Many Christians share their family or life problems with other believers, hoping that others pray for them. Recently, many members do not dare to talk about their difficulties in my church because the message concerning their family situations may spread quickly in the community after they share it in the church. Even some non-believers wonder why the Lord does not protect those Christians who suffer. What is worse, my church launched a fundraising campaign for ministries; but almost immediately, the non-Christian family members of the believers know it, which caused much trouble to them.
Think about this: it is Christians who let the word out since non-Christians have no way to hear that in the church. As followers of Christ, we do not want God's name to be humiliated. Maybe those who tell the news to others are sharp-tongued; but not malicious, and say all they know without wisdom.
However, in this evil world, we should be cautious in speech for the devil is looking for a basis to accuse us everywhere.
James 3:6 says, "The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one's life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. "
James 3:2 also claims, "We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to kep their whole body in check."
The Lord also teaches us to "be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves" (Matthew 10:16).
Some may believe that they should talk straight when people ask them, while it is foolish to tell everything about the church to non-believers. We should be honest without being ignorant as well as smart without being crafty.
Genesis 9:20-27 records that the sons of Noah, the hero of faith, showed different responses after their father became drunk and had opposite endings.
Noah, a man of the soil, proceeded to plant a vineyard. When he drank some of its wine, he became drunk and lay uncovered inside his tent.
Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father naked and told his two brothers outside. But Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it across their shoulders; then they walked in backward and covered their father's naked body. Their faces were turned the other way so that they would not see their father naked.
When Noah awoke from his wine and found out what his youngest son had done to him, he said,
"Cursed be Canaan!
The lowest of slaves will he be to his brothers."
He also said,
"Praise be to the Lord, the God of Shem!
May Canaan be the slave of Shem.
May God extend Japheth's territory;
may Japheth live in the tents of Shem, and may Canaan be the slave of Japheth."
It seems unfair to us that Ham and his descendants were cursed and the offsprings of Shem and Japheth received blessings just because of this issue. Was Noah unreasonable and swayed by his sentiments? Actually, it explains a lot regarding spiritual covering. Even Noah, who was such a great man, fell weak and stumbled. God cares what other members respond to those who fall rather than the transgressions of those who sin because He tells us to love one another many times. As the children of God, we should not judge our brothers and sisters. "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged." (Matthew 7:1-2)
Everyone has weaknesses and shortcomings. Every believer's family may encounter hardships. Since we are the body of Christ, if one part suffers, every part suffers with it. We should mutually comfort, care, providing intercession and help. Don't look down on other believers and hope that you will never meet tough things.
Translated by Karen Luo
