Get off the Sidelines!

He who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. James 5:20

One of the Christian's greatest deterrents from sin is the life of another Christian. Some Christians maintain that it is none of their business if another chooses to sin. They are convinced that they are being judgmental if they respond to someone in sin. The world persuades them not to get involved, but this inaction prevents them from being an effective intercessor. - Blackaby

It has always angered me to hear anyone flippantly say "Now, now! You shouldn't judge! That's what the Bible says!"

No, it does not. 

Entering into condemnation against someone isn't the same as making an evaluation of their condition.  Entering into condemnation is what it is referring to as 'judging'. 

If you read the Scriptures properly, they empower the believer to do more FOR each believer and non-believer, not shut them down or give an excuse to shirk their duty as a Christ-follower.

Which is exactly what Satan wants believers to do.  Shirk their duty so that he has more time to do more damage to both!!

As Blackaby went on to say, Jesus wept over city's.  He prayed over them. He did as He wants us to do, intercede on behalf of others. 

To do nothing in the physical world can land YOU in jail if it was well within your power to save someone.  It's been in the news. It's easy to look up. Willful negligence is what they call it.

Isn't a soul more important than the physical body? 

Some say "well...I can't say anything because I did that too."  No...quite the contrary, God brought you through it to be able to identify it in order to help others!

Many Christians make up excuses as to why they won't help another person.  They are saved so everyone else is on their own!  That's the reality of that line of thinking. 

Scripture says quite the opposite.

Matthew 18 for example.  Read it.

We aren't to be armchair quarterbacks.  We aren't to be spectators in this life.

Our job as believers is to represent Christ to this world.  He never once ignored anyone who came to Him in His earthly ministry.  Scripture says He never would entrust Himself to man because He knew the heart of man.  But compassion, and love underwrote everything that He did.

Even when He was angry at the Pharisees and Sadducees He still loved them.  He evaluated (judged as we say today) their hearts and even on the cross interceded.

We are so concerned about so many things that affect us, but miss the point that everyone affects us.  We affect others. Our actions and inactions affect others.  A timely word spoken at the right time can change the course of a life.

"Hey! You don't want to go in there!" out loud vs thinking 'Oh man, if I say something then, I have to get as dirty as they are in trying to get them out!  I might get hurt trying to help them. Maybe if I just ignore them and keep on moving someone else will do something.  I did that too so I really can't say anything.'

You see how much more effort we expend trying to avoid doing what's right versus just doing it?

Scripture says to pray for those who persecute us.  Says to help a brother in Christ.  Not to avoid them. 

We are indeed to make judgment calls on people.  To use sound judgment to be able to help them properly. 

Jesus was brought a woman caught in adultary.  He heard the accusations.  He waited for them to stop.  He evaluated her. He evaluated them.  He judged the situation fairly.  He didn't join in with them.  He simply told the truth.  If any there were any there without sin, cast the first stone.  Interesting thing is, only He was qualified to to that.  They all left, from the oldest to the youngest.  Then it was just her and Christ. He asked her where her accusers were. Then showed compassion. He forgave and didn't enter into condemnation against her.  He made a judgment call about her but wasn't judging her.  Go and sin no more. Grace, pardon and forgiveness.

We would see healthier Churches if more of this would permeate the culture.  Quit walking past people because it would ruin your schedule and you might miss the service.  How about EVERYONE missing the service because lives mattered?!?!?

How about that?  What if we got so involved with what's going on in each other's lives that there was hardly anyone in a Church service?

I have heard talk from many a preacher about wanting today to be like it was in the book of Acts.  Well guess what people!  Get people past themselves and past this thing about not getting involved in other people's apparent problems and then you will see a Church like it was in the book of Acts.

People come together for a service and then never see each other again until the next isn't a good thing.  That's doing exactly what Satan wants.  Not what God wants. 

So start today with prayer.  Start interceding on behalf of others.  Start being the Church.  The Church is a body.  All parts must care for the other parts.  A hand can hold a rag to work with the other hand to add soap and water.  Together they can clean the body.  On their own they are essentially near useless. One hand that doesn't use all the fingers isn't very useful.  It goes on and on.

Pray for your own heart.  Pray for others.

Get away, far away, from this not getting involved. 

But.

But.

Before you do.  Pray before you speak.  A harsh word at the wrong time will not help.  But at the right time can save.  Ask for wisdom from God.  Scripture says He freely gives it to those who ask.

From what I have seen, there's a huge amount of wisdom residing in Heaven that had never been asked for.

Prayer can go where you cannot.  I can testify to that personally.