Dealing with Bitterness: Acknowledging Self-Justification.

When we discuss with ex-believers and critics their concerns, most of what we find is an in-depth bitterness at some perceived failure of the Message, of God, of the expectation of faith that remained unfulfilled, of failures of other believers.   In examining how to approach critics we need to realize that for the most part the real question is different from the critical point they’re wanting to discuss. The real point is that point of bitterness that was planted in their soul that is now fueling the criticism of all these other things. Bitterness that was derived from an overpowering urge to justify ones’ self.  God did not answer my prayer, He never gave me the Holy Ghost, He did not deliver me from this or that experience, He allowed evil to happen in my church, He did not help me when I needed it the most.  Sometimes self-justification is as simple as.. “Elvis really isn’t that bad.. The Beatles music is peaceful, a simple justification allowing this or that little thing around, but that little justification is a seed of doubt that caused bitterness to raise up and corrupt the person.

While never justifying the problems that are legitimate, the point is to get at the REAL problem. The prize is the soul of the critic, a soul that is worth 10,000 worlds. It must be pointed out again and again.  You do not justify God in all your words, you justify yourself, and you justify your own actions.

We must be like Elihu when approaching them. (Job 32-36) Job you are failing to justify God in your Words. Many have made themselves more righteous than God. (Job 35:2) What are your actions going to do against God, you might hurt man in your actions but there is no bitterness that can affect Him. (Job 35:8) None says where is God that HE may deliver me? Job 35:10-13.  Evil will always have its place in this life, but you do not justify God in your questionings. Others have gone through worse and received the Holy Ghost, have gone through great trials and been healed.  Jesus Christ himself crucified, yet completely innocent, and in his dying breath He cried out to the Father and HIS cry went unheard. It has and will happened to All of us.  My friend God knows what you’ve been through, and has been tempted in ALL manners like as we have.

What is your point of bitterness?  Have you dealt with it?  Why not do it now? Now is the day of your salvation! There is a balm in Gilead, there is a Savior that knows your deepest pain, pray until He shows you how to deal with it. Ask Him to lead you, until He does.  Do not accept anything as a distraction from this purpose. You MUST overcome, you MUST act, and you must be the one to repent entirely to God! Overcoming that bitterness will be much more satisfying and freeing than any piece of criticism slapped on this Message: criticism that just binds you deeper and deeper into being deceived by the real reason of your bitterness-justification of self rather than God.

God bless you.