Our Sunday School teacher continued teaching from Romans with a message he called; Who Are We to Judge? The primary texts were Romans 1:18-32 which talks about “they”, being the Godless ones, and Romans 2: 1-4 which talks to “you”, the believers.
He noted that the Jewish people tended to judge the unrighteousness through their own self- righteousness. But both passages point out that there is no excuse for you to judge. As Matthew states: Judge not lest ye be judged...Matthew 7:1. As humans we tend to judge in comparison to ourselves instead of comparing to God's standard. We look at outward appearance instead of circumstance and unknown facts. Jesus said to the Pharisees "look below the surface so you can judge correctly" John 7:24 (NLT).
We must be careful of a critical spirit which is hypocritical and feeds pride. We are all sinners.
He who has no sin cast the first stone. We are all human in a fallen condition. Revelations says that Satan is the accuser of the Brethren. We certainly should be careful not to step into that role. Only God can search the heart and examine the mind/motives. Jeremiah 17:10. Only He can judge the motive with grace, mercy compassion and the full garment of Love.
Our Pastor’s sermon was titled: Chose the Most Excellent Way and was based on Numbers 11:10-11. Moses recognized that God had thrust upon him the burden of leading a rebellious and grumbling people. Pastor acknowledged that all pastors feel that burden at times. The Israelites had been in captivity for 400 years and had a ‘slave mentality”. They were accustomed to having their masters provide their needs even though they had little. They left Egypt as mighty, wealthy, free people but instead of using their own stock and resources they demanded more from God. The people lusted for evil things - overabundance. What its lawful can become evil when it becomes lust.
Complaining is a choice of attitude. We must be careful not to be murmurers who can spread a contagious negative contamination in the church body. Grumbling about things you don't like when they are not necessarily wrong is a negative attitude. One should never judge without all the facts and circumstances and people certainly shouldn’t grumble through gossip. We must choose a more excellent way: choose life with positive words, not death with curses. Pastor had so many verses to share he had them printed on a hand out for us.
This song speaks of God’s great grace and mercy.
Verses for Today:Romans 2:1-2 NIV
2 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2 Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth.
God - remind me to not judge others but rather to be gracious and always show Your love and grace. I give thanks that only You, Great and Almighty God, have the right to judge and that You judges through eyes as creator, father, redeemer and guiding comforter.
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