‘Jesus’ instructions with regard to judging others is very
simply put; He says, “Don’t.”
The average Christian is the most piercingly critical individual known.
Criticism is one of the ordinary activities of people, but in the spiritual
realm nothing is accomplished by it. The effect of criticism is the dividing up
of the strengths of the one being criticized. The Holy Spirit is the only one
in the proper position to criticize, and He alone is able to show what is wrong
without hurting and wounding. It is impossible to enter into fellowship with
God when you are in a critical mood. Criticism serves to make you harsh,
vindictive, and cruel, and leaves you with the soothing and flattering idea
that you are somehow superior to others. Jesus says that as His disciple you
should cultivate a temperament that is never critical. This will not happen quickly
but must be developed over a span of time. You must constantly beware of
anything that causes you to think of yourself as a superior person.’ CHAMBERS
You may not think of yourself as being critical ..
maybe you spiritualize it and call it discernment. It is one thing to see the wrong someone
does, but another to condemn them for what they have done. When do you cross the line from correction to
condemnation? When you have told them
for the 100th time? ‘How many
times do I have to tell you!’ Peter
asked Jesus a similar question … ‘How many times do I have to forgive … before
I condemn … Matthew
18:21-23 Jesus answered him, but
then told the parable about the unforgiving servant. You see it is not the words you use so much
as the motivation within you. It is not
really a question of whether the person has done something wrong .. but what is
the attitude of my heart … When I am being critical of someone there is nothing
spiritual about it .. there is a feeling that wells up inside … dislike …
disdain … rejection … condemnation … Like the servant in the parable, we forget
about the mercy that God has showed us and focus on the wrong that has been
done and our demand that something be done about it … and if God won’t … then I
will!
Oh, you say, ‘I never feel that way about another
person!’ … really? 2
Timothy 3:16 says that scripture is profitable or has value in that it teaches, rebukes, corrects and trains in righteousness. If God addresses this issue in His Word it is
because we need to hear it .. because it is a problem for us … Or do you imagine
that God said … ‘Ok, I am going to
include this admonition in my written revelation to man because there are two
people … one will be born in 1725 and the other in 2303 who really need to know
this … everyone else can just skip over it because they won’t’ have a problem
with it.’ WDYT? 1
Corinthians 10:13 says that we all
struggle with what God addresses in His Word … He did not waste His breath … and
we should not waste ours with critical words … condemning attitudes … harsh
tones … mean spirits … but rather … demonstrate God’s love, grace and mercy to
a world that is in the fast lane to hell.
16 For God so loved the world
that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not
perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not
send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through
him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever
does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the
name of God’s one and only Son. (John 3:16-18)
Let’s not forget why Jesus came and why we are here ….
Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)
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