Creating Memories and Joy!

 

I think it gets hard for Christians because we are living in two worlds - two Kingdoms. We are used to living in one of the worlds...namely this one...so we are pretty sure about how things work here for most people.  For instance...what kinds of things do human beings like to do and what gives us joy and creates memories?

 

 

OK, better yet, what in your life have given you great memories and real joy in this world? While you are thinking about it, here are some of mine --

 

 

*Teaching and helping children

*Creating various kinds of fine art

*When my book was published

*Making a difference

   somewhere, anywhere

*Going to the mountains

*When I know I've helped

    someone grow in Christ

*Going to an Emmaus weekend

*Having and caring for animals

*When I've had very close friends

*Antiquing in a little town unhurriedly

*When I recieve good news

   and surprises

*When someone gives me

     something from their heart

 

 

 

I am confident that God also wants us to begin having many joyful experiences in God's world too. But, how does this happen? We can see and touch this human kingdom,  but God's kingdom is not so easily seen or touched. Yes, there is a way!  But how?

 

 

 

Well, as you know, there were obstacles that kept us out of the Kingdom of God before Christ. The law made it about impossible to experience the joys of living in God's kingdom, because of our own inabilities to meet the requirements of the law.

 

 

But now, because of Christ we have a clear path to God and full access to His kingdom...even tho we have not experienced the physical heaven yet, the kingdom of God is within us.

 

 

 

So, now isn't it time to begin thinking about what memorable and joyful things there are to do here in God's kingdom? It IS as real as this world, yes!? God wants to help us add many experiences to our list!

 

 

 

Ok, then....how does this happen?

 

 

Romans 1 :17 "This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, "The righteous shall live by faith"

 

 

 

 

In God's kingdom anything and everything is done by faith...

 

 Here in the USA at least, it is quite normal to say excuse me when we bump into someone, as we have come to expect it will makes things ok. However, I know for me anyway, I do it by faith as well, especially if I don't know the person and how they would react to being bumped!

 

 

 

There are many things we automatically do at home or in our society because they are just things one does! My sister-in-law came from a country that hugging was not done very often...it is something she said that she had to get used to doing and it being done to her...and at the beginning she merely did it by faith after learning it was a typical thing to do here. Then in time it became much more natural to her...

 

 

 

To us, doing the things in God's Kingdom is like this...we are in a Kingdom that does things differently...so we start out at least doing things that God wants us to do merely out of faith. Out of believing that God knows what He is doing and knows how things work in His invisable Kingdom.

 

 

 

For instance, the primary thing God wants us to do is love. To believe what God has said about his love, and then be a part of expressing it. In whatever measure...in whatever way...where ever we are...to imitate God in this world that needs Him...and in so doing be blessed ourselves! Like a sweet perfume...when sharing it with others, one can't help but getting it on yourselves!

 

 

 

 

Galatians 5:6 "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love."

 

 

1 Corinthians 9:23 "I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings."

 

 

 

God is love. He is not just a God who loves...He IS love. Love is to Him an essential part of being. This is why He commands that we love...and likewise that we emulate Him as His dear children...because He wants us to identify with Him and participate in His likeness.

 

 

 

He does not do this so as to put another law on us...He does so because He knows what will make us complete and give us joy!! We already know what gives us joy in this earthly world...now God wants to teach us what will bring us joy in His world. Can you trust Him?

 

 

Love is not hard or burdensome...which is why it is more than compatable with grace. It is a joy and a blessing! The Pharisees and Experts in the Law of long ago and those of today want to have some religious control and in so doing are keeping many from the knowledge of God's love and grace that would set us free -- therefore, they are misrepresenting God!

 

 

 

Luke 11:46 "Yes," said Jesus, "what sorrow also awaits you experts in religious law! For you crush people with unbearable religious demands, and you never lift a finger to ease the burden."

 

Luke 11:52 "How terrible it will be for you experts in the Law! You have taken away the key to knowledge. You didn't go in yourselves, and you kept out those who were trying to go in."

