Is it you?
Are you the one? Is it you that was appointed by God to judge what is good and evil in the lives of our Master’s servants? Are you the one elected to judge the hearts and minds of all believers? Are you the one whose knowledge and wisdom is full and whose interpretation of the scripture has been made perfect?
Please tell me what gifts has God given you to impose and enforce your righteous determinations? Do you possess the gift of ridicule? Are you touched with the divine ability to debase another? Could it be that you’ve even been endowed with power from on high (as appointed by men) to prosecute and persecute those who resist your perfect judgments? How marvelous it must be to find yourself exempt from the subjection and humility that marks all other believers!
If it is you then please correct me of my error. I was so sure that all judgment was given to Christ. I was so positive that we were to submit to one another. I was so certain that your position in the Church never existed and that the power and authority you use to govern the hearts, minds and actions of others could only be an offense and I truly am so bewitched as to believe that Christ is the head of the man and the body!
offered by Kc | 6/01/2007 08:57:00 AM
28 Comments:
Hi KC,
Excellent post... and truly convicting...
I feel like I did after reading C.S. Lewis' Screwtape Letters... this guy knows me and my heart too well.
Blessings
Pastor I have several post like this that I thought about including in a series titled something like, "A word with the mirror". It's just too easy for me to fall into the trap of being judgmental. I know we're not alone in this.
Man, oh man, who p'd in your Wheaties?
If it were my Wheaties you wouldn’t be hearing about it. ;-)
KC I assure you I ain't the one that has been appointed because I struggle to keep my head above the water ? I came from the old school where you learned to clean up around your own door first then you won't have any time left to judge others? But as I grew older I then realized that Gods Grace is the only real free thing in this world but I try to share it with others because He tells me too ? Blessings. Ron.
It's interesting that you posted this today, KC.
Today while driving, I was thinking about Jesus' 2 love commands. As I focused on what it really means to love my neighbor, I began to notice how many times I did not measure up... especially when it came to other believers.
So I went through a list of people of whom I have had less-than-amiable attitudes, and began toverbalize their strengths as I saw them. As I went through this little exercise (all by myself), a genuine healing took place with me. The more I did it, the better I felt.
Instead of looking at so-&-so and thinking, "What a gossip"< I thought, "What a diligent, hard worker" Or what courage or compassion they have!
When I finished, it was like a weight was lifted off of me. I realized that the only person affected by my judgments of them was ME!
Thanks for opening this discussion. It's very necessary for many of us.
Grand-paw I guess most times the old school is the best school, huh? ;-)
Jeff, that’s an excellent mental exercise to help keep those unruly thoughts captive and correct our perspective on our brethren. I think it’s also helpful to remember that it’s only pride that leads us to be judgmental but we just love to justify it with our “righteous” indignation.
KC,
Thanks much for the admonishment. I, at sundry times, have given myself to harsh criticism of others...mental sin being the malignant cancer of the mind lead to words falling too soon to unsay. Blessings in Christ Jesus, the Beloved.
Hi KC,
Your post got me thinking and I had to post on your post at my site. :)
Again, very convicting...
Blessings
Wow, your post talks about so many people!
John MacArthur
John Piper
Michael Horton
R.C. Sproul
J.I. Packer
Kenneth Gentry
Phil Johnson
John Calvin
Fill in the blank...
Scribe thanks so much for the kind reply. I think we all share in this tendency and I covet your prayers in this. Many blessings to you as well. ;-)
Pastor while it seems we share the same values as well as convictions concerning sin I think we might have a difference in our understanding of how we are to address offenders in the Church and how we address sin in world. I think it is a good idea to present our thoughts on this as individual articles on our blogs and I will prepare an overview of my understanding on this topic shortly. I really respect your opinion and appreciate your time and consideration as always.
Antonio I honestly don’t know how to respond to your comment. I always appreciate your participation. At this point I can only add my own name to the list of the guilty. With my whole heart and mind I have repented and I pray God will grant me the strength and wisdom to abstain from it in the future. I pray He will do so for all of us who are likewise tempted.
Do you have any update information on your trip in October? I plan to post an article on it this month if you allow.
Kc, it seems that the coin of even my most correct and righteous indignation has a flip side of self-righteousness. Is there a way to condemn wrong without position yourself as being above it?
