All Fall
Have you ever noticed the depth of pain and even harm that can come upon a person's life because of another person's criticism? Perhaps you have had something like that happen to you? Harshly judgmental attitudes can and do harm others each day, and this really should not be happening.
If you need a reminder of how some of these attitudes come about, and I'll do my best to clarify. Let us consider the reformed smokers and alcoholics, and also in many cases, the drug addict who is now "clean." There are also many who feel that they are, or have become, "exemplary" as examples of practitioners of a faith or creed. It would be good to recall some scriptures that should be at the forefront of our minds. Let's take a quick look in the King James Bible (or others.) to see what we can find. As an overall type of comment, we can begin with one of the Epistles ( Epistle means a letter).
Ro 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
What is a sin you ask? Most simply defined, it is doing something that God does not want you (us) to do.
1Jo 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
If we go to the very front of the Bible, we learn in the account of the fall of Adam and Eve in the garden of evil. We can see and absolutely account for how disobedience of God's very first commandment, resulted in what we now know to be sin. As time passed, a written (in stone) set of rules (commandments) came into being. We know this set of rules as The Ten Commandments, which are also known as The Law. The rules were absolutely clear. They were and still are exactly what our God of the Bible wants as a code of ethics for societal living and well being. Some will challenge this view, not realizing some important facts. See below:
Some will be quick to say, "but we do not live under the law, we are Christians and that doesn't apply to us." WRONG!!!
Ro 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Do you begin to see how even in the New Testament, we learn that The Law has always been the determining factor of the knowledge of sin? People, that is very important. Nothing can be brushed aside so easily as to say "that doesn't apply to me (or today). Was it not Jesus who constantly taught the people about the law and sin? And in the end, was it not his death by crucifixion, that made the blood atonement for all humans?
Ro 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
How wonderful it is to know we are safe in Jesus Christ right? Well even in this we must look more deeply as you will see in a moment.
Mt 18:21 ¶ Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
These passages must be considered very very carefully. You see, Jesus explains that in every situation, people will fall
short (sin) and the key point is not to simply keep count, but rather, be ready to forgive!!! There are numerous examples of
how and why this should be done, and my advice to everyone, is STUDY before you yourself fall into sin. JUST
BECAUSE YOU ARE A Christian, does not mean you are now perfect, and have a right to be haughty or look down on
anyone else. That dear reader is pride.
Let us consider both the Old and New Testament in looking into this word/act "pride."In The Old Testament, there can hardly be a better example of pride in faith, than that of Job. True, he has always been an example of steadfastness in faith and suffering, but as we read the latter chapters of the book, we learn that Job did have a sin (as all of us have). Read carefully ( and apply to yourself as necessary) the conversation God has with Job, who refused the advice of his friends, and insisted that his case be heard by God Himself. And then go a bit farther beyond Job's answers from God and read what God offered those who advised Job. (Job Chapter 38+). It is most powerful.
Having read those passages go into the New Testament also, and see how Jesus upbraided the religious leaders. And remember, every witnessing Christian, Minister, and teacher, becomes a leader to some other person or person.
Mt 23:13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. Mt 23:14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. Mt 23:15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. Mt 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Mt 23:25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Mt 23:27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Mt 23:29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,, who prided themselves on their (self) righteousness.
Perhaps at this point you'd like to say "but that doesn't apply to me." Look again at the passage in red. Then, let us also consider as follows:
Ps 85:10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
Eph 4:2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
Eph 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
There are two main reasons that people fall short in doing what the passages above teach. They are fear and pride. Fear comes into play rather subtly. While hiding behind a mask of righteousness, the judgmental person secretly fears his or her own return to what they have been delivered (healed/forgiven) from.
The pride filled person must be the most careful, because pride is the exact sin that Satan (the adversary) was cast out of Heaven for. Have you considered that? Jesus, was the only person that has lived on earth that had a right to be prideful, He is the only one who was sinless. But his example was what?
Mt 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls..
1Co 8:12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.
We should never set ourselves above another human being. We should never shun or deride another person. We should never execute a harsh judgement against someone else.
Mt 12:37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
Mt 7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
None of us, no matter how we try to hide it, are at best, "sinners on the way home." We are not perfect, we are being perfected. How?
BY THE AGAPE LOVE WHICH IS THE GRACE OF GOD
Copyright © February 11, 2006 Karl E. Uhlig