Tuesday, December 20, 2011

it is in GOD’s job description not ours…

we are looking at what james here in chapter four of his new testament book from the bible says are some reasons why we shouldn’t judge or slander other people.  we’ve seen that it is unCHRISTian, it is unloving and then it is unjustified.

james 4.11 (niv), …there is only one lawgiver and one judge. 

the word “lawgiver” is used six times in the old testament and only once in the new testament.  the six times in the old testament refer to GOD and the same thing here – it’s referring to GOD.  only GOD has the right to judge.  it’s in GOD’s job description but it’s not in your job description to judge people.  HE has not commissioned you to talk to everybody about everybody else.

one of the great weaknesses in people is we tend to generalize people by one mistake.  if they make one mistake we write off their whole personality.  if a guy makes a foolish mistake, we say, “he’s a fool!”  not necessarily.  maybe he just made a foolish mistake in one particular area.

listen to this, we tend to judge in other people things we dislike in our self.  psychologists have known that for a long time.  when you see someone who reacts violently to a particular sin usually in their heart it means they have a hang up with it.  it doesn’t mean they’re involved in it.  it might just mean they have a fear that they will be involved in it.  we always tend to react to our weaknesses in others.  what we see is usually just a mirror of self.

just a thought from the front porch…

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