Are You Trespassing?

Matthew 6:14-15

¹⁴ For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, ¹⁵ but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

In today’s society, when we discuss trespassing, we typically think of trespassing as entering a person’s home, property, or land without permission from the owner, an intrusion or invasion. Simply overstepping ones boundaries may be considered trespassing. The King James Dictionary defines trespassing as sin; wrong doing. Wrong doing can cover an almost limitless set of offenses.

In a world of live media, reality shows and social media, where very little is private, lines may be blurred, thus we may unintentionally find ourselves trespassing against others. We all have moments in our lives when we have trespassed against another, maybe even unknowingly. Trespasses can come in the form of words, deeds (actions), thoughts, and even intentions.

Have you ever breached or broken someones trust? Have you shared a loved ones personal struggles with another without your loved ones permission? Sometimes we find ourselves in conversations that lead to gossip, even as a passive listener. Have you found yourself in a situation when you infringed on a friends privacy, inserting yourself where you were not invited at that moment? Have you pushed a coworker to share personal details that they really did not want to share? These are all examples of trespassing against another.

Here’s another perspective. How often do we offer unsolicited advice to someone? We all have opinions and we love to share them. Do we practice discernment, and seek permission before we give our counsel to another? If not, we are trespassing. We are invading, encroaching on another’s personal life, which may include their finances, marriage, parenting, spiritual walk, or other relationships. When someone does ask for our counsel, it’s so important that we use discernment, and pray for guidance. Our words should speak life, promote healing, exemplify love, offer grace, and align with the Word of God.

We were recently at a family dinner and one of my family members was discussing a purchase he was hoping to make. He was not asking for advice. He wasn’t even talking directly to me. I inserted myself into his conversation, to give my 2 cents on why he didn’t need this desired object. He was immediately offended. It was obvious by the change of expression on his face. I wanted to take the words back as soon as they were out there, inflicting unnecessary injury, creating separation. My words were not spoken in love. The damage was done. I reached out the next day and sincerely apologized for my trespass.

Since the introduction of the internet, trespassing has risen to an entirely new level. Social Media. Cyber bullying, trolling, and cyber stalking are clear examples of trespassing. Is it trespassing to ask a friend for details when she posts a request on Twitter for prayer for an “unspoken” need? Or maybe texting a mutual friend and asking for the details? Is it trespassing when we know the details and share them without permission?

Often we see people’s rawest, most vulnerable moments being shared on social media, not always with their consent. Then, the haters come out and trolling begins. In the midst of someones tragedy we make public judgments, criticisms, and throw stones. One of the many examples of this was an incident where a child fell into the gorilla cage at a zoo. NBC posted their coverage of the incident on Facebook, to include a video. https://www.facebook.com/NBCNews/videos/1400082936678399/

This video has over 70K comments. Many criticizing the child’s mom, who had suffered so much anguish just walking through that incident. It was an unimaginable accident. But rather than lifting this mama up, some chose to tear her down further. There are countless stories of tragedy on social media, and there are always those ready to throw stones, in the midst of someone else’s anguish.

John 8:7 When they continued to question Him, He straightened up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her.”

God calls us to repent of our trespasses against one another. To seek forgiveness not just from God, but also from those we sinned against. In addition, when someone sins against us, we are to forgive them as well. Unresolved trespasses injure neighbors, destroy relationships, and divide families. Let’s put down our stones and walk in love and grace.

Matthew 18:15

Moreover, if your brother trespasses against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone: if he shall hear you, you have gained a brother.

Luke 17: 3-4

³ Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. ⁴ And if he trespasses against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

Be Love!

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