 

 

The command to love can be likened to a loving Father who brings home some very precious and personal gifts for each of his beloved children...then commands that they not just hold onto them....but open and experience them! Live them, share them and enjoy them. Now, how would this be burdensome or difficult?? This is just like God insisting that I be blessed!

 

Luke 12; 32“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Now, sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

 

 

 

Acts 20:35 “And I have shown you everything, that it is necessary to labor and to take care of those who are weak and to remember the words of our Lord Jesus, who said, 'He who gives is more blessed than he who receives.'”

 

 

1 Cor. 9:23 "I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings."

 

 

 

1 John 5:3 "Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome".

 

Matthew 11:30 'Jesus said, "For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

 

 

The command to love in not under the law. A law can be measured, therefore we can tell when a law hasn't been obeyed. But love is not and cannot be under the law -- since love cannot be measured like a rule can!

 

 

So, where ever you are in your loving efforts, is wonderful and acceptable to God!! Because when we share God's love in any measure, it has the same power to perfect God's love in us, as well as rid us of any fears we still have of condemnation. A little leaven (or love), leavens the whole lump!

 

 

 

Col. 1 "10This is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the payment for our sins. 11Dear friends, if this is the way God loved us, we must also love each other. 12No one has ever seen God. If we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us. 13We know that we live in him and he lives in us because he has given us his Spirit.

 

 

 

14We have seen and testify to the fact that the Father sent his Son as the Savior of the world. 15God lives in those who declare that Jesus is the Son of God, and they live in God. 16We have known and believed that God loves us. God is love. Those who live in God's love live in God, and God lives in them.

 

 

 

17God's love has reached its goal in us. So we look ahead with confidence to the day of judgment. While we are in this world, we are exactly like him [with regard to love]. 18No fear exists where his love is. Rather, perfect love gets rid of fear, because fear involves punishment. The person who lives in fear doesn't have perfect love. 19We love because God loved us first.

 

 

 

 

20Whoever says, "I love God," but hates another believer is a liar. People who don't love other believers, whom they have seen, can't love God, whom they have not seen. 21Christ has given us this commandment: The person who loves God must also love other believers."

 

 

Living in love does so much...and most of all creates intimacy with God.

 

 

John 14:21 "Whoever knows and obeys my commandments is the person who loves me. Those who love me will have my Father's love, and I, too, will love them and show myself to them."

 

I Love To Learn God's Ways!

 

 

 

 

 Isaiah 56 : "9Come, all you beasts of the field, come and devour, all you beasts of the forest!"

 

 

 

Can you imagine a cow attacking a tiger? Well, then how about a sheep feasting on a bear? Or a pig about to eat a mountain lion? Of course not...however, in the Kingdom of God this is exactly how things are done.  Metaphors and Opposites, and more.....all to give us clear pictures of God and how He does things!

 

 

Isaiah 55: 8“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. 9“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts."

 

 

When God says His thoughts and ways are as high as the heavens are from the earth, He means it! Therefore, they are so much higher than we can even imagine! Yes?  

 

 

 

When we think of the heavens, we think of the night sky that are filled with twinkly stars...but no, the heavens are way past what we can see. Therefore, the contrast here is immeasurable.

 

 

 

God is light...and He has no dimmer switch! He lives in "unapproachable light"(1 Tim. 6:16). In the following section of Exodus, God allows Moses to see just the back of Him after He passes by...because He is just too bright to look at - to the point where Moses would die.

 

 

 

 

 

So, think about the sun, it is millions of miles away, yet if we look at it for too long we can go blind. This gives us a perfect picture of God's brilliance...a brightness that darkness can not even look at, let alone be anywhere near! So, if we think we can willingly partake of the things that reside in darkness (as in Gal. 5: 19-21) and it would be OK with God...then we don't understand Him, His word or how different His ways are!

 

 

 

Meaning, if we do willingly partake, then in due time we'll be lovingly disciplined unless we decide to judge ourselves and do an about face in the opposite direction ~ and give our attentions back to God. 1 Cor. 11: 31"If we were judging ourselves correctly, we would not be judged. 32But when the Lord judges us, he disciplines us so that we won't be condemned along with the rest of the world."

