’ve set the bar lower for our behavior than God intended. The Bible can be a challenging book to read and interpret. If we aren’t working to understand it, we might not be digging deeply enough. 

Your friends and coworkers are surprised to learn that you’re a Christian. If people in the world see nothing distinctive in us, that’s a problem. If faithful Christians see little in common with us, that’s also a problem. A comfortable Christian is like a chameleon, blending in with our environment. Paul says that believers adopt a new way of life that makes them noticeably different from other people (Ephesians 4:17-32). This includes adopting godly characteristics and rejecting ungodly ones. 

Imagine the kinds of things required of people who achieve great things. Doctors spend years in school and training and often work long hours. Lawyers and business executives put in extra time at the office to get ahead. Top athletes watch everything they eat and fight through grueling workouts. Excellence demands outstanding effort and commitment. Guess what? So does the Christian faith. Here are a few things that Paul experienced as a missionary:

Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.

Paul knew that the Christian life presented challenges. And at the end of his life, he could look back on his efforts with satisfaction and joy (just read the book of Philippians). He had been a rising star among the Pharisees, who would later view him with contempt and try to kill him (Acts 23:12-35). Pagans opposed him and organized riots against him (Acts 19:23-41). We would have been viewed as a crank by the Romans and a traitor by his countrymen. This must have created many additional hardships for him, yet he spoke about the surpassing joy of knowing Christ (Philippians 3:7-9). 

The dear apostle took comfort not in life’s pleasures but Christ’s. We can, too. It takes work, but it will be worth it. 

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Is it a Sin to Curse?

Is the casual use of foul language morally wrong? Some Christians think not. To defend their stance, some point to the fact that the Bible includes language that may surprise or even shock some modern readers. But is this enough justification for allowing cursing in everyday speech? 

The golden text in the debate is Paul’s famous use of a crude term. When describing the value of his accomplishments when compared to the worth of knowing Christ, he calls them skubalon (Philippians 3:8), often translated as “refuse,” but more accurately meaning “dung” or “feces” (or perhaps in the modern vernacular, “crap”). The prophet Isaiah says something similar about good deeds, calling them “filthy rags” (or a “polluted garment,” ESV; Isaiah 64:6), a reference to the cloths women would use during their monthly cycle. 

Ezekiel and Jeremiah include sexual references in their prophecies (cf. Jeremiah 13:20-27), including some striking metaphorical descriptions of the unfaithfulness of Israel (Jeremiah 2:23-24; Ezekiel 16:15-58). The frankness of the author’s description of his love’s physical beauty (see Song of Songs 4:5) may cause some to blush. Further, some scholars believe they can detect sexual acts mentioned obliquely in the book (although we must understand that this is not for the sake of crass sensuality, but because it offers a holy look at the physical pleasures of marriage).

Although the Bible occasionally uses some terms that push the envelope of what we might say is appropriate for polite conversation, this is a far cry from using swear words in everyday speech. We might break down swear words into different categories. 

Exclamatory expressions involving the names of deityDerogatory insultsExclamations, typically used to express anger or frustrationCoarse jokesParts of the body (often sexual) Terms originating in sexual actsTerms originating in some aspect of bodily elimination

The Bible forbids taking the Lord’s name in vain (Exodus 20:7; cf. Leviticus 24:16)—that is, using God’s name without proper respect. His name is holy (Isaiah 57:15), so we can’t use it profanely in any way (Leviticus 19:12). The first item on the list is forbidden explicitly (this includes words or phrases like GD or OMG, obviously).

Using language to condemn or insult others is contrary to numerous passages in the New Testament. Paul emphasizes using our speech to build up and bring grace to others (Ephesians 4:29); using it to tear others down is a clear violation of God’s will. He also prohibits “obscene talk” (Colossians 3:8), which is understood more precisely as “abusive language.” This rules out the second item on the list. 

Exclamations of frustration or anger are popular uses for swear words. But we have to ask, why use an offensive term when there are more intelligent—or at least, less offensive—ways to express the same sentiments? Further, the use of this language often raises tensions and adds to the problem already at hand. (Like hack for the day: people don’t like being cussed. Shocking, I know.)

Foul language is often used to provoke laughter. If a person is not using foul language to denigrate someone, they’re likely using it for comedic effect. This falls under Paul’s prohibition against coarse joking (Ephesians 5:4). In the same verse, Paul also forbids disgraceful speech, which is regularly translated as “obscenity’ in light of the previous verses that deal with sexuality (in other words, speech with unwholesome sexual content). Paul says these things are “out of place” and that they should be replaced instead with thanksgiving. This rules out the fourth, fifth, and sixth items on the list as well. 

