Responsible for Reckoning

It may be from a movie, old TV show or personal experience but I recall a time on the playground when a classmate took offence at what was said.  "Take it back!" he shouted, doubling up his fists to show he was going to take action against the offender.  If he took back the unfounded, snide comments made about a family member all would be forgiven, but if he refused to back down from the offending statements there would be hell to pay.  Even if the offended person lost the fight, at least he demanded a reckoning for the rude and inflammatory words.

While physical violence is in no way a godly response to offensive statements, there is a simple principle demonstrated we in recent times can neglect.  When a lie is told publicly, it ought to be refuted publicly face-to-face--not out of personal offence but of love of the truth and others who can be misled by it.  In a conversation I shared with a friend recently he spoke of the desire I share to see those who make false claims to face a reckoning so they would stand corrected, take back the things said and be more careful in the future.  We have all said things we have regretted immediately but were too proud to confess our error, and other times it was not until someone reacted that we took the time to examine ourselves in truth, were convicted and repented.

Ultimately God will bring a reckoning upon everything we have said, typed, emailed, texted or even thought in our hearts as Jesus said in Matthew 12:35-37:  "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. ³⁶ But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. ³⁷ For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."  It can be an act of love for God and for others to call attention to things people have said so they might recognise the error of their words and ways.  Out of the fear of offending others or because we realise we are not without flaws ourselves we can be slack in this area, and I include myself.  But we see examples of this in the scripture we ought to take to heart and put in practice as led by the Holy Spirit, for sometimes the responsibility for a reckoning lies with us.

God asked pointed questions at times to His faithful followers like when He asked the prophet, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"  He asked Jonah, "Is it right for you to be angry?"  Jeremiah 37:18-19 provides another example:  "Moreover Jeremiah said to King Zedekiah, "What offense have I committed against you, against your servants, or against this people, that you have put me in prison? ¹⁹ Where now are your prophets who prophesied to you, saying, 'The king of Babylon will not come against you or against this land'?"  After Gaal had boasted in his strength Judges 9:38 says, "Then Zebul said to him, "Where indeed is your mouth now, with which you said, 'Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him?' Are not these the people whom you despised? Go out, if you will, and fight with them now."  If God holds people to account for what they say, it is fitting we as children of God would do the same in the fear of God.

What the kid ready retaliate and throw hands on the playground has all wrong is the desire to inflict pain and punish the offender for hurtful comments.  Our modern-day fault can be the opposite, to ignore such comments out of fear as if the words were never said yet stow them away secretly in our hearts.  Like a viper held in our bosom a root of bitterness can grow and poison our attitudes and perspectives of others and foster division and discord.  Should so-called watchmen make predictions that do not come true it is fitting we would question them and not excuse them without a reckoning.  There is no need to enter a debate or argue with one who will not heed God's word or sound reason, but humbly speaking the truth in love ought to mark our conduct with all.  Should our words lead to us being reviled as Jesus was, let us not threaten or revile in response, knowing He is the One who will bring the ultimate reckoning--not only of what was said but how we responded to it.