The Problem
So what exactly is log-speck syndrome? It's a term I came up with jokingly to describe a condition we all suffer from. Of course I totally stole it from one of Jesus' teachings from the sermon on the mount message in the book of Matthew. Jesus is brilliant! His analogy regarding the log and speck is so perfect and it really does apply to us all! Check out these verses:
Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. Matthew 7:3-5
Don't you love how the little cartoon above just really drives the point home even further. Our natural tendency is to minimize our own sin and maximize the sin of others. How often are we quick to notice the flaws and shortcomings of those around us like our spouse, our children, our parents, friends, co-workers...the list is endless! I think it's just so hard for us to evaluate ourselves and even harder to admit when we're wrong. Let's face it we all have blind spots. And we all need people in our lives that love us and love Jesus that will help us to see our blind spots clearly.
Here are some questions you can ask yourself to see if you too suffer from the log-speck syndrome:
1. Do you find it easy to point out the flaws in others?
2. Do the sins of others seem so much bigger than your own?
3. Are you quick to write-off people that hurt you and/or have sinned against you?
4. How would those closest to you describe you....more grace filled or are you more critical?
5. Is it hard for you to forgive?
Let me share how this log-speck syndrome affected me. I'm going to be very transparent here so I'm warning you it's not pretty. But this is where my heart was at. Here it goes:
I had people under the microscope with respect to their salvation, their walk. Often saying things like, "if they were saved, I don't think they would act like that......".
I would scrutinize pretty much every sermon I heard, at church, on line or on the radio, constantly looking for the flaws in the sermon, the errors in the message. Don't get me wrong, I think we need to be diligent and on guard for false teachers. We do not want to be led astray. However for me personally, it had gone too far. I would so easily write-off a pastor whose beliefs did not line up with mine exactly.
I struggled with watching other people at church appear so weak in their walk, thinking what is wrong with them....do they not know that Christ lives in them? I had little patience for believers that struggled with addictions, depression, bad marriages, etc.
I homeschool my children and of course believed that any other form of schooling was just not acceptable....in fact how could any good Christian send their child to a public school?
I expected my kids to live up to a standard that I had created in mind that functioned as a more legalistic, works-based home than a loving, grace-filled, God honouring home.
I told you it was not pretty. And of course I could probably go on and on but I think you get the idea of where my heart was at. I basically had an overly critical spirit that affected all areas of my life. But then about a year or two ago, God broke me....thankfully!
2. Do the sins of others seem so much bigger than your own?
3. Are you quick to write-off people that hurt you and/or have sinned against you?
4. How would those closest to you describe you....more grace filled or are you more critical?
5. Is it hard for you to forgive?
Let me share how this log-speck syndrome affected me. I'm going to be very transparent here so I'm warning you it's not pretty. But this is where my heart was at. Here it goes:
I had people under the microscope with respect to their salvation, their walk. Often saying things like, "if they were saved, I don't think they would act like that......".
I would scrutinize pretty much every sermon I heard, at church, on line or on the radio, constantly looking for the flaws in the sermon, the errors in the message. Don't get me wrong, I think we need to be diligent and on guard for false teachers. We do not want to be led astray. However for me personally, it had gone too far. I would so easily write-off a pastor whose beliefs did not line up with mine exactly.
I struggled with watching other people at church appear so weak in their walk, thinking what is wrong with them....do they not know that Christ lives in them? I had little patience for believers that struggled with addictions, depression, bad marriages, etc.
I homeschool my children and of course believed that any other form of schooling was just not acceptable....in fact how could any good Christian send their child to a public school?
I expected my kids to live up to a standard that I had created in mind that functioned as a more legalistic, works-based home than a loving, grace-filled, God honouring home.
I told you it was not pretty. And of course I could probably go on and on but I think you get the idea of where my heart was at. I basically had an overly critical spirit that affected all areas of my life. But then about a year or two ago, God broke me....thankfully!
The Solution
So do you agree with me? Do you think we can safely say that log-speck syndrome affects us all in one way or another? If it's true then what do we do about it? First we need to have a right view of sin. Sin, no matter how big or small separates us from God. It's the reason we need a Saviour!
As I was reflecting on these log-speck verses I couldn't help but think of Paul's words spoken in his letter to Timothy.
1 Timothy 1:15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.
The apostle Paul, one of my favourite heroes in the Bible calls himself not only a sinner but of the foremost of sinners! Really? How can this be? Why would this apostle, church planter, leader of all leaders in the first century church risk calling himself the 'foremost of sinners'. Clearly he was not concerned with his reputation. I mean can you imagine what other believers would say about Paul? What is it that Paul believed or understood that allowed him the freedom to make this statement? Paul understood first and foremost that he was a sinner in need of grace, in need of a Saviour!
