A Lesson Learned in Judgement

‘Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgement you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck in your neighbour’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbour, “Let me take the speck out of your eye”, while the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbour’s eye.’ – Matthew 7:1-5

‘If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax-collector.’ – Matthew 18:15-17

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Yesterday, on Facebook, I posted an article relating to the struggles and trials of a Christian denomination to which I once belonged. While I thought nothing of the comments in the moment, I woke up this morning feeling very convicted, and I determined that the post should come down. While the information therein is important to wrestle with and discuss, I am no longer a member of that denomination, and I feel that it is uncharitable of me to so publicly dress its members down for such issues.

Is it important for me as a Christian minister to call out my brother and sister clergy when I see problems or issues? Absolutely. But, I must be guided by Christ’s admonitions in Matthew 18, among other scripture and go to them in private, at least at first. I forewent the hard, difficult work of going to my neighbor and talking to them in-person. Instead, I jumped immediately to public prognosticating and rebuking. For this I need to repent. Equally true is the fact that I was pointing out the speck in another denomination’s eye while ignoring the log in my own. Lord knows that we have issues to deal with in the Episcopal Church, and I am incredibly remiss in neglecting those to point out the sins of another tradition.