As for using profanity inspired by bodily functions, what place does that language have in polite conversation anyway? Again, Paul states that unwholesome talk should be replaced with language that supports, encourages, and gives thanks. 

James 3 states that the tongue is a fire and that the ability to control the tongue offers a preview of how well a person can control the rest of their bodies (James 3:2). Jesus goes even further and says that a person is accountable not only for the quality of their speech but also for each careless word that comes out of his or her mouth (Matthew 12:36). In other words, we are to care for every single word we speak. 

Cursing isn’t merely for fun—although some people do use it that way. Often these words are used to make someone else uncomfortable deliberately, to express hostility, and to mock or denigrate other people. The real question is not whether using swear words should be permitted but whether their use is consistent with a life that honors Christ. 

Some argue that it isn’t a sin to use swear words and cite Paul’s use of skubalon to support their viewpoint. However, if the best argument in favor of cursing is using a handful of references including strong speech to offset clear passages against using foul language, then someone is trying far too hard to justify themselves. 

Celebrity Theologians

Every Christian is a theologian. A theologian is someone with competency in the field of theology—the study of God and the teachings of Scripture. Although some Christians have gotten the idea that being a theologian is a bad thing—some seem to think it is a member of a professional class of academics who question the authority of God’s Word—all believers should commit themselves to knowing the Bible. We’ve got plenty of examples in the New Testament, which includes the apostles who quoted the Hebrew Bible frequently as well as the Bereans, who “searched the Scriptures daily” (Acts 17:11). 

The New Testament expects believers to wrestle with profound truths. The apostle Paul assumed the Corinthians would mature beyond a simple understanding of spiritual matters (1 Corinthians 3:1-3). He also stressed the importance of spiritual maturity to the Ephesians (Ephesians 4:11-16). Peter told his readers to long for spiritual milk but also indicated that they needed to “grow up into salvation” (1 Peter 2:2). The writer of Hebrews mentioned the need to advance beyond elementary doctrines (Hebrews 6:1). 

Simply put, every Christian should be a scholar of God’s Word. This is especially important when we examine the matter of celebrity theologians, who are anything but biblical experts. 

In March 2021, CNN host Don Lemon appeared as a guest on the television show “The View.” When asked about a recent statement against same-sex marriage issued by the Vatican, he had this to say:

I respect people’s right to believe in whatever they want to believe in their God. But if you believe in something that hurts another person or that does not give someone the same rights or freedoms, not necessarily under the constitution because this is under God, I think that’s wrong. And I think that the Catholic Church and many other churches really need to re-examine themselves and their teachings because that is not what God is about. 

God is not about hindering people or even judging people. And to put it in the context of race, I find that, you know, Dr. Luther King Jr. said the most segregated place on earth was 11:00 AM on a Sunday morning. So I think that religion and the pew keeps us from actually, they’re barriers from people actually getting to know each other. 

So I would say to the pope in the Vatican and all Christians or Catholics or whomever, whatever religion you happen to belong to out there, go out and meet people and try to understand people and do what the Bible and what Jesus actually said, if you believe in Jesus, and that is to love your fellow man and judge not lest ye be not judged. So, instead of having the pew hinder you, having the church hinder you, instead of being segregated in the church or among yourselves, go out and have a barbeque and meet people, and start breaking bread with people, and getting to know them.

Lemon is no stranger to bad theology. In July 2020, he stated, “Jesus Christ, admittedly, was not perfect when he was here on earth” (contra Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 1:19; 2:22; 1 John 3:5). He isn’t alone. In April 2019, Alyssa Milano Quoted John 3:12 to support her defense of abortion. In lyrics to one of his songs, Kanye West said, “My Jesus likes sex, so he didn’t die a virgin.” We could cite examples that would number into the dozens, if not the hundreds, especially if we include talk show hosts like Bill Maher who routinely misread the text. 

Christians should immediately perk up when they hear falsehoods promoted by celebrity theologians. They’re not a terribly creative lot, so they have several features in common. We can see three of them in Lemon’s interview.  

