Who Asked You?

One of the things I’m quite fascinated by when I’m on social media is viewing how many alleged followers of Christ, particularly those in leadership, are always providing unsolicited commentary on cultural and social matters that are trending. Whether it was Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars, Gospel Artist Kim Burrell making prejudicial statements, or Dr. Creflo Dollar’s teaching on tithing, the Supreme Court’s decision on Roe v. Wade, or the pandemic, those who have the most to say in verbiage have the least to say in content. An empty wagon makes a lot of noise! There’s a distinct difference in saying something and having something to say. Who asked you?

Many alleged commentators lack the credentials, education, theological savvy and revelatory insight to address such matters at least with a balanced perspective. Many want to appear that they are profound, astute, and knowledgeable in areas where they are totally ignorant! You can’t fight in a heavyweight boxing match if the scale reveals you’re a lightweight. There are many who desire a heavyweight platform with a lightweight message. Their lack of intelligence, insight, grammar proficiency and communication skills doesn’t make the weight! It’s a religious spirit that’s condemnatory, opinionated, bigoted and shallow when they don’t even know these people! At the end of the day, does your shallow comments even matter? Will they add to or take away from the quality of our lives. Who asked you?

Most religious people are not well rounded and do have a narrow worldview. And what I find slightly embarrassing is that these commentators arising from ethnic communities of the darker hue are spending time debating and become the amusement of other communities who say, “There they go again.”

During the time of our Lord’s earthly ministry, there were so many cultural and societal shiftings that were taking place. If you notice, Jesus never addressed any of those issues unless HE WAS ASKED!!! And when He was asked, He spoke only as He could with tact and balance. Of course, many would inquire of Jesus to see if they get an answer from Him that would lean toward their preferences and prejudices or provoke anarchy from him against the Roman Government. For example, Jesus was being provoked to speak against the Roman Emperor about overtaxing the Jews in Palestine and being asked his thoughts should Jews withhold their taxes for their hatred of the Romans and their governing dominance. Jesus knew he was being tempted and replied in Mark 12:17 “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marveled at Him.”

 Titus 1:15-16 says “Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them who are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.” A defiled mind and conscience are the filters we have from our unsubstantiated beliefs and negative experiences. The word defiled is the Greek miaino, which means “to stain, to tinge or dye with another color,” as in the staining of a glass, hence, “to pollute, contaminate, and soil.”

The word unbelieving is the Greek apistos which means to be or act “untrustworthy”  not worthy of confidence or belief toward God, His Word, and leading of the Holy Spirit. The mind refers to the Greek nous, speaking generally of the faculties of perception and understanding that determines our feeling, judging and determining. These posts on social media are a result of flimsy and faulty theology by erroneous teaching that has shaped how we believe and consequently behave. This is deeply seated in our conscious which is the Greek syneidesis, the soul as distinguishing between what is morally good and bad, prompting to do the former and shun the latter, commending one, condemning the other.

A person’s spirit can be born again but that soul is in need of a lot of evolving development. You don’t have to jump on every trendy event that occurs in society. Exercise some tact, decorum, dignity, and integrity. Proverbs 29:11 says “A fool utters all his mind but a wise man keeps it in until afterwards.” A fool is the Hebrew keciyl , which is a “stupid fellow, dullard, simpleton, arrogant one.” Pardon me, I’m just having an afterwards moment if you uttered all your mind!