DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- WHEN RIGHT IS WRONG

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- WHEN RIGHT IS WRONG

"Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, 'Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.' And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, 'God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the law, and do you command me to be struck contrary to the law?' And those who stood by said, 'Do you revile God's high priest?' Paul said, 'I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, "You shall not speak evil of a rule of your people."'" (Acts 23:1-5)

Paul was not perfect. It appears from this record that Paul lost his temper, calling the Chief Priest a whitewashed wall. What he said was true. The Jewish law did not allow punishment before a trial (Deuteronomy 25:1-3). This provoked Paul to violate another Jewish law: "You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people" (Exodus 22:28).

Paul's conscience was tender before the Lord. He had lived in all good conscience before God, but that was because he had a tender conscience, and when his conscience spoke, he was quick to admit his error. What he said was right, but when it was done with an improper spirit or in violation of God's law, it was wrong. But when he became aware of his mistake, he was quick to admit his error.

We can take a lesson from this incident in Paul's life. When our spirit is provoked to anger by another person's error, if we allow that spirit to control us, we are wrong no matter how right we are doctrinally or the truth of the matter.

Paul was following the example of the Lord Jesus. The Lord Jesus spoke truth, even calling the Jews whitewashed sepulchers. As God in the flesh, he had the authority to judge those who were abusing their positions of authority.

Speaking the truth out of anger is a dangerous practice. There is a place for righteous anger, but that anger needs to be controlled by our spirit or it will cause damage to us and to other people. When we need to speak difficult truth, may our words be with grace, even with tears. Speaking the truth in love is not always easy, but it is imperative.

Love, Dad