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 Back
in my growing-up days, when teen-age boys had fusses it was not
unusual to hear the expression, "Ya wanna make sumpthin'
uh-vit?" Usually, somebody did, and the conflict started.
It has been my observation that most of the conflict between
grown-ups (including Christians) begins in much the same way —
when somebody wants to "make something of it".
Not
that some things don't need to have something made of them, to
be sure. When sin is in the camp, it is not a time for the
Corinthian like silence that suggests approval. In the proper
spirit and manner, it is time for the faithful to make something
of such a situation. When false doctrine is being taught among
us, it is time for making something of it. When we become lazy,
complacent and indifferent about serving the Lord, we need
someone around to wake us up (Eph. 5:14) — and to make
something of it. In fact, to sit idly by at such times becomes
as wrong as that which is tolerated. No doubt, the Lord's cause
has been hurt immeasurably by compromising Christians who would
not make something of sin and error among them.
However,
there is another — and perhaps as equally hurtful side to be
considered. It is the practice of making something big over
little or nothing. For instance, serious problems among brethren
can sometimes be traced back to trifles — such as an imagined
or unintentional slight. Failure to speak or to shake a hand may
be misconstrued in a dozen ways — all bad. And regrettably,
some seem disposed to finding little mole hills from which they
can make mountains
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of trouble. Such "pickiness" may seem a small
thing, but its effects on the Lord's work have been devastating.
Few
Bible class teachers have escaped the "shots" of the
picky sniper. Make a statement that may possibly be taken the
wrong way and he will — and may even quit the class because of
the "false teaching" being done. He sees any emphasis
on faith as minimizing works and vice versa. He may view an
honest inquiry into a controversial subject as
"softness" or compromise — and advertise it
accordingly. He may discourage the teacher, disrupt the class
and distract other students, but he is bound and determined to
make something of it!
Further,
the frailties of the flesh make most of us easy targets for
those disposed to make something of it. We say things we should
not, we often express ourselves poorly, we complain, we
criticize, we forget and we neglect. Now we may need help, but
we don't need to have our weaknesses and mistakes exploited by
imperfect nit-picking brethren! When we stumble — and we will
— what we need is a merciful hand extended from a
compassionate heart. And that's what every Christian should be
willing to give. To do otherwise is to dishonor the One we claim
to follow and jeopardize our own soul. Don't miss the point. Sin
must be dealt with as noted earlier — but we are never at
liberty to deal with sin in a sinful way. When we set out to
make something of it, whatever it is, let's try to make it
better! Dan S. Shipley
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