Few years back the Dark Knight came out and everyone was blown away at how great of a movie it was. In the following years that led up to the Dark Knight Rises a lot of speculation was going around as to who the new villains were going to be, especially since Heath Ledger's death. Two of the possibilities that everyone kept throwing about were Catwoman, with no one sure as to who was going to play her, and Johnny Depp as the Riddler. The later was stated as fact by just about anyone you talked to. Why? Because of an interview with Depp, in which he said, "It's not like I'm going to be playing the Riddler or anything." There are other reasons why this rumor was circulated, but I remember reading this interview in an article and after that was written the author stated, "That's right! You heard it here first! Johnny Depp is confirmed as the Riddler!"
That's not at all what he just said dude! He said the exact opposite of what you stated!
I know a lot of people, myself included, that tend to say things they don't mean. One big example is with the word "literally." "I literally rammed her off the road." Why aren't you in jail for attempted vehicular homicide? "Well I didn't really do it." Then why did you say "Literally?"
Or not answering the question that you're asked. Or not asking the question you meant. I had guy in class come up to me one time and asked how I liked the thermos I was using. "It ain't bad, really hate the lid though, doesn't flow well." He responded with, "That's not what I asked, I asked how you liked the fact that it'll keep your coffee hot for 4 hours?" No dude. That's not what you asked.
I ask someone when they're going to be here. "Well I gotta do this, and this, and this, and this." Alright, so what time are you going to be here?
I've seen people post things on facebook bashing others and encouraging others to do the same, then two days later turn right around and say that everyone needs to support the people they were just bashing. Dude, make up your freaking mind and quit contradicting yourself. You're making yourself look like an idiot.
This may just be a pet peeve of mine, and for some reason I feel like I've talked about this before, but skimming my previous posts I don't think I've written on this, but hey, If I did oh well.
There is a problem in today's society where we cannot say what we mean. Either we're incapable of it, we don't know how, or we don't want to offend anyone. One of the biggest issues I have with America at the moment is the idea of "tolerance." All religions must be tolerant of everyone else! Except Muslims because we have to be tolerant of them. And the non-religious because they don't do anything wrong or hate on anyone. That is except the religious because they are always hating on people so it's wrong therefore we can hate on them and tell them to be tolerant.
Really? Do you hear what you're saying?
Then we have Christians that complain constantly about the size of their church, or how other Christians live, and yet do nothing about it because, "well that's not my job to correct them." Or if you do go up against someone and try to tell them that they're messing up and need to get back on track, "Only God can judge me! Judge not lest you also be judged!" They throw scripture at you because they try to justify their sin.
How do we stop this?
Jesus made it pretty clear. "Let your 'yes' be yes and your 'no' be no."
Say what you mean. And expect that from others. Whenever someone tells me something I take it at face value.
"I just gonna hit her in the face." Alright we need to find constructive ways to make sure you don't hit people in the face. "Well I don't mean I'm really going to." Then why did you say you were? If you want to, that's fine, I want to hit people all the time. but saying that you're going to? Well that's a different story and we need to talk about that. Say what you mean, let your "yes" be yes and your "no" be no.
Now two more things in this more or less devotional rant.
"Well you can't tell anyone that they can't do something because Matthew 7 Jesus says not to judge or you'll likewise be judged!" Yes, properly translated it does say that. But judge has different meanings. In this sense it indeed means "Condemn not, or else you will be condemned." It's not just saying "Hey that's bad you shouldn't do that!" It's an admonishment against "You're going to go to hell for that!" Really? Are you God? Are you going to be the one that says who goes to heaven and who goes to hell? I don't think so. John 7.24 says the exact opposite of Matthew 7.1, "Judge with right judgement."
Is Jesus contradicting himself? Well if he is there 1) Christianity is worthless and Atheists are right and 2) we have every reason to say conflicting statements and look like idiots. But no, Jesus isn't contradicting himself. Instead he is saying don't condemn anyone, don't pass the judgement, the sentence on them. But instead judge righteously, informing a brother or sister, "Hey, that isn't good for your relationship with God." If is see a brother who's having sex outside of marriage, or cheating on his wife, or hitting on girls while married, I'm obligated to say something to them. I can't just let that get swept under the rug because I'm "not supposed to judge." I'm supposed to go to him and help him first see how Christ explicitly commands us to abstain from that kind of behavior, then help him to not be that kind of person. I can't say man because he'd be acting like a boy at that point.
The second thing is this. Before you shout "Hypocrite!" at me realize this. I know I am. I do most of these things too, I say what I don't mean and don't answer questions that I'm asked, and ask the wrong questions, and hear what's not being said. But I recognize that, and attempt to make myself more Christ like by letting my "yes" be yes and my "no" be no, by saying what I mean, answering what's asked, hearing what's being said. There's a big step in maturity where you admit that you are a sinner, that you are a hypocrite, but also that you're working with Christ to get out of that rut. I'm not trying to toot my own horn (haha I said toot) but I really do believe that this is a standard of what it means to be a mature Christian. Maybe next week I'll do a series on what it means to be a mature Christian. That'll be cool.
My challenge for you is this: Say what you mean. Let your "yes" be yes and your "no" be no. Don't contradict yourself. Don't condemn, but judge rightly, and not by outside appearances.
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