Saturday, December 02, 2006
John Stott writes: "This [Romans 2:1 "God judges those who do wrong things, and we know that his judging is right."] is not a call either to suspend our critical faculties or to renounce all criticism and rebuke of others as illegitimate: it is rather a prohibition of standing in judgment on other people and condemning htem (which as human beings we have no right to do), especially when we fail to condemn ourselves."
It is our job to hate the sin, but it is God's job to deal with the sinner. Yet, despite that fact we justify passing judgment on those around us. Then we take it a step further, and we use the people around us as a standard for how we live our lives. We've completely forgotten that what the world does around us does not justify our actions.
The world is not our standard, God is. So, you are really no better then Jeffrey Dahmer, Hitler, or Stalin. I know you may agree in words, but do you actually believe that. Do you believe that you are no better then them, despite their horrific deeds?
Not only are we unworthy to judge others; we also are unqualified. You don't know enough about someone to judge them. You don't know what happened yesterday, but more importantly, you don't know what will happen tomorrow. How can you dismiss a person based on their sin, until God's work is complete?
Be careful! The Peter who denies Jesus tonight, may proclaim Him at Pentecost. Moses started as a shepherd with a speech problem, and then led God's people through the dessert.
Do not use others as your standard, or justification for your actions. Live your life between you and God, and remember it doesn't matter how horrible the person is next to you...you are responsible for your actions, despite the circumstances.
It is our job to hate the sin, but it is God's job to deal with the sinner. Yet, despite that fact we justify passing judgment on those around us. Then we take it a step further, and we use the people around us as a standard for how we live our lives. We've completely forgotten that what the world does around us does not justify our actions.
The world is not our standard, God is. So, you are really no better then Jeffrey Dahmer, Hitler, or Stalin. I know you may agree in words, but do you actually believe that. Do you believe that you are no better then them, despite their horrific deeds?
Not only are we unworthy to judge others; we also are unqualified. You don't know enough about someone to judge them. You don't know what happened yesterday, but more importantly, you don't know what will happen tomorrow. How can you dismiss a person based on their sin, until God's work is complete?
Be careful! The Peter who denies Jesus tonight, may proclaim Him at Pentecost. Moses started as a shepherd with a speech problem, and then led God's people through the dessert.
Do not use others as your standard, or justification for your actions. Live your life between you and God, and remember it doesn't matter how horrible the person is next to you...you are responsible for your actions, despite the circumstances.
Labels: Spiritual