Pastor’s Blog 3.14.18

This week I want to continue to open up the truth about judgment. We have a culture today that is saying, “don’t judge me”, or “you don’t have the right to judge me”. Many churches have bought into the mantra of “don’t judge” but we need to look into the scriptures and follow what God’s word, not “popular culture” says, and follow it.

Jesus gave us a truth that all judgment is not the same; there is true righteous judgment and there is false unrighteous judgment. Look at these two verses about judgment and how Jesus judges:

John 7:24 Be honest in your judgment and do not decide at a glance (superficially and by appearances); but judge fairly and righteously. AMP

Isaiah 11:3-4 His delight is in the fear of the LORD, And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, Nor decide by the hearing of His ears;
4 But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, And decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked. NKJV

The earth cannot be without judgement, or chaos would ensue to our complete self-destruction. The scripture teaches that judgement must be righteous, without prejudice, and coupled with mercy. Many in the church have concluded that they can live in disobedience to the commands of God, and no one has the right to confront them, or warn them concerning their practice of sin. Unfortunately, there are some who have become a law unto themselves and will not adhere to wise counsel or judgment.

The scriptures teach that:

Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. NKJV

Unfortunately, some want to keep their “pet sins” so badly, they have found grace teachers, who have confirmed their right to enjoy the pleasures of carnal living, while claiming the security of salvation.

Here is what Jesus taught about judging one between another in conflict:

Matthew 18:15-20
Dealing with a Sinning Brother “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ 17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. 18 “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” NKJV

This is perhaps one of the most frustrating, neglected practices in the church today. Instead of following this instruction of the Lord (on how to address conflict in the church) we do it every other way. We love to go and tell everyone except the person who we believe wronged us, don’t we? I constantly have people who want me as the senior leader to confront someone who they believe wronged them, and they haven’t even followed the first step of this instruction on dealing with offense.

If we are to treat someone who refuses government under the church like a person who is not a member, then that my friends is judgment. Without judgment there will be no peace in the house of God. The key – it must be righteous judgment and as we have seen there is a difference. There are times I have been too merciful in making a judgment and unnecessary injury has happened in the church. We all need to cry out to the Lord for His wisdom, discernment, and timing on making the judgment calls we must make in the house of God!

Until next week!
Be blessed!