Paul understood sin and grace in a way that I never really did. God has been teaching me so much about grace these past couple of years. He's allowed me to see my sin in a whole new light and helped me to realize how much I desperately need a Saviour. Like Paul, I too can now say 'I am the foremost of sinners'. I honestly would not have been able to say that a few years ago. I was so blind by my own sin and so intrigued by the sin of others.
I would like to just add here that I am not saying sin is okay or that we are to ignore sin in our lives or the lives of fellow believers. But I am saying that before we start pointing out the flaws of others, we better have our motives in check and make sure that we do not elevate ourselves above anyone else as if we have arrived.
The whole irony of this for me personally is the journey God has placed before us. My husband is in the process of becoming a Biblical Counselor and we both spend a lot of our time coming alongside those hurting or struggling people in the Church....you know some of the ones I mentioned above. I always had a heart to help and serve but was very ineffective until God broke me. I am so thankful that God is not finished with me yet and he continues to reveal areas of sin in my life that remind me how much I need Him! I'm done with judging others and comparing them to me! I'm now on the 'Jesus is the standard program' and we ALL fall short of the glory of God so how about we focus more on loving and encouraging one another just like Hebrews 3:13 says:
But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Hebrews 3:13
A book that helped me tremendously was Paul Tripp's Instruments In the Redeemer's Hands. I highly recommend reading it. The subtitle of the books sums it up, "People in Need of Change Helping People in Need of Change"! I needed that constant reminder that I am still a sinner in need of grace and in need of change. This one little sentence from the book says it all:
"No one is more ready to communicate God's grace than someone who has faced his own desperate need for it." Paul Tripp from Instruments In The Redeemer's Hands
If I may add to what Paul Tripp is saying, it's okay to take the speck out of your brother's eye, just please, please, please remember to deal with the log that's stuck in your own eye first! That's coming from a gal who had a log stuck in her eye way too long without ever noticing it!
The apostle Paul, one of my favourite heroes in the Bible calls himself not only a sinner but of the foremost of sinners! Really? How can this be? Why would this apostle, church planter, leader of all leaders in the first century church risk calling himself the 'foremost of sinners'. Clearly he was not concerned with his reputation. I mean can you imagine what other believers would say about Paul? What is it that Paul believed or understood that allowed him the freedom to make this statement? Paul understood first and foremost that he was a sinner in need of grace, in need of a Saviour!
Paul understood sin and grace in a way that I never really did. God has been teaching me so much about grace these past couple of years. He's allowed me to see my sin in a whole new light and helped me to realize how much I desperately need a Saviour. Like Paul, I too can now say 'I am the foremost of sinners'. I honestly would not have been able to say that a few years ago. I was so blind by my own sin and so intrigued by the sin of others.
I would like to just add here that I am not saying sin is okay or that we are to ignore sin in our lives or the lives of fellow believers. But I am saying that before we start pointing out the flaws of others, we better have our motives in check and make sure that we do not elevate ourselves above anyone else as if we have arrived.
The whole irony of this for me personally is the journey God has placed before us. My husband is in the process of becoming a Biblical Counselor and we both spend a lot of our time coming alongside those hurting or struggling people in the Church....you know some of the ones I mentioned above. I always had a heart to help and serve but was very ineffective until God broke me. I am so thankful that God is not finished with me yet and he continues to reveal areas of sin in my life that remind me how much I need Him! I'm done with judging others and comparing them to me! I'm now on the 'Jesus is the standard program' and we ALL fall short of the glory of God so how about we focus more on loving and encouraging one another just like Hebrews 3:13 says:
But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Hebrews 3:13
A book that helped me tremendously was Paul Tripp's Instruments In the Redeemer's Hands. I highly recommend reading it. The subtitle of the books sums it up, "People in Need of Change Helping People in Need of Change"! I needed that constant reminder that I am still a sinner in need of grace and in need of change. This one little sentence from the book says it all:
"No one is more ready to communicate God's grace than someone who has faced his own desperate need for it." Paul Tripp from Instruments In The Redeemer's Hands
If I may add to what Paul Tripp is saying, it's okay to take the speck out of your brother's eye, just please, please, please remember to deal with the log that's stuck in your own eye first! That's coming from a gal who had a log stuck in her eye way too long without ever noticing it!
