This is NOT Your Conscience Calling!

This is NOT your Conscience Calling!
Those of you who have known me for a while know very well that I am a big fan of social media. An addict?—No, but I’ll admit it right here in front of God and everybody that I have a definite affinity for people-watching. I love people! I love their quirks, funny quotes, their mundane routines and sometimes even their TMI (too much information) admissions. However, what I do not like is something I am seeing more and more these days and that is those who feel the need to be the “Conscience of the Masses.”

I have watched as those members of the Conscience Police spout out their poisons at someone who cut them off in the parking lot of the grocery store or, God forbid, didn’t get their order right. However, the first time they see someone else complaining about being done wrong, especially if the wronged spouter was a Christian, they weigh in with their two cents. They rail on that Christian relentlessly about how they are supposed to consider the upraising of their bully and why they may be bullying. Sure, hurting people hurt other people; BUT guess what? Christians sometimes have bad days too! We are not perfect beings floating around on some cloud of listless happiness offering everyone a pot shot at us or handing out forgiveness like coupons before its even asked for.

I overheard some un-churched friends of mine one day talking about how they HATE having to deal with a certain woman in town who worked at a prominent business all of us used. My friend’s words (and I quote) were “Celi, I sure hope that woman doesn’t go to your church, because if she does, I will NEVER set foot there. If she’s what a Christian is, I don’t wanna be one! I have gone into that business ten times or more and she has never once even smiled. She just stands there with a perpetual smirk on her face looking down her self-righteous nose at me. I was told she is an established member of a church here in town.” All I could say was, “I’m so sorry… but PLEASE don’t judge all of us by her actions.” Later, I saw that same lady blasting another Christian out on facebook for making an observed judgment conclusion that I totally agreed with. Suddenly, she had found a conscience somewhere in that bitter soul of hers and was enforcing her Christian Political Correctness on someone else.

I was talking to a self-proclaimed church leader the other day and he totally blew my mind. He admitted to interrupting the pastor during his sermon, walking down to the front and telling the entire congregation that he was taking his daughter off the membership and began pouring out details of her private sin. Now, do you think that poor girl will EVER go back to church after THAT? I certainly wouldn’t! I seem to recall the Lord Jesus saying something about casting the first stone? (John 8:7)

My point? As Christians, we have been called to love, teach, baptize, heal and teach some more. What we have NOT been called to do is act as the collective Conscience of everyone around us. Unfortunately, the only things we are sometimes teaching sinners is WHAT NOT TO DO! Yes, sometimes the Lord expects us to use His Word to call it like it is, but that is typically when it pertains to US, NOT others! Jude said it best: “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.” Jude 21-23