| March 5th, 2001 - Thou Shalt Not be Judgemental A couple of scriptures come to mind... these are paraphrased somewhat... "they which sin before all rebuke before all, that others may see and live appropriately" "who are you to judge another man's servant? to his own master he stands or falls" "where sin abounds, grace also much more abounds" "all things are lawful to me but not all thngs are expediant, all things are permissable to me, but I will not be brought under the power of any." There are varying types of sins of differing degrees and consequences. Some types of open sin must be treated openly, but it is best kept isolated to the group of people who are affected by it. Ofcourse in all such church governmental matters the leadership must seek God's wisdom for the appropriate treatment in each case. Paul goes so far as to say, "if eating meat causes my brother to stumble I will eat no meat while the world yet stands." This is obviously motivated by a strong passion to love and care for the weak members of the body. I don't believe he is advocating vegetarianism or imposing this conviction upon all members of the church, but rather, just exemplifying an attitude of love which should be applied to our lives in all of our affairs. Example: I was very careful not to drink beer around ex-alcoholic friends because of their weakness in that area. In summary, I'd have to say that it is important to be open and completely transparent in your life with SOMEONE who is mature and will not stumble at your confession. Trust is paramount. We all know of ministers, and laymen, who became lured back into sins such as homosexuality because they opened up to others who were tempted in the same areas. This is simply not wise. And it is also one of the pitfalls of confession of sin to others without first getting counsel from those who watch over us (getting their input on with whom, how and when to share certain things), as well as a STRONG argument for apostolic oversight, checks and balances (integrity, accountability) at all levels of church life, and having one or more people in your life whom you trust and know to be walking in the light with others in their lives. From my own personal experience in walking with Christ, I have learned more of his mercy and his forgiveness and restoration power through my times of weakness and temptation than I ever did from preaching, teaching or when everything seemed ok in my life. I have learned not to tempt or test God, or to use liberty as a license to sin, and have learned not to do despite to the spririt of grace, and I have learned much more of these things through the unction of the Holy Spirit and the personal lessons he has taught me in an atmosphere of grace and unconditional love, then ever I did from man's attempts at preaching accountability, or the fear of God, or my own adherence to a moral code. The "trick" is to find peace with God through the blood of Jesus, wherever you are in your spiritual maturity level, and to learn to move on, to accept that you are going to sin in many ways everyday and that without the cross none of us could have this access that we have before His throne of grace. Then to ask the Holy Spirit to mortify those members which are not expedient, or which have brought you under their power. Even the repentance necessary to take this step is from God. To pray for a change of heart is a very wise prayer indeed. Ultimately we find that two things in life are true: 1) there is One God 2) we are not Him Everyone stands or falls before His own Master, and will give an account. We must trust the Holy Spirit for their lives, and more importantly for our own. No one will be able to say on that day when God judges our works here on earth, "God, Jamie's liberty made me sin... it's his fault." But Jamie must walk circumspectly to ensure that what he does or doesn't do is motivated by love for God, and love for his people. Perfect love casts out fear.... Fear of man, fear of failure, fear of not doing it right, fear of offending others, fear of causing others to stumble... And perfect love affords us the opportunity to live in His grace, to breathe easier, to have the room to make mistakes, and to be there to pick us up when we fall. This is God's heart towards us... He wants it to be our heart as well. |