They typically misuse or misquote the Bible. Not only did Lemon misuse Matthew 7:1, but he also misquoted it. It almost takes work to get something that wrong. Examples of misuse are typically followed by lectures about how most Christians have misunderstood the verses in question and how they need to read their Bibles more (as President Barak Obama said after infamously mangling the text in a 2006 speech).They make bad analogies which sometimes lead to politically correct posturing. Advocates have tried to hitch the homosexual bandwagon to the civil rights movement for years (the non-religious have done the same thing with atheism, although not all atheists agree with this tactic). Lemon does much the same here, which effectively repudiates biblical authority and replaces it with social consciousness. Although Scripture clearly states that all people are equal (Galatians 3:26-29), it does not legitimize homosexuality (Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; 1 Timothy 1:10). They are the architects of their worldview, not God. They abuse Scripture to make it look like God gives his approval to their personal choices. Citing passages from the Bible creates a spiritual veneer for a worldview that is fundamentally human-centered (proof-texting is king for bad theology). Lemon believes that a barbeque will solve racism and homophobia; in reality, applying God’s Word as it was intended will not only solve every human ill but reconcile humanity with its Creator. 

Christians have to be mindful of celebrity theologians. They’re even worse than celebrity politicians. The difference is that instead of lecturing their opponents about politics, they’re misrepresenting the Bible, insulting the God who authored it, and paving the way for others’ spiritual downfall. 

Is Left-Handedness a Sin?

Nicholas Ferroni states, “I was born a sinner … My sin is mentioned in the Bible 25 times. I tried to change, but couldn’t … Luckily, society learned to accept us left-handed people.” Others have followed in his footsteps, claiming that Christianity has long asserted that left-handedness is a sin. 

Critics often scour the Bible for support for this position. They appeal to passages such as Matthew 25:41, which reads, “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” Because the wicked go off to the left here, then left-handedness must be a sin, making it a superstitious belief worthy of mockery. 

Discrimination against left-handed people has been widespread. It occurs in a variety of different cultures, both Christian and not. However, the left hand has been seen both positively and negatively. It has been associated with wisdom and skill but also with bad luck. In many Asian countries, left-handed people are forced to become right-handed. In various cultures (and in Islam), the left is used for personal hygiene while the right is used for eating. In Ghana, gesturing with the left hand is considered very rude. And in the Soviet Union, all children were forced to write with their right hands. 

The Roman Catholic Church punished children for being left-handed for years but there was no biblical warrant for doing so. Flimsy appeals to Scripture (Matthew 25:31-41; cf. Psalm 118:16; Galatians 2:9) cannot conceal the fact that condemning left-handedness as sinful is an utterly bizarre and thoroughly unbiblical notion. (This wasn’t the only time the Roman Catholic Church would be influenced by extrabiblical beliefs. For instance, when church officials opposed Galileo for supporting the Copernican view of heliocentrism, they did not do so on the basis of biblical texts but because of their dependence on Aristotle, who put forward a beautifully precise but thoroughly mistaken understanding of the solar system.) 

The Bible makes no judgment against being left-handed. It does record instances where left-handedness has practical value, such as providing a critical advantage during military conflicts. In one episode, the Israelite judge Ehud meets with Eglon, king of the Moabites (Judges 3:15-30). The judge conceals a sword under his clothing when he visits the king. Thanks to this little bit of subterfuge, Ehud slips the weapon in undetected and uses it to kill the king and initiate a rousing victory over the leaderless Moabites. The text seems to imply Ehud’s handedness is an asset. 

The book of Judges also mentions a brigade of 700 left-handed Benjamite slingers (Judges 20:16). It seems that ancient soldiers were sorted by handedness to ensure they didn’t hit one another (maybe in the same way that left-handed people often sit at the end of the dinner table to avoid bumping elbows with a right-handed neighbor). Further, most soldiers were right-handed and carried their shields on their left. This means that left-handed slingers enjoyed a slight tactical advantage because they had a better angle from which to strike approaching enemies. Elsewhere, ambidexterity seems to be celebrated as a positive attribute (1 Chronicles 12:2-3), and the left is still considered a position of honor (Matthew 20:21).

Left-handedness isn’t sinful. Anyone claiming otherwise simply hasn’t read the Bible very closely.

We’re So Vain: Six Warning Signs of Pride

The Bible says that we are to test ourselves to see whether we are in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5). James says that we must not “merely listen to the word” but also do it, meaning that we should do enough self-reflection to determine whether we’re putting it into practice or not. Paul tells the church in Corinth to examine themselves before taking the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:28-29). One of the psalmists states that he has examined himself and turned his steps toward God’s statutes (Psalm 119:59-60). Finally, Jesus tells us to remove the plank in our own eyes before worrying about the specks in the eyes of others (Matthew 7:3-5).