 

 

 

 

Exodus 33: 17 "The LORD answered Moses, 'I will do what you have asked, because I am pleased with you, and I know you by name.' 18Then Moses said, 'Please let me see your glory." 19The LORD said, 'I will let all my goodness pass in front of you, and there I will call out my name 'the LORD.' I will be kind to anyone I want to. I will be merciful to anyone I want to.

 

 

 

 

20But you can't see my face, because no one may see me and live." 21Then the LORD said, 'Look, there's a place near me. Stand by this rocky cliff. 22When my glory passes by, I will put you in a crevice in the cliff and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23Then I will take my hand away, and you'll see my back, but my face must not be seen."

 

 

 

 

Something I find so wonderful about God, and what I read in His written word...and see in His Son Jesus, is that when He says something, anything...it is heavy with meaning. His words are weighty. He is thrifty and therefore packs a lot of meaning into each word. Weighty to the point where He clearly wants us to understand the reasons He makes these contrasts about Himself!

 

 

 

OK, so, what are the reasons? For one, that He is nothing like the human-fallen nature, and thinks nothing like our human nature thinks. In fact He is the opposite. Therefore, if the world is going south, then He is going north, for no better way to put it.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Take any given set of verses...and you will most likely see some of these contrasts and words heavy with meaning that God has made about Himself and His ways. The following section of scripture in 1 Timothy verse 11, there are many such verses in scripture like this one instructing us to 'flee from', or 'lay aside', or 'make no provision for', or 'turn from', and 'die to'...the ways of sin and the flesh. 

 

 

 

 

Victory comes when things are done God's way. Man's way (and the reason we could not successfully keep the law) of dealing with sin is to set our minds on working hard at trying not to sin...but because of the weak human nature we have to try very hard over and over and over again to get even a little success! But then the law said that even one sin is too many! So, it is a hamsters wheel going no where!!

 

 

But our human nature still wants to give a lot of our attention to the sin we are struggling with....urgh!...to think and talk about it, muse over it, then try to discipline ourselves not to do it, then memorize scriptures pertaining to it, then pray and agonize over it and remind ourselves that it is sinning against God to do it, and it grieves Him to do it...and then on and on and on it goes. 

 

 

 

But, as usual, God's way is opposed to human nature's way...typically the direct opposite! God's way is to put it to death! Not talk about it over and over again! No, but giving the sin NO attention, and instead giving your full attention to the things of God whereby starving the sinful nature!  Gal. 5: 16 "So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature."

 

 

 

 

The following verse in Romans is a good example. Romans 13:14 "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires." 

 

 

 

 

It says to make no provision for the flesh's survival...so, I turn from it and give the sin none of my attention...I starve it! OK! Good! But now what do I do?? "Put on' the Lord Jesus! Yes, put Him on! Think about His great love, Talk about Him, talk to Him, serve Him, imitate Him, rest in Him, think about Him, enjoy Him, learn from Him, think about the things that come from Him, talk to others about Him...and love others as unto Him!  The following verse is telling us to give these things our full attention (instead of giving it to sin).  

 

Phil. 4:8 "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."

 

 

 

 

 Can you name some other things of God to give your full attention to?  How about what comes from the Holy Spirit? 

 

Gal. 5: 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh (given no attention to the flesh - starved it!)  with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit (given full attention to the fruits of the Spirit!).

 

 

1 Tim. 6: "11But you, man of God, (give no attention to) flee from all, and (give all your attention to) pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12*Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

 

 

 

When God tells you and I not to do something, He is telling us to not give those things ANY of our attention ~~ then to turn and give your full attention to those things He wants you to do! Yes!? THIS is the primary way we deal with sin now, by not dealing with it! Please consider keeping this in mind when reading scripture. :)

 

 

 

 

17Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

 

 

 

18Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life."

 

 

I would encourage you to keep these things in mind when reading and deciphering scripture...so you will "take hold of the life that is truly life." 

 

 

 

*Fighting the good fight is still not paying any attention to sin....but to God - because we are fighting a spiritual warfare, where all our attention is still on the things of God.

 

 

What Defines You?

