Mike Edmisten Follower of Jesus. Husband of Nicki. Father of Ryan & Brock. Communicator of the Word.

Back It Up

Al Gore may be figuring out something that I've learned as a pastor. When you speak out against something, you'd better have your own life in order.

Gore is a leading voice in the environmentalist movement. And yet, this week we've learned that his Tennessee property uses more energy in a month than the average American household uses in a year.

"As the spokesman of choice for the global warming movement, Al Gore has to be willing to walk the walk, not just talk the talk, when it comes to home energy use," Tennessee Center for Policy Research President Drew Johnson said in a statement.

Whether you agree or disagree with Gore's environmental views, you've got to admit that his cred on the issue has been damaged. And it's scary easy for that to happen to us as Christ-followers.

Jesus said, "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." (Matthew 7:1-5, NIV)

It's not that we can't speak out against issues that are contrary to the Word of God. It's just that, before we speak, we'd better do a gut-check in our own lives.

Our lives speak louder than our lips. When we speak authoritatively on a spiritual issue, we'd better be living in a way that backs it up.

If we're not, then we need to keep our mouths shut.