logs and specks

Scandals, illicit affairs, sexually deviant behavior–these things are as common as the morning newspaper or the evening news. All around us, we are confronted with lies, acts of deception, and rampant hypocrisy.

In such a world, what is the appropriate reaction? How should a Christian respond to such demonstrations of impropriety? Well, to be honest, sometimes my initial tendency is to go on the attack, pointing out disgraceful conduct. But, in my better moments at least, I try to evaluate these situations with a bit more balance and humility.

Jesus had some interesting words to say about these matters. In one place he says, “Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, 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 brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:3-5).

Here, as in many human endeavors, there is a warning against the all-too-common practice of hypocrisy. Someone has a speck in his eye; he’s involved in something that is wrong. But the person who notices this wrong neglects to see that he too has engaged in faulty behavior. In fact, in this particular case at least, the one who is all too ready to point out someone else’s faults is actually guilty of much worse. The critic is trying to remove the equivalent of a hair from someone’s eye while failing to notice the piano in his own eye. Only after we first examine ourselves are we qualified to examine another.

What, then, are the lessons to be learned? How ought we respond to matters of sexual misbehavior and public (or private) scandal? The following appears to be the way ahead:

First, take a look at yourself. That is, make sure that you aren’t involved in similar or different misbehavior of your own. While conviction should mark the Christian, arrogance is never an option. Are you more concerned about your neighbors adultery than your own pride? Does the perversion of some public official bother you more than your own lack of kindness? Even if someone else’s behavior is technically worse than yours (though these things are difficult to measure, it is true that some acts are worse than others), your concern to maintain personal integrity should take precedence over the misbehavior of others. Another passage says it this way: “if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted” (Galatians 6:1). This, of course, is a difficult task, for it is always easier to criticize others than to critique ourselves. I’m not saying that in the hustle and bustle of fast-paced living that we have to take an inordinate amount of time examining ourselves. What I am saying, though, is that it is always good to maintain a humble stance, an attitude of “get the log out first” before we get overly critical of others.

Second, notice that there is plenty of room here for actually removing another person’s “speck” (whatever that entails). While we are not allowed to make heart judgments (and the immediate context–“Do not judge”–prohibits such behavior), though we cannot read the motives of other human beings, we must make certain reasonable judgments (there’s no contradiction between not judging the heart and judging the actions of another–John 7:24). There is a place, in other words, for pointing out and attempting to remove the speck from another’s eye. Indeed, I don’t think we should downplay the speck because of it’s small size. Not only is speck itself a noteworthy cause of concern, but some people, frankly, have objects much larger to extract. (In fact the text itself may be intentionally downplaying the other brother’s wrongs in order to highlight the critic’s hypocrisy.)

The point, then, is that it’s okay to oppose that which is wrong. Indeed, it is necessary to stand against evil and uphold spiritual and moral integrity. It’s just that we must do so with humility and a kind of careful spirituality. We must be outraged by stories of impropriety and the like, but our outrage should be tempered by a sense of our own ineptitude and a recognition that we too require a Savior and his gracious interventions on our behalf. Remove the log first. Then, go after the speck.