Wouldn't You Want to Be Warned?
Have you ever flashed your headlights at an oncoming driver to let him know that he forgot to turn his lights on? What about as a warning of a road hazard ahead?
But have you ever flashed your lights to warn oncoming traffic of a speed trap?
Hmmm.
Funny thing…I asked someone that question and he said, “I would never do that. I don’t think it’s ethical and possibly illegal.”
I then asked, “Have you ever appreciated it when someone did it for you, and you avoided a ticket?” He sheepishly admitted that he had.
Actually, we shouldn’t have to worry about it anyway by not speeding, right? And I’m sure you never do.
But this last week, a federal judge ruled that state and local laws that penalize a driver for flashing their lights to warn a driver of a speed trap, violate the first amendment right to free speech. The judge said that the person making the warning is doing a good thing by bringing the oncoming driver into conformity of the law, regardless of whether or not a citation is issued.
Let’s not debate the ethics of those laws or the judge’s ruling. Let’s talk about something more important.
Through the prophet Ezekiel, God told his people that they are responsible for giving proper warning of spiritual danger when their brothers and sisters were living contrary to God’s principles. That same responsibility was reiterated many times in the New Testament for those in the church. Both of Jesus’ half brothers, James and Jude, closed out their epistles talking about this. Paul also told Timothy and Titus to warn others when necessary. Doing this is not passing judgement on another person, it’s an act of love. It’s lovingly informing an erring brother or sister of the ultimate consequences of sin.
That’s partly what community is for. The church is to be a place of positive peer pressure, encouragement and care, and along with this comes accountability. It’s helping one another live the way we ultimately want to live (if we are truly in Christ), but need some gentle coaxing here and there along the way.
I’d rather have an oncoming driver flash his lights at me to encourage me to slow down, than to get a ticket. And I’d rather have a brother or sister gently remind me of the promise I’ve made to God to follow his path and live a consistent Christian life, than fall and face far greater consequences.
Maybe the best way to close this is with a reminder from the Apostle Paul in Galatians 6. I just read this passage this morning…
“Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:1-2).