I mean, how do I say, "the church robs God by letting the needs of the community go unmet," without implying that I'm somehow better than the ones who have not made my observation?
The path is narrow, indeed.
Dorse what's been so hard for me is learning to say "the Church" while looking in the mirror.
All I can do is add my name to Antonio's list and say amen to your post.
KC, who is this "you" that is the subject of your post?
Is it the one who judges the doctrines others have chosen to adhere to?
Is it the one who judges the doctrines others adhere to and ridicules them?
Is it the one who judges the lifestyle of a person who says they believe in Christ?
Is it the one who judges the heart because of the lifestyle they live contrary to what they think is right?
Is it all of the above and anything else in this life to judge?
OR is it the one who judges about all the above and anything else AND finds satisfaction in his or her heart KNOWING that they are a guide to the blind?
When do any of us deserve grace?
It was only a self-appointed position, but judging those beneath me was nice for a time.
Learn from my experience, though: when your building that pedastal to lift yourself out of hell - do not use wood. Wood burns and it's quite a tumble.
[c;
KB, thanks so much. ;-)
Kris, great points. Who I really had in mind were those of us who usurp Christ' authority by attempting to rule over God's servants instead of helping them to see our need to be subject to Him.
Missy I praise God for His mercy and long suffering.
Hi KC,
No, wasn't trying to gin up conversation at my place... but wanted to comment on it in a way that did not detract from the conversation here. I think we are in the same ballpark of the discussion, but different parts of the field.
And yes, you can certainly add my name to the list as well.
After all, do we have any pure motive in anything we do? Is there a pure heart among us? Does not sin taint our every thought and deed, even those thoughts and deeds that might be acceptable to the Father?
O the riches of God's grace, and the beauty of the name of Christ. He is the One that delivers us from this body of death!
BTW, I wonder if Antonio would be willing to add his own name to the list?
Blessings to all...
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I agree KC.
I was hoping someone would comment on my:
When do any of us deserve grace?
Isn't the question itself an impossible question? IOW how does the word deserve and grace have any compatability? :)
Kris, my answer to your question would be that we all deserve it - from one another. Seeing as I am in the same condition as everyone else, and I want grace from those around me, I would be a hypocrite to not give it.
I could also answer that we are also deserving of His grace. We do not merit grace, but we are deserving because He made us so in our creation and in our redemption through Christ. I do not deny the wretch that I am, but He chose me worthy of rescue, as He did all! I chose to not lose faith in His creation - for He does not.
Amen Missy, Preach on I'm listening whether anybody else does ? LOL. Grandpaw.
Here is just a controversial thought for my returning note: if a judge makes a judgement, let us say declaring that a particular act done is illegal, then anyone who repeats this judgement and calls this particular act illegal is not 'judging', but only calling that which is illegal, illegal. The same can be thought of when thinking about God's judgements. If God says that lying is sin, and I then in turn tell you that your lying is sin, I am not 'judging' you, for your act has already been judged, but I am simply calling that which is sin, sin.
I have missed you my dear Friend. I will be conversing with you more often now. I hope all is going well with you and do appreciate your love for me.
awaiting the hope,
Adam
I agree with you Missy, we can get into semantics and definitions but thats not profitable I basically agree with all you are saying.
My thoughts were grace ceases to be grace once the word deserve precides it.
it's me
just want to say hi! :)
the name of your post, got to thinking of a song ( It's me O Lord standing in the need of prayer ) very cool song!
if a judge makes a judgement, let us say declaring that a particular act done is illegal, then anyone who repeats this judgement and calls this particular act illegal is not 'judging', but only calling that which is illegal, illegal.
If this is true, I can't wait to get to church on Sunday... :)
It is true, and you should always be excited to fellowship with the church...:D
Mmm...not exactly. If it were true, then a thief would have no need to appear before a judge, since thievery has already been adjudicated a crime. The arresting officer could simply call his act stealing and put him in prison. Yet, thieves and murderers, etc. are each still judged individually, by judges.
It isn't the judge's job to determine whether an act is illegal. The law does that. The judge determines whether an individual has broken that law. And scripture still prohibits it among believers.
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