Et Tu Brute

“Et tu Brute” is supposedly the last words of Julius Caesar (although there is no evidence of it).  Of course the literal translation of that is “Even you, Brutus?”  Caesar was betrayed by his best friend Marcus Brutus and it led to Caesar’s assassination.  Have you ever been betrayed by a friend or felt betrayed?  Have you ever run into a “holier than thou” Christian who expresses frustration with the sins of others, but they themselves don’t struggle with sin (according to them)?  I believe the reality of that last question is two-fold.  First of all, I think we have run into that person and even been hurt by that person.  Secondly, I believe that we have all been that person at one time or another.  I know there is a hesitancy to admit the second part, but this is the way I explain it, when I asked if you ever run into a person like this, if you couldn’t think of someone, someone was probably thinking of you 🙂  All joking aside, I believe this is an issue we need to deal with because being judgmental as Christians is causing us to lose at least part of a generation.  So how do we deal with this problem as it comes up in our life?

We need to remember 1 John 1:8, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”  It is very easy for us to categorize sin because we justify our actions while condemning the actions of others.  We think that some sins are worse than others.  However, that is not the picture the Bible paints in Romans 3, James 2, and other passages.  The bottom line is it doesn’t matter what your sin is, it is still sin and worthy of God’s judgment.  There is one Judge and we are not Him.  The fact that the world seems to be getting so much worse and sinking further and further into moral depravity gives us as Christians a unique opportunity.  Since the world has gotten so bad and continues to get worse, can you think of a better place to take the Gospel to?  Is it a justification for sin?  Absolutely not!  But it does give us an opportunity to extend the invitation to receive salvation.  We must become burdened for a world that is hopeless without Christ.  One of the best ways to become burdened is to remember what Jesus saved you from and how much He has forgiven you for.  If God can love and forgive someone such as me, then certainly He can do the same for others.

One final note, notice I didn’t address the issue of us dealing with someone who is “holier than thou.”  I refer to back to the previous paragraph.  Is it frustrating?  Absolutely, but remember there are no sins that are worse than others.  The only way to deal with this person is love them and pray for them.

By His grace and through His strength may we live for Him