Matthew 7:1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
These verses are the subject of a raging debate both within and outside of the church. People that insist on sinning manipulate these words to mean that Christians can't call out sinful behavior or hold others accountable for their acts. This is false teaching and a great lie by Satan. In fact, James 5:19-20 says "19 My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins."
We know that final judgment takes place in Heaven and is reserved for Christ alone. This judgment determines where you spend eternity depending entirely upon what we each do with Christ. John 14:6 says that the only way to Heaven is through Christ. So to me then, for me to become a judge would be to determine whether someone was worthy of the Gospel message of Christ. As you know, the early church had a great debate as to whether the good news of Christ should be shared with the Gentiles and we now know that God was raising up Paul and others with him specifically to spread the Good News to the Gentiles. So for me to look at someone and decide that they are unworthy of the Gospel message may be damning them to an eternal life in Hell. I don't have this right. In fact, I have the responsibility to carry the Gospel message to "all the world" (Matt 28:18-20).
More tomorrow
1 comment:
Sow the seed everywhere. If the ground is fertile it'll grow. I think too many of us do not "discipline our disappointment". By this I mean, when someone just outright rejects the seed, accepts it but quickly goes back to their previous life, or wilts over time, we can't let that disappointment keep us from spreading the seeds. If Jesus, through the parable tells us directly that much of the seed will be unfruitful then we should already be prepared for that. So, our disappointment needs to be disciplined so that it is not greater than our excitement to spread the seed of the Gospel knowing that it will have a great fruit harvest on the ones with prepared hearts and in our excitement to show love to someone as Christ would do.
Regarding judging, I think you are exactly right. But what response does a sinner have? No one likes the confrontation and certainly we can't expect everyone to come away broken, although we can hope for it and pray for it. I think your Mom did an excellent job with that situation and I believe God had that person in her class for that reason.
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