by David Brenneman
"I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? But those who are outside, God judges. Remove the wicked man from among yourselves." 1 Corinthians 5:9-13.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Matthew 5:43-48.
"You shouldn't judge!"...a very very miss understood statement. Not at all what was meant by the Lord Jesus Christ.
We shouldn't ever put ourselves in a position to decide who isn't worthy of salvation in Christ Jesus...that's what is meant by not judging.
As to those in the body of Christ yes we are to deal with sins of the apparently unrepentant. Matthew 18 speaks to this. Jesus Himself is doing the teaching on this. In context He taught us to know people by their fruits. You have to have righteous discernment to properly evaluate, judge, those whom cross your path in life.
Yesterday I had an unexpected experience with someone that caused me to immediately pray for the situation that I found myself in. Words were misunderstood that were spoken and the individual in question speaking to me was not showing any signs that they were being rational, anger was in their words even if they weren't aware of this.
It was because of this situation that I learned of a breach of trust concerning someone else. Again, these are situations of knowing people by their fruits. Asking God for help in these situations reveals what we need to know in dealing with such things. It's on me to forgive even if the subject isn't spoken of again. It's not about judging them. To look at the fruits of both involved...I don't believe either is saved. As we read, so shall it be, God will judge those outside the Church. It's on me to pray for those who persecute me.
Months ago we had an incident that hit very close to home. I was ready to mount a defense with one of the two parties it involved. Jesus spoke to me and said not to. That He knows the truth and He will deal with them. Little did I realize He was referring to this passage in 1 Corinthians 5.
It's not easy stepping out of the way and praying for those meaning to do us harm, be it verbally or otherwise. This isn't to say that we shouldn't defend ourselves from personal physical attacks. Push comes to shove, I likely will introduce such a one to Jesus in a very personal way.
We often do not realize that our demeanor and actions are our self-righteous desire to condemn someone to Hell rather than to see them saved. That's what our judging outsiders is doing. We don't have the authority to decide who is or is not fit for the kingdom of God. Regardless of what kind of human beings they are, what does the Scriptures say? Jesus came that all might find salvation in Him. Including the likes of Hitler, Stalin, every single mass murder in human history. People whom the world even would condemn to go to Hell, Christ died for.
Jesus prayed for those who put Him on the cross. Yet people today won't pray for those who have done them wrong in word or deed.
People readily become Pharisees in deciding who isn't being a Christian without looking to the truth of the Scriptures to see if things are so with regards to what's going on.
We aren't to affirm nor condemn people who are decidedly living in sin. Praying for them will do everything our words and actions could ever accomplish.
Nobody can stop the effectual work of the Spirit of God in their lives. Either by way of making them see and understand their need to be saved in Christ Jesus or to show them their utter sinfulness that is leading them to Hell. Nobody in Hell was sent there by Jesus. Those in Hell chose to reject Jesus Christ and sent themselves there.
We should be mindful of praying for those who persecute us. I have seen the Spirit go places that I could not.
Taking a stand for what the Bible says can and often does get you into a heap of trouble. Having had a coworker intent on a blatant life in sin trying to require people to use their personal pronouns, this got to me in a personal way. It certainly was the Spirit of God who'd protected my speech to keep me from troubles in this. It wasn't my place to condemn him. He was outside the Church, obviously, so it's on Jesus to deal with him. It is on me to still pray for him regardless.
Many feel the need to try the eye for an eye approach to dealing with anyone. Reading what Jesus said...that's not how to do life.
Many want to self isolate. Shun such people. Guess what. That's what the Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes, many Levites, priests, did. Look at the parable of the Good Samaritan.
My Dear Reader, if you decide in the heat of the moment, who is or isn't worthy of the love of God, you are sitting in judgment, you are trying to take God's place in deciding their eternal future.
We are to be lights in the world. We aren't responsible for how that light is received. We aren't to hide it.
Jesus said that we are blessed when people are persecuting us for obeying God.
Another point is a favorite of mine.
I would rather stand with Jesus and be judged by the world than to stand with the world and be judged by God.
You have a daily choice to make.
You can pray for those who persecute you or you can sin yourself and try to decide their fate.
Jesus said what He said to guide us into His righteousness. To develop His character in our lives. Jesus didn't condemn the woman caught in adultery. He didn't chase off or rage against the Samaritan woman. He didn't run off those with leprosy. He didn't do what most feel the need to do today.
Jesus prayed.
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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