Stop Mocking and Start Teaching
There is a wide misconception that exists in today society. When referring to teacher one another. We often times mock each other thinking we are just speaking the hard truth. In reality that is the furthest thing from the truth. Teaching and mocking does have a relationship, a one of complete opposition of each other. In fact almost anytime someone is teaching truth, mocking ensues soon afterward.
7 “Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse. 8 Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you. 9 Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning. 10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. 11 For through me your days will be many, and years will be added to your life. 12 If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.”
Proverbs 9:7-12
Differentiation between the two is simple if you give it just a little thought. Teaching is explaining wisdom in a way that others can to understand it. Helping them come to a greater understanding of God and how the world works. Mocking on the other hand is an direct attack on character of an individual, and absolutely no wisdom can be found in what they are speaking about.
Mockers are usually always present during a debate. Especially if the truth is being said. Reason for this is simple, there is no debating truth! As a result individuals who do not like the truth and have no wisdom to combat truth, choose to instead attack the character from which the truth came from in order to some how void the information. In fact if you pay close attention to any debate one can easily see the winning argument by watching to see who mocks the other first.
The following is the response of listeners who heard Jesus Teach.
19 The Jews who heard these words were again divided. 20 Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?”
John 10:19-20
As you see there is no wisdom to what they are saying. No one could possibly hear this information and gain a greater understanding of God or how the world works. Its just an attack on the character of Jesus in order to discount what he had just said.
Often times when speaking to individuals with different opinions then our own about the faith, we feel as if we need to let them know that they are wrong and we are right by attacking their character(mocking). This is however obviously isn’t the wise course of action.
What does it benefit someone to be told how they talk is wrong(mocking), how they walk is wrong(mocking), their religious affiliation is wrong(mocking) and simply would be better off if they were like you. The answer in short is it doesn’t. Some of you reading this may be thinking but we are suppose to share the gospel. Yes, but by teaching not by mocking individuals. Jesus had many hard teachings, but never directed those words at any one person and had wisdom to back up anything he said. There for he never mocked anyone. He was just speaking a simple general truth that happened to apply to many individuals that were around him and heard him speak. When ever he spoke to individuals he went out of his way to be merciful to them.
Read the following from John. Pay close attention to how Jesus tells the woman about the truth.
7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?”8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)
9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.
10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”
13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”
John 4:7-15
Jesus never told the woman how awful it was that she was a Samaritan, what was wrong with her Samaritan beliefs, or what he thought her problem was in general. He simply told her about the living water (TRUTH). After the woman heard about the living water she decided her self that what she was doing before was wrong and wanted to do what Jesus instructed. Jesus never mocked her and payed no attention what so ever that she was a Samaritan. He was only concerned she heard the same truth he would tell anyone else.
If we can only focus on the purpose for sharing the gospel we can clearly see that attacking others character(mocking) has no place in it. We are to lift others up, not bring them down.
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Eric Faith-
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