 

 

Do you overeat on a regular basis? Do you have a tendency to talk about other's oddities or faults? Then according to many Christians today you are a glutton or a gossip. Not a fallen person JUST like they are. No. You are the sin you do! Your besetting sin defines you.

 

 

 

But this is what we do, don't we?  The homosexual is nothing else but a homosexual. Have we have put a big scarlet letter on them so everyone knows that they are seperate from others? That some sinners are less sinful then others? So, I wonder; does this make us feel more spiritual or something? Because one thing it does do...is it lessens the power of God's grace and wisdom ~ as it says that God is not capable of redeeming some people as much as others. 

 

 

Please take a moment and read the following short article by J.S. Park~ 

 

http://jsparkblog.com/2013/03/27/question-10-thoughts-about-god-and-homosexuality/

 

 

This Is Not Where I Belong

 

 

As you are going about your day, you get a knock on the door. When you open it, there are three people standing there. You know who they are, as they've visited before several times...and lately you've been a bit more curious too. There are also a couple families on your block who have joined what they've offered and there is something so different about them, not weird different, but a good and peaceful different. However, life has been so busy, and even difficult, that you haven't ever taken the time to really find out what they offer other than a ticket to what they say is a special place.

 

 

They were very nice and asked if you knew or had ever heard about what they offered before? You said you knew of them as they had visited before...but you didn't remember what they said, except that their caring demeanor left an impression. So they proceeded to tell you that it was a travel package to a very special place. It was amazing, because as they spoke your heart was about to jump out of your chest, kind of like it already knew what this was all about before you did!

 

They told you that it's a place that will make you feel like you are finally home, even before you even get there! That statement rings true, yet, how can that be, you think? Anyway, you ask what day would you have to plan on leaving? They tell you that is still to be determined...but that you will receive upon acceptance a personal hallmark from the Sovereign Himself, so you need not worry about being forgotten when the day comes!

 

Then you ask them about what one does while they are waiting for that day? One of the men standing there chimes in and says, "Nothing, if you don't want to!" Then he proceeds to tell you that you'll receive a letter written by the Sovereign Himself. A treasured message with many nuggets of His truths, His ways and His love contained within it...all to get you ready for the trip!

 

 

But, the words that one said keeps ringing in your ears, "Nothing - nothing -no-thing??" 'Hmmm. I don't have to do anything', you think?? Oh, that's right you think...you didn't ask how much the membership and the trip cost!? Well, no wonder he said NOTHING!... because the whole package is probably SO expensive that there is no way they'd dare ask you to do anymore than what you've already done!! Ha!!

 

Then before you even open your mouth another one of the men standing there says, "Oh, I'll bet you are wondering the cost!?" You nod whole-heartedly, and then begin to compute in your head how much you've saved up and what you could sell, and how you probably don't have enough to pay your way because of some debts you have...and then if they knew the times you were not honest with your money and....oh, my!...especially since you heard one of them say that all members must have a clean slate before they are accepted!

 

 

So, you begin to tell him these things, and with each word you get more and more red as you feel your face become so flushed...and your stomach SO sick! But then he says the strangest, and most unexpected thing - it's free, because it has been totally paid for by the Sovereign Himself. Huh?!? "Naww...there has got to be a catch", you say! Then he continues and says, "It's not only free to you, but your slate will be counted as completely clean...so this means that there is nothing that can keep you out!"

 

 

Then another fellow speaks up and says, "Well then, we will be on our way...and when you need us we can always come back"...and then moves closer and looks deep into your eyes, then continues..."after you accept this membership, there will be one very important thing that He'll want you to know as you enter this new life.".  

 

 

 

Then without another word, one of them hands you a very lovely box with a card attached, then they turn and begin walking away. You look down at the box, then look up to ask what that thing is...and to say good-bye...but they are gone! You look this way and that...and don't even see any tail lights. Hmmm...

 

 

 

As you turn to go back in the house you about trip on the stoop, as your mind is just going round and round. However, you make it to the couch and sit there looking at the box and thinking about the prospects. You think about what they told you...He invites YOU, and has already shouldered the cost Himself and is getting everything ready there for YOU...and then He Himself sends you a personal invitation to join Him! Wow, you think! Is this really true? Hmmm. But then you remember what one of them said before they left. There is something else He wants me to know!