Pride can slip under our radar if we aren’t careful. Unlike other sins with tangible, physical results, pride is more of a mood than an activity. It leads to sinful actions, of course, because there are very few sins (if any) that cannot be connected to it in some way. Some of its effects are a little harder to detect without a long look in the mirror. Here are some warning signs that will tell us whether pride has taken a foothold in our lives.

We assume that people disagree with us because they aren’t as intelligent. Everyone wants to be right. We’re convinced that we believe what we do for good reasons. When it comes to an important issue, we assume not only that we’re right but that others have no good reason for being wrong. Why can’t they see what is so plainly evident to us? It can only mean that they are stupid, ignorant, or hopelessly biased—or so we think. Our reaction to criticism is to get defensive or spread the blame. The prideful feel they are above the criticism of others. It may also manifest itself as the unwillingness to accept blame even when we are at fault—surely someone else is also partially responsible! We like the spotlight. We all enjoy getting the respect of our peers and the admiration of people who look up to us. And who doesn’t want to be complimented? But this can grow out of control. Enjoying the occasional commendation can become a craving for applause. If this addiction continues to grow, we will eventually do what’s right not to please God but to impress others and please ourselves.  Not being an insider bothers us. Everyone wants to mean something to someone—it’s only natural. Pride has a way of twisting this into the expectation that we should be so deeply and broadly connected to others that we can’t imagine being left out of anything, from meeting for lunch to enjoying a juicy bit of gossip known only to the elite few.We don’t like getting advice. Sometimes we bristle when getting unsolicited advice from others. We take it as an insult, as if it should be obvious that we don’t need the advice. Rather than interpreting it as an attempt to be helpful, the prideful confuse advice with condescension.Justice always serves our interests. We don’t appeal to a transcendent standard. Instead, our feelings determine who is right or wrong, as well as what punishment, if any, should be applied. If someone wrongs us, we set the standard of repentance and restitution. Justice is never satisfied until we say so. 

Pride can be a difficult spiritual problem to diagnose, but the signs are there if we’re willing to see them. That means being willing to put ourselves under the microscope to find those little flaws that have the potential to turn into bigger problems. It isn’t comfortable, but it’s necessary. 

Cultivating Holy Curiosity

Curiosity is a marvelous thing. It has been the catalyst for the great discoveries of life. Human beings rarely find themselves content with what we know and experience. God equipped each one of us with a suite of mental tools to satisfy our inquisitive natures. We have the drive to understand and explore. We like to solve puzzles and mysteries. Adults never lose the child’s insatiable drive to ask “Why? … why? … why?” about the world around them—we only ask that question with greater degrees of specificity and sophistication. 

Curiosity can be a dangerous thing. Our investigations can lead us into areas we ought not to go. We may be tempted to explore what is sinful and spiritually harmful. Such things often present themselves as mysterious and inviting. It’s okay, we’re told, to color outside the lives, be just a bit naughty, push boundaries, or take a brisk walk on the wild side. After all, what could it possibly hurt? 

Most of us learn fairly quickly that curiosity can land us in serious trouble if we aren’t careful. The phrase “curiosity killed the cat” has been around in the English language in one form or another for over five hundred years. Its longevity is a testimony to its truthfulness. We all want to know, but some of us have a little trouble balancing satisfying our curiosity with suffering its consequences.

Holy curiosity is a wonderful thing. It caused Moses to discover why a flaming bush burned but was not consumed (Exodus 3:3). It sent shepherds racing off to Bethlehem to see the newborn Jesus (Luke 2:15). It prompted questions from Christ’s disciples (Matthew 24:3). Peter and John used it as a springboard for preaching the gospel to astonished onlookers who had seen them heal a paralyzed man (Acts 3:1-26). It caused an Ethiopian man to invite Philip to explain the prophet Isaiah in an understandable way (Acts 8). For nearly two thousand years, it has stirred the emotions and imaginations of countless other believers. 

We can display the same holy curiosity in investigating and meditating upon Scripture. We should never remain content with our level of Bible knowledge, assuming we have nothing more to learn (see Proverbs 2:1-22). Sinful complacency and sinful curiosity often are two sides of the same coin. The breadth and depth of Scripture ensure that we will always have more information to learn, more connections to make, and more puzzles to solve. Indeed, Paul refers to the mystery of the gospel (Colossians 1:26). With a book so rich and deep as the Bible, perhaps it’s a good thing that our curiosity will never be completely satisfied.

