When someone judges another person we judge by what we see. Our judgement is never pure and is normally a result on personal bias against the person. It can be someone purposely or inadvertently offending the one judging. This is usually followed by anger and then dislikes which turns to hatred. Judgement then manifests itself from what appears to be harmless and innocent gossip tidbits to malicious trashing of a person. In the one doing the judging their objective goal is to warn but the real intentions is undermine this person character or good name…with or without evidence. This all leads to destroy this person’s life. This is why something innocent can manifest itself even to hatred. In God’s eyes, hatred is equal to murder. This is why judging is dangerous.
I am trying to search for truth here through HIS word. Why am I concerned about this issue of judgement? Well, for starters, Jesus warns us in the Book of Revelation makes a statement that I believe that is related to this issue.
Revelation 2:1-7 (New King James Version)
The Loveless Church
1 “To the angel of the church of Ephesus write,
‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: 2 “I know your works, your labour, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have laboured for My name’s sake and have not become weary. 4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. 6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of
God.”’
Jesus applauds the good works of the church of Ephesus HOWEVER he accused them of sinning and told them to repent. What sin is he talking about? Also what first love is Jesus talking about?
Let me guess the latter…our first love should be love God with all your heart and soul and second would be Love your neighbors as you would love yourself. Both go hand and hand and cannot be separated.
The church of Ephesus were so focused on looking for false teachers, false doctrines, pointing out errors of those who say they are apostles and are not…can not bear those who are evil in their church that they forgot a few things. Their relationship with God had faltered, (for why would Jesus tell them to remember their first love) and they forgot to show the love of Christ to others. They forgot to preach about the Good News about Jesus to those who are lost and has never heard of the gospel. Too focused on cleaning house rather then focusing on the Harvest. He told them to remember from where they had fallen. What is Jesus talking about? Perhaps they had forgotten that they too used to be sinners and forgot to show mercy to others as God has shown mercy to them. And what will happen if they do not repent? He was going to remove their place among as being part of the church of Jesus Christ.
I also learned here that when we judge others we are practising self-righteousness and blind ourselves to our own sins. Jesus warns the Church of Ephesus and He is warning all of us of this very grave mistake. When we become judgemental we become loveless and hard as Paul puts it…without love (the truth we say) will sound like a clanging cymbal or some loud noise that people want to put their fingers in their ears and just ignore what you are saying.
I have come to the conclusion; we need to ALWAYS check ourselves to make sure that we are operating IN LOVE with the LOVE OF CHRIST…always having mercy on those who are struggling in their sins. I need to get this right. For a life touches another life, even for a brief moment…such as holding open a door for someone, sitting in a bus or at work. Our life should represent Christ in both public and private. For He sees, He hears and He knows…Our heart.
I will conclude this another day…for I still have more questions.
[FONT="]God Bless. [/FONT] __________________
I am trying to search for truth here through HIS word. Why am I concerned about this issue of judgement? Well, for starters, Jesus warns us in the Book of Revelation makes a statement that I believe that is related to this issue.
Revelation 2:1-7 (New King James Version)
The Loveless Church
1 “To the angel of the church of Ephesus write,
‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: 2 “I know your works, your labour, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have laboured for My name’s sake and have not become weary. 4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. 6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of
God.”’
Jesus applauds the good works of the church of Ephesus HOWEVER he accused them of sinning and told them to repent. What sin is he talking about? Also what first love is Jesus talking about?
Let me guess the latter…our first love should be love God with all your heart and soul and second would be Love your neighbors as you would love yourself. Both go hand and hand and cannot be separated.
The church of Ephesus were so focused on looking for false teachers, false doctrines, pointing out errors of those who say they are apostles and are not…can not bear those who are evil in their church that they forgot a few things. Their relationship with God had faltered, (for why would Jesus tell them to remember their first love) and they forgot to show the love of Christ to others. They forgot to preach about the Good News about Jesus to those who are lost and has never heard of the gospel. Too focused on cleaning house rather then focusing on the Harvest. He told them to remember from where they had fallen. What is Jesus talking about? Perhaps they had forgotten that they too used to be sinners and forgot to show mercy to others as God has shown mercy to them. And what will happen if they do not repent? He was going to remove their place among as being part of the church of Jesus Christ.
I also learned here that when we judge others we are practising self-righteousness and blind ourselves to our own sins. Jesus warns the Church of Ephesus and He is warning all of us of this very grave mistake. When we become judgemental we become loveless and hard as Paul puts it…without love (the truth we say) will sound like a clanging cymbal or some loud noise that people want to put their fingers in their ears and just ignore what you are saying.
I have come to the conclusion; we need to ALWAYS check ourselves to make sure that we are operating IN LOVE with the LOVE OF CHRIST…always having mercy on those who are struggling in their sins. I need to get this right. For a life touches another life, even for a brief moment…such as holding open a door for someone, sitting in a bus or at work. Our life should represent Christ in both public and private. For He sees, He hears and He knows…Our heart.
I will conclude this another day…for I still have more questions.
[FONT="]God Bless. [/FONT] __________________