 

 

 

 

 

So, you take a big breath and open the card...as you read the invitation you feel a tug on your heart. Then you pick up the box and shake it alittle bit and look at it from all sides...and begin to carefully open it...but as you begin unfolding the top it seems to open all by itself. Then as you look inside you sense a slight whisper...in fact it is something you know you've heard before.

 

 

Very distinctive. Nothing you ever hear on a regular basis. Then the still small voice instructs you to reach into the box. As you do your hand lands on a small feather-light dove...and you just know what to do with it...as if you've known all along! So you enthusiatically press it into your chest and it vanishes. You know something has happened...

 

 

In minutes you are pouring out your heart and you know the Sovereign hears you. Then you remember bumping up against a couple of other things in the box too...so you reach in and find two scrolls. Written on the outside of one of them it says, 'Your journey has just begun'. You open that one first, very carefully...inside (URL), they read: 

http://aroundeverycornerat.blogspot.com/2013/02/continuation.html

 

 

 

 

Fallin' Down

We live in a fallen world. We all fall. Most of the focus, whether over the pulpit, or on Christian radio, or in our own heads...is our favorite subject - sin, and in all the different ways we do it. 

 

 

However, have you thought about it -- that when you sin, it probably is not against an inanimate object? Moreover, does your sin only affect you?

 

 

We are all at some stage of trying, or better said desiring, not to sin against God. Yet, sinning against God Himself is impossible - He's God. When we sin against someone we take at least a little piece of them and damage it. However, God cannot be damaged...as He is not human like us. What I am getting at is that when we sin against one another is how we sin against God. Job was faced with the fact too in Job 35:1-8, that God Himself is not affected by sin the way we are. Anyway...

 

 

Recently, I have felt the pain that comes with being sinned against...and it did cause me to stumble. I fell down. It affected my attitudes and my outlook on everything. Their sin caused me to sin. We are not God - we are affected by other's behaviors.

 

 

Romans 14: "12Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. 13So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall." Please read this whole chapter here : http://nlt.scripturetext.com/romans/14.htm

 

 

1 Cor. 10: 23“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. 24No one should seek their own good, but the good of others. 31So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— 33even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved."

 

 

 

So, how do we, "live in such a way"? (up in vs 13) We make it so hard...but Jesus said that living for Him is easy and light. Think about, inside yourself, how you would like to be treated. If you like being roughed up...then this is obviously not what Christ was saying! However,  in the definition of love in 1 Cor. 13 there are the ways of love we would all like to be treated with. Ya know - some kindness and a lil' patience, instead of storming ahead so you get to be the first in line!

 

 

 

 

Also, if we have our mind set on the things of God throughout the day...then this helps a whole lot too with our own attitudes that can cause us to sin against others.  Romans 8: 6" For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." ~ and~ Phil. 4:7 "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*The above yellow caution sign was gotten off the internet, with no intentional copy-right infringement. Please let me know if this is yours and I will remove it.  

ALL 4 in 1- Judging & Spiritual Abuse Series

This is a 3 part series, so it is a little bit long...but be encouraged, you can always come back at your leasure and finish it. Blessings!!

                                 

 Click on URL - Judging & Spiritual Abuse

 

Judging - A Study

This post is for those who genuinely appreciate study, and love truth, whatever it turns out to be...I say this because if there is no other study I ever do after this one, I would say that this is among the top 5 of the most important...then you pick the other ones or none of them at all.

 

Anyway...you will see that God is very specific about judging and like anything else, leaves nothing out.

 

 

Romans 2:1 Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.

 

From the original Greek this above verse starts out with, "That means..." which is the same thing as what most translations use - therefore. 'Therefore' means, for those of us that are not grammer students...therefore is saying that what you just read is there for what you are now about to read. SO, the 1st chapter was written FOR the following chapter -- the message is not complete without both chapters! 

