In our culture when we disagree with someone it is often
taken as a lack of approval or even a dislike for the individual. And to be
quite honest, it is very easy to enter into this and combine our own reactions
with a history of harsh reactions adding to a possible justification for those
feelings. When it comes to the world it should be expected that there will
indeed be disagreement on any number of issues, and the news of the past few
weeks has provided ample opportunity. When we see people rejoicing in something
that God declares to be wrong, there should be a check in our hearts.
The question then arises about how we deal with that heart check,
remembering that the greatest need is for the non-believer to come to a saving
relationship with Jesus Christ. Practically speaking when individuals are
confronted in a harsh or judgmental way, they rarely find anything attractive
about the one serving as their judge. This does not mean that we must remain
silent about everything lest someone become offended, but that when we speak
and act it should be done so thoughtfully and in full consideration of our
savior and Lord for whom we are ambassadors, pleading that the individual
becomes reconciled to Him. We are not begging them to change before they become
acceptable to God for salvation. Rather we know that once they place their
trust in Christ and receive His gift of salvation that God then begins a work
in them, beginning the process of conforming them to the image of His beloved
Son. This changes everything.
2 Corinthians 5:16-21 Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even
though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in
this way no longer. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a
new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things
are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the
ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the
world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has
committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ,
as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ,
be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on
our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
The situation is a bit different for those who profess to be
Christians. Here we have the Word of God and its standard for our lives. While
we are, again not to be harsh or judgmental even in our dealings with other believers,
we can rightly call them to living to a different standard than before they
trusted Christ for their salvation. We do this knowing that while all of our
sins are forgiven, God does not instantaneously shave away all of our struggle
areas but rather patiently and graciously works in us. Scripture does call us
to live differently and to encourage others to do likewise.
There is a
tendency among some to quote the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:1, “Do not
judge so that you will not be judged,” applying across the board universally to Christians and
non-Christians. In doing this they might raise their hands and back away from
any discussion of how we deal with one another. In doing so, they use the word “judge”
in a blanket manner to include any form of confrontation. Both in Matthew chapter
seven and in Luke chapter six this issue is dealt with beyond this singular
statement, and in both of them the issue is not dealing with one another, but HOW
we deal with one another and the condition of our hearts when we do so. Jesus
calls us to love and be merciful to even those who are our enemies, and He also
calls us to consider our own sinfulness and the mercy and grace shown to us. In
recognizing who we are before God and what He has done and continues to do for
us, then we prayerfully and carefully reach out to others in a biblically positive
way.
Remember,
Jesus also said in Matthew 18:15, “If your brother sins, go and show
him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.”
Judging the world is not our business. Scripture declares
that this has already been done and every single person has been found guilty. Romans
3:23 “for all have sinned and fall
short of the glory of God….” Rather we are, as we read in 2 Corinthians
5, “ambassadors for Christ.”
And as it pertains to our brothers and sisters in Christ, sin
sniffing is also not our business, but building up and encouraging one another
is. 1 Thessalonians 5:11, 14 “Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are
doing. … We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the
fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.”
Today in “Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young (7/3)
My children make a pastime of judging one another – and
themselves. But I am the only capable Judge, and I have acquitted you through
My own blood. Your acquittal came at the price of My unparalleled sacrifice.
That is why I am highly offended when I hear My children judge one another or
indulge in self-hatred.
If you live close to Me and absorb My Word, the Holy Spirit
will guide and correct you as needed. There is no condemnation for those who
belong to Me.
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn,
and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” Luke 6:37
Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not
only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:8
He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done,
but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and
renewal by the Holy Spirit. Titus 3:5
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in
Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1
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