NOTE: The following article was run in our bulletin over 3 years ago. I am running it again because from time to time the Beam-Eyed Mote Hunter raises his head among us. In fact, from time to time each of us can be in danger of being a Beam-Eyed Mote Hunter if we are not careful. Let us exercise caution lest we fall into this type of hypocrisy.

Beware The Beam-Eyed Mote Hunter

And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. 6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you (Matt 7:3-6).
The beam-eyed mote hunter is one of the most dangerous creatures in existence. He threatens harm to the church by damaging the core of Christian relationships. How can we recognize a beam-eyed mote hunter? He is easily identified by his strange vision problem. Somehow, he is able to look past a log that is stuck in his eye and notice a speck in his brother’s eye at 50 paces.
What makes the beam-eyed mote hunter so dangerous? He doesn’t play by the same rules that bind sincere Christians. Sincere Christians examine themselves honestly (2 Cor 13:5), and they are critical of self. The beam-eyed mote hunter strenuously avoids self-examination and self-criticism, so he focuses his criticism outwards. This means he can and will attack when he should retreat. He will cast blame and criticism in every direction, to the threat and destruction of many.
You cannot win with the beam-eyed mote hunter. Because none of us are perfect, he will always be able to find a mote in your eye. And seeing that mote makes him feel justified. When confronted with his beam, instead of working diligently and long to change himself and remove the beam, he is able to focus on motes in other people’s eyes, and then he feels as though everyone else is just as bad as he is.
In addition to the vision problem, the beam-eyed mote hunter also has a timing problem. The beam-eyed mote hunter is the one who, when confronted with sin, immediately starts looking for something to accuse others of. Maybe he attacks the one who identifies his sin. Maybe he attacks others he perceives to be guilty of something, but in either case, his timing is off.
You see, Jesus says that the correct sequence of things is to first cast the beam out of my own eye, and then try to help my brother with the mote in his eye. Mote hunting is not wrong, but ‘beam-eyed’ mote hunting is always wrong. The words ‘first’ and ‘then’ in this passage show us an order or sequence. Jesus expects us to get rid of our own beams before we start looking for motes in others.
This means that it is always wrong, when confronted about our own sin, to immediately start accusing others of sin. Dealing with sin in others is not supposed to be done at the same time as dealing with our own sin. This doesn’t mean we need to be perfect before we can help others, but before lashing out, first we must be willing to deal with our own sin with the brutal honesty of self-examination, godly sorrow, true repentance, and restitution.
This article is not written to beam-eyed mote hunters. Sadly, one of the major characteristics of the beam-eyed mote hunter is that his twisted vision makes it hard for him to recognize himself, even when described. Can a beam-eyed mote hunter change? Yes, but the very nature of his problem makes it extremely difficult for him to see or admit that he needs to change.
This article is written to all of us who stand in constant danger of becoming beam-eyed mote hunters if we are not careful. There are certain insects which carry this disease. The ant of anger, the pest of pride, the mosquito of me, any of these can turn any of us into beam-eyed mote hunters if we allow ourselves to be bitten.

Family Bulletin Board

Remember those who have chronic illnesses: Delsie Bishop, Reva Brewer, Ella Brumitt, Eloise Deaton, Jamie Farmer,  Francis Ferren, Elizabeth Fowler, Savannah Green, Lola Mae Hamlett, Louise Hunt, and Edith Lechenet.

POTLUCK TODAY - We hope you will stay and share our meal. Also join us for the afternoon service at 2:00 and then we will label the mail-outs for October.

CLAY & MELODY PILLOW have placed their membership with us. Welcome them and mark their address in your directory:  7132 Paw Paw Avenue, Watervliet, MI 49098 Ph. 468-4792.

PANTRY needs - please check the list posted on the bulletin board by the coat rack.

PRAYER REQUESTS -
Mildred Pierce is scheduled for surgery Tuesday.
Earl Nemethy is scheduled for surgery on Wednesday.
Louise Hunt has been in Lakeland hospital.
Alma Wheeler, Elsie Skaggs daughter, had a mild heart attack this week.

ELSIE SKAGGS will be leaving for the Winter on the 13th of this month.