Judges 12:6 Then said they unto him, Say now Shibboleth: and he said Sibboleth: for he could not frame to pronounce it right.

Shibboleth was used as a password to identify those who were posing as Israelites. It was a simple test, one which the posers could not pass. There is no such test in Christianity.

In the parable of the tares it was asked of the Lord if we should remove the tares from the wheat. His answer was this.

Matthew 13:29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.

At first glance is appears that the Lord is concerned for true believers, that they would be lost. But is that true?

John 10:27-29 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

With this being true, then what concern should the Lord have that wheat be removed? It is that while tares hide among the wheat, the God of our salvation is all about conversion, transformation. Who is to say that a tare cannot become wheat? What would it take?

“Faith is the true Shibboleth.” The West Wing episode called “Shibboleth” circa 2000.

What if a tare were to place his/her faith in Jesus Christ? They would be transformed would they not? Who among the tares might find faith in Christ apart from being among the wheat? I do not know and neither do you. Being exposed to the truth gives them more of an opportunity to accept the truth than to be cast out.

It is not for us to judge, but to love.

1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Ever been called a hypocrite? I have. At the time it didn’t bother me because I had an understanding of mercy and grace she lacked. Her view of me was painted by others and not by me or my circumstances. She expected legalist adherence, strong handed control, dominance over my family.

This is only one view. Another might be seen as this. I am both spirit and flesh. Others cannot see the spiritual side of you. They see the flesh and judge us by the flesh. Self-control is the last fruit of the spirit listed. I’ve been told it is the last one to ripen. Even if it were, the world would not see it.

I could walk in perfection and still be labeled a hypocrite. Those who scream at me judge from a place which only exists in their own experience. I can give or offer a new experience but it will never replace theirs by anything I say or do.

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Rewritten for the flesh: But without faith it is impossible to please MAN: for MAN neither believes in God nor seeks God, so that all the blessing which are offered are missing and MAN is left with nothing but bitterness.

You cannot please people.