Our Tuesday Breakfast Club

“We must learn to regard people less in the light of what they do or omit to do, and more in the light of what they suffer.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Every Tuesday morning, I am blessed to enjoy breakfast with a small group of Christian men at a local restaurant. The food is great, but the fellowship is even better. Some of us have been “breaking bread” together like this for almost 10 years, whereas a few of the guys are relatively new to the group.

Our conversation around the table varies from week to week. There is usually some sports talk as well as some political banter, but invariably a spiritual topic or two is discussed. We almost always share some personal prayer requests, too.

Yesterday, one of the men raised a question about how to deal with Christians whose personal behavior doesn’t always jive with their public profession of faith (which is all of us at some point). The consensus around the table was that if the person in question is involved in open and unrepentant sin, then he should be confronted in a spirit of gentleness and humility (see Galatians 6:1). The key is not to condemn the wayward brother-in-Christ, but to lead him to repentance and restoration.

“However, it is important to remove the plank from our own eye first,” I said, citing Matthew 7:5, “before trying to remove the speck from the other person’s eye.”

In matters that are a little less clear, I think it is helpful to adopt the attitude and approach suggested by Dietrich Bonhoeffer in today’s quote. Just because a person’s conduct is annoying or doesn’t meet society’s standards, doesn’t mean that it is wrong let alone sinful. More importantly, if we would simply remember that everyone – you, me, and everybody we come in contact with throughout the day – is carrying an unseen burden and/or dealing with an invisible struggle, we would be far more patient and compassionate… and far less mean-spirited and judgmental.

In other words, try to see others through the eyes of Jesus and when you do, you will love them more and criticize them less. Yes, we are called to judge/discern (see Matthew 7:20), but not to judge/condemn (see Matthew 7:1-2).

Remember, we’re all in this thing called L-I-F-E together, so let’s cut each other some slack and provide a helping hand, an encouraging word, and a shoulder to lean on. Today, you and I may be the strong ones but tomorrow, we may be the ones in need of mercy, grace, understanding, and forgiveness.

“Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” I Peter 4:8 (BSB)

- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President