To speak or not to speak - that is the question.

I have not always been the best example or tangible witness for my faith.  I am guilty of saying things, doing things, or NOT doing things I should.  It took my very best friend in the world, the person God chose for me to spend my life with, to talk to me and to hold a mirror up to my life and my heart.  I was offended at first, and finally ashamed at the person I had become.  I was heartbroken that the life I said I lived was NOT the life I was actually living.  I was a lie.

Because of my husband's (boyfriend, at the time) guts to tell me to my face, I was able to look inward, into my heart, and see the filth.  I was able to take the blinders off and see the horrible witness I was for the faith I said I believed.  If it weren't for him doing what he (as a Christian) was commanded to do, and to hold me accountable, I would be much worse off, and worse than that, I would be turning people away from Christ, rather than drawing them to Him.

So why did it take so long for someone to speak up? (Someone besides my parents, that is. When you are young, you don't listen to your parents, although you should - they are wise!)  Why had I been living in contradiction to my words for as long as I did before a brother in Christ pulled my feet to the fire?!

I have a theory.  I believe we are afraid.  Why?  Because people do not like to be called out!  People do not like to be told they are doing things they shouldn't.  And a lot of times, if we attempt to shine light on their situation, we risk losing a friend or even family member.  We have a fear of rejection. I understand that.  HOWEVER, if you are a person that claims a way of life, you should not be offended when someone else holds you to that.  Granted we are instructed to do this is specific ways, but we are still instructed to do it.

The question is, when I see someone living in contradiction to their faith, and it happens to be my faith, a faith in which we are to hold each other accountable in a loving, graceful way, do I risk losing a loved one, while being obedient in my faith as well? Or do I sit back, keep the loved one, and us BOTH be living a lie?!

This is not easy.