Approving and Affirming?
Today, it seems people want nothing more than to have their life choices and lifestyle affirmed by others. This need for approval probably has at least some of its roots in social media. We have entire generations now that grew up on “likes” and “follows” for their affirmation and they constantly seek this affirmation in real life. If you don’t “like” what I do, then you don’t like me or you don’t approve of me and you will swiftly be unfollowed. Christians can fall into the trap of confusing kindness with affirmation. We can also fall victim to the same “like” mentality, wherein we feel we need to “like” what someone is doing as a means of showing Christ’s love. But Jesus didn't go around approving of or affirming people’s lifestyles while He was on Earth. Jesus was telling people to leave the lives they were living behind them!
To the woman caught in adultery, Jesus said:
“Go now and leave your life of sin.” (John 8:11)
When Jesus interacted with people, their lifestyle wasn’t affirmed—it was challenged! Zacchaeus was a greedy tax collector, but after meeting Jesus, he changed his lifestyle.
But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” (Luke 19:8)
When the Pharisees complained about Jesus having dinner at Matthew the tax collector’s house Jesus said:
“I've come to call sinners to change the way they think and act, not to call people who think they have God's approval.” (Luke 5:32)
Every person that Jesus met was either changed, challenged, or changed because of the challenge. Jesus did not affirm sinners and approve of religious leaders. He challenged them by raising the standards. The entire Sermon on the Mount is about raising the standards that the people were already trying to live by. Those who rose to or accepted the challenge were changed. We need to be careful that when we meet and interact with those who are lost and who need Jesus, that we don’t give off a sense of approval of their sinful lifestyle. Jesus never approved of the sinners’ lifestyle—He loved them and pointed them to His better way. And just because you know the Truth and are saved, just because you might work in a church, doesn’t get you off the hook from being challenged by Jesus! Jesus was more harsh with church workers than He was with anyone else because they should have known better! Consider this: If Jesus walked into your home or office, would He be proud of you if He saw or heard the books you were reading or listening to? The movies or shows you watch? The websites you visit? Do you consider what Jesus would want you to do before you do something or do you do what you want and seek affirmation after? Who comes first: Jesus or you? You see, the church leaders in Jesus’ day were putting their agenda and personal preferences into God’s Word and God didn’t like that—then or now.
“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you cross land and sea to make one convert, and then you turn that person into twice the child of hell you yourselves are!’” (Matthew 23:15)
Jesus’ words were harsh, but it’s better to be called out by a harsh word here on Earth than to face a shocking Truth when we stand before God in judgment. Jesus didn’t affirm people’s lifestyle choices—He came with high standards, He communicated those standards clearly, He modeled how to follow those standards, then He gave us the Helper in the Holy Spirit to assist us in trying to reach those standards every day. When you interact with people who need to meet Jesus, don’t mix up gentleness and love with approval and affirmation or you will give off a message that Jesus never did.
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
