Do Not Condemn

Jesus did not condemn – Jesus loved the condemned and still does today!  Since Jesus is our example, why are some in the church body condemning people?

Romans 14:10 – But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

(Hmmmm, let us think about that.)

Years ago, I witnessed a young man who was beginning his walk as a new believer.  He was made to feel condemned in front of the entire congregation when the Pastor asked him to remove his hat during the service.  Would it not have been better for someone quietly to go to him and ask him to remove it, maybe expressing it was to honor God in His house?  Better yet, maybe it should have waited until after the service to give an exact explanation.  Is this young man attending anywhere today?  NO!  Now before you show a religious spirit against me here, please remember how you were living when you first got saved.  It would be good for all of us to remember that it is God that does the “cleaning up”, our job as the church is to love others, plain and simple.

No one had to tell me how to dress appropriately when I got saved, for the Holy Spirit pricked my heart as to what was suitable.  If I had been approached in church to what was acceptable, I would not have returned to that church due to embarrassment.  Please, may we allow God’s Spirit to guide and direct!

A known Evangelist recently posted about an encounter he had in the 1980’s.  A woman referred to the Pentecostal/Charismatic movement and how she loved the preaching and worship.  Yet, she noted that in her opinion, these groups lacked love.  Sadly, all these years later, I completely agree with her sentiment.  I grew up in denominational churches, then raised our children in Pentecostal churches.  I did not truly learn about the depth of God’s love until I attended a Brethren In Christ church.  It seems that all churches dominantly teach/exemplify portions of the Word of God.  In my journey of faith, traveling for revivals with Evangelists (including my husband), and going on mission trips, I can ensure you that if the body of Christ would unite as one, the Glory of God would be so prevalent, the whole world would be saved!  Exemplifying God’s love would draw others to Jesus!  Yes, the Spirit of God does the drawing, but our actions are what others see first.  May we do our part!

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In this writing, I find myself desiring to encourage those who have been hurt and wounded by the so-called Bride of Christ.  Forgive us all, as the church body, for not being Christ-like every day!

For those that are afraid to come to church because of “judging”, PLEASE know that not all people there will judge you.  Look for the ones who love you no matter what.  Search for them, who will hold you, love you and pray for you.  Never believe that you are always being judged.  As a matter of a fact, if you feel that way, your conscious may be bothering you.  If so, give your sin, your troubles, your fears to Jesus. Let Him take care of it all.

However, most of the time it is the enemy telling you that you could never enter a church until you get yourself cleaned up.  What a lie!  The church is a hospital for all of us.  There is no one among us that can cast the first stone (as in the woman caught in adultery, Matthew 8:3-11).  Only Jesus was the Perfect One while walking on this earth.  And take notice that it was a religious spirit in the Scribes and Pharisees that pointed out the sin of the adulterous woman.  Yet, it was their own conscious’ that would not allow them to throw the first stone.

A recent conversation prompted this subject matter.  It is still unbelievable to me that “So-called Christians” can act and react causing people to regard church as an undesirable place or a place of rejection.  A business owner told me about inviting a woman who came into her shop to church.  This woman automatically said she could not go to any church because she has a habit of cussing.  The business owner explained that this is not a reason not to attend and further explained that there is no one perfect in any church.  I agree.

Although the Word of God emphasizes that unwholesome talk, “filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor course jesting is not fitting”; it is no worse than “fornication and all uncleanness, or covetousness,” (all of which are listed in Ephesians 5:3-4).

Ephesians 5:5 – For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

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Now, here is a warning to the wise: People will use any excuse to keep themselves from darkening the doors of any church.  But do not give them reason to use you as their excuse.  I have literally heard most excuses given, such as “I would never go to that church, I have seen the way ‘they’ act outside of those walls.”  A footnote in the SFLB says, “Avoid and reject any impure or immoral speech or behavior.  Be certain that it contradicts your profession of faith in Christ.”  Who is this speaking to?  True devout Christians, who are progressing to spiritual maturity.

We are to mature in Christ, do not be the one that causes any little ones to stumble.  Do not judge, do not condemn anyone.  We have enough to do in keeping ourselves pure through Christ, so let the Holy Spirit deal with everyone else.

Be more like Christ, so you will not be left behind.

Jesus is coming soon, so no longer should the church body look at others as “lesser than”.  Any true Christian who is living their life to resemble Christ’s will not give the slightest implication of condemnation.  We should be welcoming every person that walks within our midst, compelling all people to come in from the highways and byways!  May we be found loving others as we are commanded!

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I wish to end this with a quote from a precious friend’s book, “Into His Presence” by Bobby Holmes.  “God’s Word will do a quick work in a person’s life, even as a vile wretched sinner sits and hears the Word of God preached, his heart moved and is drawn to an altar of repentance and moments later has become a brand-new person, everything from the inside out has been made new, they are free, born again.  Old things are passed away and behold all things have become new.  This my brothers and sisters, is the quick work of God and to God be the glory.  There was no time to make oneself ready, to prepare, to become a better person or to quit the fleshly sinful habits, but instead a genuine heavenly transformation has taken place.  One has gone from the paths of hell and has been redeemed, changed, made new and made ready for the kingdom of heaven…glory be to God.  Only God can do a work as this.  This is divine intervention, heavenly impartation, that can change a person in such a quick moment, even as God will take us home to be with Him.  We will be changed in a moment in a twinkling of an eye, forever to be with the Lord.”

So, pray for the sinners, the unsaved to come to your church.  For the Word of God will not return void and they will be drawn by God’s Spirit unto Him!

John 3:16-17

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. ¹⁷ For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

For more emphasis on walking in unity and love, please read Ephesians, chapters four and five.

Notes:

1. If you are new to this blog, please understand that I have a ministry in discipleship, so I challenge you and encourage you to grow in your personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
2. All scripture is taken from NKJV unless otherwise noted.
3. Quote from “Into His Presence”, by Bobby Holmes; 2021; westbowpress.com
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