Why We Need to Grow Spiritually

At some point or another, we all wonder why we’re here on Earth. Naturally, we want to contribute something to this life and leave our mark. We want to conquer challenges and reach for ever-increasing heights. All of us want to love and be loved. Simply put, we want to matter. But if we are ever going to do anything meaningful in this life, we have to grow physically, intellectually, and most important of all, spiritually.  

Our spiritual growth is vital, but it doesn’t happen automatically—we have to put effort into the maturation process. Many passages in the New Testament assume that growth and development should take place. The writer of  Hebrews says that his audience should have grown to the point that they could be teachers, yet they had not done so (Hebrews 5:12-14). The apostle Paul tells the sophisticated but spiritually immature Christians in Corinth that he expects the congregation to grow (1 Corinthians 1:9-10; cf. 13:10-12; also Ephesians 4:13-16). At the time he wrote his letter though, they had not done this. Peter tells his readers to grow as well (2 Peter 3:18). 

One way we mature in Christ is by spending time with God. Regardless of where we may be in our relationship with him, all of us can benefit from spending time with him every day. It may be prayer – those times when we speak to God. It may be reading the Bible – those times when he speaks to us. We should meditate on Scripture, seeking to understand it ever more deeply (Psalm 119:15, 148).

Spiritual maturity helps us to understand biblical doctrine more accurately and oppose false doctrine more ably. It gives us confidence and encouragement in this life so that we can weather the trials and temptations we will face. It helps us to be gentler and more loving toward one another and the lost. But it also gives us the same unshakable joy that Paul had even when his life was nearing its end. Christian maturity not only helps us navigate the world, we do so with the truth as our guide. 

The kind of maturity that produces these things is one that is born of an earnest desire to spend time with God. It shouldn’t be just a part of our daily routine or another box to tick off on our checklist. David said, “My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, Lord, I will seek” (Psalm 27:8). For David, this was not a half-hearted search; it was a passionate quest. I think it should be the same for us. Not because of the benefits we derive from knowing God and doing his will, but because standing in his presence in glory should be the breathless pursuit of every human soul. And spending time with him in prayer, reading Scripture, and meditating upon his truth is how we can have a little bit of heaven on earth. 

The Dangers of Social Media

Social media websites can be wonderful tools. We can use them to stay connected to friends and family, offer encouraging posts, share Bible verses, and make people laugh. But social media has a dark side. We need to avoid interactions that not only ruin our mood but can tempt us to sin. Here are some dangers that can pose a risk to our spiritual well-being. 

First, online anonymity can lead to a lack of self-control. When we can reprimand or criticize someone with virtually no repercussions, we may be tempted to be condescending or abusive. Numerous studies have proved that people are much more likely to engage in morally questionable behavior online when their identity is obscured or if they cannot see the opposition. There is no anonymity with God, who sees all (Proverbs 15:3; Hebrews 4:13).

Second, we can be quick to judge. When responses are condensed into bite-sized nuggets without any inflection beyond what we can provide with capitalization or an emoji, it can be easy to misinterpret someone else. We might take a joke too seriously. We could wrongly assume that a playful comment was intended as an insult. Sarcasm often comes across poorly. We should be quick to determine a person’s intention rather than being quick to respond (Proverbs 15:18; 19:11; James 1:19). 

Third, some people live to irritate others. They enjoy making people angry. Some will intentionally seek out Christians and harass them. This might stem from a simple lack of self-control (see the first point above), but it could indicate a serious personality flaw. To put it in the vernacular, “haters gonna hate.” As bothersome as it may be, we have to remember not to sink to their level (1 Peter 3:9).

Fourth, we cannot die on every hill. Some people comment on dozens of posts and try to shove their beliefs down everyone else’s throats. We all have plenty of opinions, but not all of them are correct. It should come as no surprise that the Bible often commends humility as one of the greatest virtues (Proverbs 22:4; Ephesians 4:2; Micah 6:8; Philippians 2:3).

Lastly, we should resist the temptation to compare ourselves to others. It can be easy to see our friends and online neighbors enjoying success. Someone we know gets a better job, buys a new house, loses ten pounds, or reaches some other milestone in life and the gren-eyed monster begins to arise. We have to guard ourselves against covetousness or perceiving someone else’s joy as either braggadocio or a personal challenge.

The Christian should be equipped with God’s Word to handle all aspects of life. That includes how we conduct ourselves online. Like any other area of life, it will have its share of pitfalls for us to avoid.