Modern Christianity has a load of problems, issues, and warts to deal with. For my dollar, the most damaging of them all is the seemingly insatiable need to judge, condemn, or shun people we deem more sinful than us. The church has, deservedly so, acquired a reputation of being holier-than-thou jerks who love nothing more than pointing out the faults of everyone and everything but itself. And we wonder why nobody wants to join us on Sundays. Sadly, it seems as though not a week goes by without someone telling me a story of a friend or acquaintance of theirs who refuses to consider Christ because they've been mistreated by someone in this way. Wednesday night, we heard the story of a gay man who killed himself because his circle of friends, who were Christians, refused to have anything to do with him after he 'came out.' This is unacceptable, and it has to stop. Anyone who reacts to any sin in this way is foolish, immature, and way out of line. Who are you to judge? I don't know how it got this bad, especially given all the warnings we are given about it by Jesus himself. Take a long look in the mirror, folks. You'll see the worst of sinners. You'll see a soul marred by selfishness, immaturity, and pride. You'll see a person unworthy to even utter the name of God, let alone carry his Spirit around inside them. If you don't see these things, immediately go pick up a Bible and read it. Please keep your mouth shut until you have read enough to see the aforementioned person in the mirror. Then, go look again. See that worthless, self-damaged sinner...completely useless on his own....and realize that God's grace saved and justified that person. Sin cannot be grouped into social classes. We are all equally guilty.
I read a great little blog each morning called "My Utmost for His Highest." It consists of the compiled writings of Oswald Chambers, a Scottish minister from the 19th century. The wisdom of his words is timeless (wisdom from God tends to have that characteristic) and I draw a lot of motivation from them. Also, having to decipher the "King's English" Chambers writes in at 5:30am helps to get the blood pumping. Today's entry might have been my favorite yet. Coincidentally, it speaks to today's topic. Take it away, Oswald:
"Judge not, that ye be not judged." Matthew 7:1
Jesus says regarding judging - Don't. The average Christian is the most penetratingly critical individual. Criticism is a part of the ordinary faculty of man; but in the spiritual domain nothing is accomplished by criticism. The effect of criticism is a dividing up of the powers of the one criticized; the Holy Ghost is the only One in the true position to criticize, He alone is able to show what is wrong without hurting and wounding. It is impossible to enter into communion with God when you are in a critical temper; it makes you hard and vindictive and cruel, and leaves you with the flattering unction that you are a superior person. Jesus says, as a disciple cultivate the uncritical temper. It is not done once and for all. Beware of anything that puts you in the superior person's place.
There is no getting away from the penetration of Jesus. If I see the mote in your eye, it means I have a beam in my own. Every wrong thing that I see in you, God locates in me. Every time I judge, I condemn myself (see Romans 2:17-20). Stop having a measuring rod for other people. There is always one fact more in every man's case about which we know nothing. The first thing God does is to give us a spiritual spring-cleaning; there is no possibility of pride left in a man after that. I have never met the man I could despair of after discerning what lies in me apart from the grace of God.
These and other wise words can be found at http://www.myutmost.org/. Have a great weekend, friends. Take dad out for Sunday dinner or something. He deserves it.
