- Mar 17, 2015
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I am at a point in my life where I get really dismayed going back and forth with some loved ones about right and wrong. I find myself disagreeing about topics I never thought I'd disagree with a fellow believer about.
When somebody says they are saved yet live like an unbeliever, I find myself wondering, "Do I believe the claim or the actions?"
I'm all the way burnt out on that go-to line "Well we're not to judge." I've long ago started to believe that a believer's way of judging should not be in pre-determining somebody's destination. But to instead discern the fruits of a person's lifestyle and treat that person as either a fellow disciple (sharing/communicating the Word mutually whether conversationally, instructionally, or correctively) OR treat him/her like someone who doesn't know Christ (sharing the gospel to evangelize the person regardless of their claim to salvation). Otherwise, I will find myself blindsided by my own assumption and end up in more heated discussions over issues I thought were pretty basic Biblically.
Does anybody ever find themselves feeling like you don't want to "judge" in humanly interpretation of the word but need to make some type of judgment call to determine how to communicate with a person in sin claiming salvation?
It's good enough to say something from scripture that you think needs to be said, and leave it at that, letting conscience and the spirit work.
Consider His way --
“Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”
31 Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5)
It's sinners who need Christianity.
That's us of course, and 'them' too.
Here's the ultimate guide on how to talk with people:
"So in everything, do to others as you would have them do to you" (Matthew 7:12)
If we tried to eject people that sin from churches, our churches would be mostly empty, and the remaining mostly hiding stuff, except for only the old.
Christianity is a walk, so that over time there is change.
The best way to help our brothers and sisters is for we ourselves to show Christ in our actions and words in a very real and true way.
So, the way to respond to other sinners is to love them, and show them Christ, and perhaps invite them to Bible study, and be patient, and pray for them.
In other words, instead of divorcing them, invite them into your home for dinner!
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