maybe this is a good thing with our family…

this can be a difficult time of the year in being with family and this problem of judging.  we can be tough with our parents and brothers and sister but judging isn’t an option from the scripture standpoint.

now the apostle paul in his new testament letter to the colossians says it is wrong to judge people on the basis of external observances.

colossians 2.16&17 (msg), so don’t put up with anyone pressuring you in details of diet, worship services, or holy days. all those things are mere shadows cast before what was to come; the substance is CHRIST.

paul is saying it is wrong to judge people, their spirituality, on the basis of externals, religious observances.  you can’t tell a person’s walk with GOD based on their outward external observances – by what you eat or drink or if you worship on saturday, sunday or tuesday.  all those things are mere shadows cast before what was to come.  reality is found in CHRIST.  when i judge somebody on the basis of their outward religious observances i’m missing the point.

this is what romans chapter 14 is all about.  they had a church that some people were judging each other because they looked at certain habits and said, “you can’t be a CHRISTian and do that!”

paul says this is what is happening.  you’re judging each other and calling each other weak or strong.  you’re fighting back and forth.  he says there are three things that cause a lot of conflict: drink, diet, days.  what you drink, what you eat and when you worship.

two guys are at the “i love my church” banquet.  one guy is enjoying a wonderful turkey dinner.  the other says, “i’m a vegetarian.”  “you’re kidding?  i thought only kooks were vegetarians.” “i thought only kooks ate turkey.”  and they start fighting over whether they’re going to eat meat or not.  that’s unwise.  GOD has accepted both.

romans 14.13 (msg) says, forget about deciding what’s right for each other. here’s what you need to be concerned about: that you don’t get in the way of someone else, making life more difficult than it already is.  these are principles here:  whatever you do have a clear conscious about it.  don’t offend other people.  don’t judge each other.

it’s wrong when we judge people on the basis of external observations.  CHRISTians disagree on many things.  it is a good thing to also think about when you are with your family over the CHRISTmas holidays.  ok? ok!

just a thought from the front porch…