Second Presbyterian Church

"LED (Log-Eye Disorder): A Disorder from Sin:
Preaching From the Gospel of Luke"
May 30, 2004

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Sermons Homepage » Sermons for 2004 » Sermons for May 2004 » Sermons from the Series on Luke

#20 in the Series on Luke
The Rev. Daniel E. Hale, D. Min.

• Isaiah 66: 1-2
• Luke 6: 37-42

As some of you know, I have spent over 20 years in ministry as a certified pastoral counselor. During that time I have delivered approximately 20,000 hours of counseling and supervision and I have received well over 5,000 hours of supervision of my work. I have encountered many, many courageous people who came looking for assistance with their emotional, psychological, and spiritual pain. It has been an honor to be able to minister with these wonderful people.

During my time as a fulltime counselor I have actually identified, and labeled one new disorder. A depressive disorder is often called an Affect Disorder, because the person who is experiencing depression has a lowered mood, or affect. I was able to identify and catalog a specific affect disorder; it is called PVAD:

Post Vacation Affective Disorder, PVAD, exhibits depressive-like symptoms that many people experience when their vacation is over and they have returned back to work. It is not a dangerous disorder. Ordinarily it spontaneously disappears, unless, the person hates his job so much that he just can't get over the disorder. When that happens the situation is much more serious than just PVAD, Post Vacation Affective Disorder. It includes a very serious case of the TTJASI Disorder: Take This Job And Shove It Disorder - a much more serous condition than PVAD, Post Vacation Affective Disorder.

My brother Sam - another preacher, - when he recently preached from this passage a couple weeks ago, labeled another very common disorder. It is called the LOG-EYE Disorder, or LED, if you want to use the acronym. Although Sam gave this disorder a label, it was Jesus who identified it and described its symptoms. He said, "Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?" (verse 41) Jesus continues,

"How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye." (verse 42)

Thus Jesus identifies and describes the conditions of the LED, the LOG-EYE Disorder. This is a very serious disorder and it does not spontaneously go away. It is not depression, nor an affective disorder. It is common, however, for depression to also be present as an auxiliary disorder with LED. It is a disorder that stems from sin. It is a disorder that takes effort to overcome, and even then it is not possible to completely overcome, unless Jesus is allowed to help out.

Let's explore a little more closely this disorder and see what we can do to treat it and overcome it. First, let's identify the five major symptoms of LED, Log-Eye Disorder.

Symptom number one: There is the tendency of the Log-Eye sufferer to be judgmental. They become quite critical of others, easily see what they perceive as the other person's faults, but are blind, by the Log-Eye Disorder, to see their own faults. The side effect of this symptom is often a tremendous amount of self-superiority and arrogance.

Symptom number two: there is a strong tendency to be condemning and to write people off, because they do not meet the perceived standards set for other people by the LED sufferer. Objective observers note that the sufferer cannot meet these standards either.

Symptom number 3: The LED sufferer tends to hold grudges. We don't live in a perfect world and bad things happen to us; we experience injustices. The LED sufferer tends to hold a grudge, remember the wrong and is not able to forgive. They are unaware of injustices that they perpetrate upon others. They seem unaware how that damages their relationships. They seem unaware how that damages them emotionally.

Symptom number 4: The person suffering from LED usually has a strong stingy streak. Anything that they give feels like a loss. They are, due to the Log in the eye, unable to see all the many benefits reaped by people who are generous and open. This impoverishes the spirit of the Log-Eye Disorder sufferer. Jesus said, "When we give, we receive." The result is that they often feel empty and meaningless inside. Without giving they feel empty.

The final major symptom of the LED sufferer, as identified by Jesus, is the tendency to tell people how they should live. With the Log-Eye Disorder the sufferer develops the delusion that what they do see is a clear perspective about the other person's weaknesses in living. Therefore, the LED sufferer thinks that he can help straighten them out. Ironically, the log blocking the vision is misperceived as being able to see clearly what other people need to do to change.

There is only one way to treat Log-Eye Disorder. We need to humbly approach Jesus Christ, confess our extreme self-centeredness and turn our lives over to him. It is only with the power of Jesus that the logs in our eyes can be removed. John Calvin noted in his Institutes that true self-knowledge of comes only from knowing God as revealed in Jesus Christ through the Scriptures. Only through Jesus Christ do we have a true sense of how much humanity has strayed from the Creator and how self-centered humanity has become. The only true treatment is accepting Jesus' invitation that he become the new center in our lives. Even as long-practicing Christians we all have to be on the alert for relapses of Log-Eye Disorder. Why? Because our creation has not yet been totally redeemed. It is by faith that we believe in the redemption of Jesus Christ. It is by faith we believe that the completion of redemption shall take place. In the meantime we will all struggle with the symptoms of Log-Eye Disorder and other manifestations of sin. But by our trust in Jesus, we can significantly begin, even now, to have Jesus remove the log from our eyes.

What is the result of allowing Jesus to treat our LED? First of all we will realize just how much we need the redemption of Jesus Christ. We will realize that we really deserve God's judgment. As Paul stated, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) There are no exceptions; none of us are exempt. How can we assess our progress with our treatment? Note the following:

1. We notice that we do not look upon others in a judgmental fashion. If we see someone fall, or sin, we pray for them and offer our love and support. Why? Because we KNOW what it's like to be in their shoes!
   
   
2. Similar to number one, we don't condemn anybody. Only God can condemn. We all realize that, technically, we deserve God's condemnation, but He has given us, instead, redemption through Jesus Christ. So, if Christ doesn't condemn, then who are we to condemn?
   
   
3. We feel the blessing of the forgiveness of God for what we have done wrong. We therefore find it easier and easier to forgive the wrongs of others. This is not to be confused with some who claim it is easy to forgive others, but do not forgive themselves. That is still a symptom of LED. We must also experience God's forgiveness for ourselves.
   
   
4. We note the urge to be generous with the gifts that God has blessed us! We note that strange feeling of being blessed when we give and we note that our giving doesn't diminish our resources. The Lord loves a cheerful giver. Those who give celebrate the generosity of God and want to express that generosity with others.
   
   
5. The urge to believe that our position and views are superior to others diminishes. We acknowledge that other people are just as intelligent, just important was we are. And we rejoice in the lifting of the burden of having to be so right for everybody else. We even find ourselves allowing God to teach us through the minds and hearts of other people!

Log-Eye Disorder is common and pervasive. But it is treatable and we have a positive prognosis when we allow Jesus Christ, the great physician, to treat our Disorder (sin). My invitation to you, this Pentecost Sunday, is to let the Spirit of Jesus Christ flow through your hearts. Surrender your pride and strong will to Him. In so doing you will come alive in ways that have been previously impossible, and so will our congregation! Amen.

The Rev. Daniel E. Hale, D. Min.