The Message
So Jesus could, on occasion, be quite confrontational. Jesus wasn't afraid to confront the Pharisees on their hypocrisy. On the surface, they were very religious, but Jesus saw that in their hearts, they were twisting everything for their own benefit, using people as pawns to advance their own agendas. It was all about them, and Jesus called them on it.
It's a little harder for us to take the same position, given that we can't see into the hearts of others in quite the same way Jesus can, but we can pay attention to people to see if their words and lives match. Other people are watching us, and it's especially important within the church that we set a good example. When Christians, especially Christian leaders, fail to match their lives and their words, it only gives society yet another reason to turn their back on the church. I doubt you have to think very hard to come up with recent examples.
So in the church, let us be faithful to one another by having a willingness to hold each other accountable. When we see other Christians, may we find a way to confront each other. This has to be done carefully, with humility, so that it's not about grinding someone down but rather about restoring the faithful practice of the community. Don't do this on your own, but join with a community in love. It's a fine line -- but it's worth walking.
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