Let's Go Back to the Bible

The middle finger

You’ve been there. You’ve seen it. Maybe you’ve been the target. Or maybe you were just an innocent bystander. Maybe, perhaps, you were the extender. What? Those moments when the middle finger is gesticulated in someone’s direction. Is there anything wrong with that?

Well, what is usually involved when someone extends their middle finger? Some words have been spoken or some actions have been taken by someone which were not well received, and in response, the bird is flipped. It is not necessarily the finger itself that is the problem (although it is), but it is the heart behind the finger that prompted it to be flipped in the first place. It is a heart of anger, bitterness, wrath, jealousy, malice and evil intentions. The words that go along with it (spoken or unspoken) are corrupt and vile in themselves. Of course, sometimes the finger itself doesn’t actually get extended, but the heart is “doing it on the inside.”

A Christian should stop to ask: (1) Is flipping someone the bird (with the heart and words that accompany) the act of a Christian? (2) Would Jesus do this? (3) Would I do it to Jesus?