Articles From Our Bulletins
Caring What Others Think
Should I care what others think of me (my thoughts, emotions, and conduct)? While not without qualification and explanation, OF COURSE I SHOULD!
Was the apostle Paul concerned about what others thought? Consider his stated motivations for the administration and conduct of benevolent contributions in 2Corinthians 8:21, “for we have regard for what is honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.” Some might object, “Yes, but that’s only talking about brethren.” Ok, then what about this…
Did he likewise care what the world thought about the Corinthian brethren in 1Corinthians 5:1 when he rebuked them for harboring “an immorality of such a kind as does not even exist among the Gentiles (meaning pagan, heathen, unbelievers)? Did he care what the world thought in 1Corinthians 6:1-7 when he rebuked and shamed his brethren for taking one another to law before worldly courts? Did he care what his brethren felt about him in Galatians 4:15-16, “For I bear you witness, that if possible, you have plucked out your eyes and given them to me. Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?” Did Jesus care what the world saw in and thought of believers regarding unity in John 17:20-21? Should I, therefore, NOT have regard for what my neighbors, my community, my brethren, my wife, and my children think of me? Surely, we know better! But…
We have fallen prey to the wisdom of the world (cf. 1Corinthians 1:20ff) in these regards. The world’s wisdom now, and going back some years, at every turn encourages us to “Please self rather than others.” Isn’t this contradictory to the very nature of Christ’s example and what God’s wisdom requires of us? “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others,” Philippians 2:3-4. But the world says “Please yourself, and don’t worry about what others think.”
Look- I get it, or at least I think I do. We can become so concerned with what others think of us that we lose ourselves. Likewise, it is a small step from being too concerned about what others think of us to becoming a “people pleaser” (preachers are especially warned against such, cf. 2Timothy 4:1-5). It can further lead to “practicing your righteousness to be noticed” by, and please, other people (cf. Matthew 6:1-2,5,16) rather than learning and doing what is “pleasing to the Lord,” Ephesians 5:10. But, just selfishly “doing what is right” in your own eyes didn’t and doesn’t work out to well either, as Israel’s history confirms (cf. Judges 17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25 where the nation’s sinful degradation is so linked).
My overriding concern is that all our self-love, self-affirming, self-confidence leads further toward self-righteousness (Luke 16:15; 18:9-12), self-worship (Philippians 3:19; Colossians 2:23), and self-governance (Romans 1:20-23,25; Jeremiah 10:23) in rejection of God-defined righteousness, God-worship, and God-directed living. God teaches us to deny self in order to follow and be found in Him, Matthew 16:24. Being encouraged to “be true to yourself” and “not worry about what anyone else thinks” and other self-affirming mantras may be but small steps, but they sure seem to be headed in the wrong direction.
One final point: Of course “we must obey God rather than men” as Peter clearly stated in Acts 5:29. In warning of the potential dangers of the “listen to YOUR heart and don’t worry about what anyone else thinks or says” mentality, each certainly must read, study, understand, and practice the truth of God’s Word for themselves. But such is a far cry from deciding that your thoughts, ideas, and adopted beliefs are a/the truth worth following apart from God’s revelation. “The” truth is true for everyone, not just me. Please think on these things, won’t you?
- Caring_What_Others_Think.pdf (82.36 kB)
