On My Mind...
“Judge not, that you be not judged” (Matthew 7:1). How many times have you heard that? It seems it is the only verse some folks know! Interestingly enough, many of those who quote that verse do not believe the Scriptures have any authority or are binding in any way. The notion is live and let live, this doesn’t concern you. Of course, the problem is that it does concern me. As believers we are responsible for and accountable to one another. It turns out, I am my brother’s keeper. If you bother to read past verse 1 of Matthew 7, you find we are to judge one another and we are to be discerning (another form of judgement). Our Lord was not forbidding judgment but forbidding a “judgmental attitude.” The issue was the motivation and manner of judgment. I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. There is a growing trend within culture that is now ravaging the church. It is a “got you” culture. It is an attitude that thinks the worst and delights in finding fault. It’s disappointing and tiresome in the culture, it is devastating and damnable in the church. There are individuals and “ministries” that make their name in pointing out what is wrong with everyone else. Self-appointed guardians of “truth,” righteousness and biblical fidelity. Don’t misunderstand me, I’m not in favor of sweeping sin under the rug. I’m not saying it is wrong to point out sin or to deal with unrighteousness. My concern is with the spirit and attitude with which it is done. Paul reminds the Galatian church that the way the spiritually mature deal with uncovered sin is to restore such a one with gentleness (Galatians 6:1-2). Paul’s admonition reflects the words of Jesus in Matthew 7.
In our Lord’s instruction he gives this humorous picture of a person seeking to take a speck of dust out of his brother’s eye, while not even noticing this huge log in his own eye! His point is not, “Don’t seek to help your brother,” but rather, take care of your own sin, then help your brother. He speaks to the need of humility and grace as we deal with sin. Thus, our Lord’s admonition, “Judge not, that you be not judged. “For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you us it will be measured to you.” We cannot escape it, as believers we are in this together. We are to be in each other’s business. We are obligated to spur one another on to love and good deeds. We are to walk together, bearing one another’s burdens. That requires openness, transparency and trust. We have to be vulnerable. Oh, by the way, it’s a two-way street. Open, transparent, trusting and vulnerable as the one struggling with sin and the one who is seeking to restore. Yes, let’s seek to hold one another accountable but let’s not play, “Got you!” I think it’s worth considering this morning.
I hope you to see you Sunday as we continue our walk through the book of Acts and celebrate the Lord’s Table together.
Have a blessed week and I’ll see you Sunday.
Rod
In our Lord’s instruction he gives this humorous picture of a person seeking to take a speck of dust out of his brother’s eye, while not even noticing this huge log in his own eye! His point is not, “Don’t seek to help your brother,” but rather, take care of your own sin, then help your brother. He speaks to the need of humility and grace as we deal with sin. Thus, our Lord’s admonition, “Judge not, that you be not judged. “For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you us it will be measured to you.” We cannot escape it, as believers we are in this together. We are to be in each other’s business. We are obligated to spur one another on to love and good deeds. We are to walk together, bearing one another’s burdens. That requires openness, transparency and trust. We have to be vulnerable. Oh, by the way, it’s a two-way street. Open, transparent, trusting and vulnerable as the one struggling with sin and the one who is seeking to restore. Yes, let’s seek to hold one another accountable but let’s not play, “Got you!” I think it’s worth considering this morning.
I hope you to see you Sunday as we continue our walk through the book of Acts and celebrate the Lord’s Table together.
Have a blessed week and I’ll see you Sunday.
Rod