Plank Eye

"'Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It's easy to see a smudge on your neighbor's face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, 'Let me wash your face for you,' when your own face is distorted by contempt? It's this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.'" Matthew 7:1-5 The Message

"'And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?'" Matthew 7:3 NKJV

Have you ever had "Plank Eye"? Do you know Brother or Sister "Plank Eye"? Maybe you are Brother or Sister Plank Eye. You know what I mean. The kind of person that feels their call in life is to point out other people's faults or failures. They really don't have their own lives together, but seem to take the liberty finding, and pointing out, the faults or weaknesses in people around them.

The last time that I looked at the list of Spiritual gifts in the Bible, I never saw the gift of critical spirit. The critical spirit really seems to move corporately in the Church when the hand of God is moving. The critical spirit raises up in opposition to the move of God. Just check out the Gospels and look at the Pharisees.

I know that we are called to speak truth into each other's lives and hold one another accountable. I'm not saying to look the other way when people within the church are sinning. I'm surrounded by people that I have made myself accountable to. But give me a break! I think sometimes we take liberty to be fault-finders instead of faith-builders. What's happened? Why are we speck finders? Who do we think we are?

If we are filled with the Holy Spirit, and His titles are the Comforter, Encourager and Advocater and we keep shooting each other in the foot, what spirit are we operating in? What witness are we to the world? What are we doing to build each other up?

Come on Church, let's get rid of the planks!

"Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near." Hebrews 10:24,25 NLT