Impulses and Impressions and Insolence

Sorry, blogger friends, it's been a while. Churchwork life has been crazy.

Recently, Kristylaughed and I have been Bible Studying over the phone. We've been working through Romans this past week as both an opportunity to get into the word on our own and to have some good Bible Study and accountability.

Thursday we dove into Romans 2, a chapter of hard hitting law. One of the things that we discussed was what we found in Romans 2:1. "You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. "

This verse was pretty convicting for Kristy and I. I posed the question, is what I am saying judgemental gossip or simply venting a problem? Where's the line? Is there a line? Is any talk against someone else considered being judgemental? As we wrestled with this line of thinking, we looked up Ephesians 4:29, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."

Ahh. Duly convicting. Is my venting beneficial to me or to the listener?

Thanks to Myers-Briggs, I know that I am an "E" and extrovert, external thinker. I have to talk to think things through; I do better when I have a problem to discuss it with someone that I trust. However, I also know that I have the impulse to continue the discussion, to continue on past what is really necessary to share, usually to turn the story to put me in the right. So, if my impulsiveness in this matter isn't helpful to me or to the listener why am I saying it? Why do I not simply follow good old Marty's example and, "pray and let God worry"? And really, while I'm here, what kind of impression of Christ does my complaining give?

While we struggled with this chapter, both of us made a commitment to not only encourage each other, but to watch for that crossing of the line between seeking advice and venting for the sake of venting and when it happens, pray for the situation and lay it to rest because after all, prayer is the most powerful tool God has given us.

That's all for this post blogger friends. More soon!