Thursday, November 20, 2014

judging

It seems there's a lot of judging going on here in America, judging of people, attitudes, events, & motives - no matter what the issue, no matter what viewpoint a person has, or which side of a situation a person may be on.

Jesus had something to say about that kind of behavior...



Matthew 7 (New Living Translation)

1
 "Do not judge others,

       and you will not be judged.

2 For you will be treated as you treat others.

The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.


  3 "And why worry about a speck in your friend's eye when you have a log in your own?

4 How can you think of saying to your friend, 'Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,' when you can't see past the log in your own eye?

5
 Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye;

     then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend's eye.

6 "Don't waste what is holy on people who are unholy.

        Don't throw your pearls to pigs!

        They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.




here's what the paraphrase from the authors of The Message offer as what that same passage says...

Matthew 7 (The Message paraphrase)

1-5 “Don’t pick on people,

        jump on their failures,

        criticize their faults;

unless, of course, you want the same treatment.

That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging.

It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own.

Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt?

It’s this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part.

Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face,

     and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.


“Don’t be flip with the sacred.

Banter and silliness give no honor to God.

Don’t reduce holy mysteries to slogans.

In trying to be relevant, you’re only being cute and inviting sacrilege.



I've tried to find out if Billy Graham actually said this next statement. In googling it, I haven't found anything that indicates that he did NOT say it. But in any event, the statement is still true...

It is the Holy Spirit's job to convict people...

It is God's job to judge people...

And it's my job to love people.

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