 

 

 

 

But I notice that people who make it their job to judge don't see this...which I guess is par for the course. But when the 1st and 2nd chapters of Romans were written, chapter and verse was not a part of the writing, so they were written to create one thought...HOWEVER, if our heart desires truth above self-satisfaction, then we will find it...because you better believe God will grant it! The Holy Spirit will guide you into all truth. Therefore, if you are listening closely to the Holy Spirit, He'll give you what you need to know...and even more!

 

 

John 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

Mark 4: 24 Then he added, "Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given--and you will receive even more.

 

 

 

Something else you'll notice, as you read through Romans 1, homosexuality is not the only sin it speaks of...in fact there are many more. Then immediately in Romans 2:1 it says at the end of that verse, "...because you, the judge, practice the very same things."

 

 

However, in my vast ;^) experience, because many people only see one particular sin in Romans 1, they also don't consider the end of this verse either. As this is saying that even though you and I, the readers, are pointing at certain sins and sinners - that we still practice the same things!

 

 

 

But, then most people in their minds think, "But, I'm NOT a homosexual!"...then they read on without seeing the sins they ARE committing!

 

 

 

Then as we read on in Romans 2 (below), God says that our assessment of those we are judging is not based on truth. As we cannot see the heart of the person(s) and do NOT know the real truth about their lives that have made them who they are...yet we still have set ourselves up as their accusers!

 

 

 

Then God goes on to say that our judging must mean we think that God should be showing wrath 'towards those sinners!' so we are despising the kindness and tolerance He is showing them, which also must mean we despise the kindness and tolerance He is showing us too!

 

 

Following this He goes on and says that our stubbornness and unrepentant heart towards judging others, is storing up wrath for ourselves...and we are actually self-seeking and rejecting truth!

 

 

 

John 7:24
Stop judging according to outward appearances; rather judge according to righteous judgment."

 

 

 

 

Righteous does not mean wrathful - it means correct! It means getting down to the real truth underneath it all...whatever that truth is! Why is this important? Because...it is never God's first thought to condemn. His first thought is always to save!

John 3:17

For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

 

 

John 12:47"As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it.

 



 

Then He goes on to say that He shows no favoritism...meaning that even if we are not doing one of the sins, that whatever sin we are commiting will be judged in the same way as the one we are pointing out!



 

 

 

Romans 2: 2 Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? 4Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?

 

 

5But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. 6God “will give to each person according to what he has done.”a 7To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.

 

 

 

 8But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. 9There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11For God does not show favoritism.

 

 

Then in Matthew 7 Jesus tells us that if we do feel like we have to judge, then we WILL be judged in the same way. This is important to remember, because there are times to judge particular situations...however, if we remember at least this, then we'll stay humble and never have any real desire to judge...but much more so on obeying the New Commandment.

Matthew 7:2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

 

The following chapter speaks about not judging unbelievers (outsiders - because they don't have the Spirit in order to know or do any better), but how important it is to take care of what is going on in our own families and churches...because if you notice, the sins listed and mentioned are ones that are aimed at hurting and spreading to others. Greediness, idol worship, cheating, abusing and etc. However, God is not saying to be mean and kick them out. He is saying that they need to be confronted so it doesn't go on. They must deal with their sin or it will have to be done for them, for the sake of everyone else.

 

 

 

 

 

Correct judging is about setting boundaries...healthy, Christ-like boundaries. It is NOT about keeping sinners/unbelievers out of the church, no matter what sin they are involved in. It is also not about kicking believers out who sin either...as we all sin.  It's speaking about people who's sin is spreading and hurting others. People who are not dealing with their sins, but instead practicing and indulging in them.

 

 

 

Church is as a hospital...where sinners can go to find the great Physician and begin to get well. Therefore it is not at all intended as a place where the opposite would happen...where their infections infect others!

 

 

 

Pls see  -> http://nlt.scripturetext.com/1_corinthians/5.htm

 

 

This brings me to say that I have experienced first hand the abuse that is allowed to go on within churches. In the Sunday Schools themselves and then the homes of the members. But we are neglecting these people and instead using this time and energy to point at one or two other sins that are going on primarily outside the church! Which is keeping the people that should be coming to church, OUT of the church! This leads into the next studies...

Pls click on following URL--

*Start - Spiritual Abuse Study I*