"I confess … He did it!"

We are imperfect people. We often shame what has been intended to be perfect. Such is the case when it comes to the Lord's church. The church was authored by a perfect God and perfect Savior. In its foundation and in its law and in its redeemer, it is perfect. We make it less than what it needs to be because we sin. Our humanity often shines before men more than our Christianity. This happens especially when you and I start deciding who's guilty.

God set up the system by which the church shall remain pure. He's given us the perfect law of liberty, which can teach us all that we need to know (James 1:25; 2 Pet. 1:3; 2 Tim. 3:16,17). Through His messengers God set up elders in every church, that each church might be united in spirit and in truth (Acts 14:23; John 4:24). But somehow it seems that we always have some that believe it is their responsibility to chastise and finger point - they are never wrong but everybody else is. It's called self-justification. We need to be very careful about falling into this trap.

Paul wrote the Corinthians and told them to be ready as individuals - "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall" (1 Cor. 10:12). Jesus spoke against every person who looks to correct others before changing self - "And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck out of your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother's eye" (Matt. 7:3-5). Notice He did not say that we can't help each other to get rid of problems and do better - this is our duty (Heb. 10:24). But Christ did say that first we need to work on ourselves.

Being a Christian all starts with me. In the same passage where Paul tells us to bear one another's burdens, he also says "But let each one examine his own work…for each one shall bear his own load" (Gal. 6:4,5). He also warns that even concerning church discipline we should be careful about our perspective - "considering yourself lest you also be tempted" (v.1) and, "If anyone thinks himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself" (v.3). Paul wants to make it clear that we are all sinners (Rom. 3:23). Only God is completely righteous, and only Jesus lived without sin (2 Cor. 5:21). We should remember that even in death Christ did not choose to accuse us (Luke 23:34).

The time is coming, however, when Jesus will come again and accuse those who have never obeyed the gospel and who have never lived in appreciation of His sacrifice. When that time comes, are you going to be more proud of the fact that you were able to tell everyone else what was wrong with them, or more proud that you humbly drew closer to God? The only sins you need forgiven are your own.

May God be with each one of us as we work and strive together to glorify Him. May the church always be strong and may it never be part of any untruth. At the same time let each one of us first examine ourselves and live to God while helping one another. I hope these words will help you and I to do that.

The last test you must pass in order to rid yourself from the sin of self-justification is very simple, just answer this question: Do you feel that this article was written for you, or for somebody else?