There is a difference in judging people and judging what people do. Christians
are not to condemn people, but are called to "reprove the world of sin," to
discern between good and evil, sin and righteousness of God as defined by the
Word of God. Declaring only what Jesus proclaimed in John 3:16 without
including what He said in the same breath through verse 21 is not only
negligence but derelict in answering His calling.
2 Timothy 2:19-26 -
And you must steadily
avoid foolish and stupid controversies, because you know that they would beget
strife: and a servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome but gentle toward
all, skillful in teaching, bearing evil without resentment, in humility
correcting those opposing you. Perhaps God would give them repentance into a
knowledge of truth and they would come to their senses, to do the will of
that One, escaping from the snare of the devil, because they have been captured
alive by Him.
2 Peter 3:16 -
"...in which the unlearned and unstable people are twisting them
as they also do the rest of the Scriptures to their own destruction. "
Proverbs 17:15 -
"The one who justifies the
wicked and the one who condemns the just, even they both are abomination
to the LORD*. "
Ezekiel 33:7-9
-
So you, O son of man, I have set you as a watchman for the House
of Israel. Therefore you will hear the word at My mouth and warn them from Me.
When I say to the wicked, O wicked man, you will surely die, if you do not speak
to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man will die in his iniquity, but I
shall require his blood at your hand. Nevertheless, if you warn the wicked to
turn from his way: if he does not turn from his way, he will die in his
iniquity, but you have delivered your life.
Joshua 7:10-13 - And the LORD* said to Joshua, Get yourself up! Why are you
lying like this on your face? Israel has sinned and they have also
trespassed My covenant which I commanded them for they have even taken
of the accursed thing and have also stolen and denied also and they have
put it even among their own things. Therefore the children of Israel
could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before
their enemies because they were accursed. Neither will I be with you any
more, unless you destroy the accursed from among you. Get up! Sanctify
the people! Say, Sanctify yourselves against tomorrow! For thus says the
LORD* God of Israel, There is an accursed thing among you. O Israel, you
cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the accursed thing
from among you.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 -
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of
God? Stop being deceived: neither fornicators nor idolaters nor
adulterers nor effeminate nor homosexuals nor thieves nor covetous
people, nor drunkards, nor abusive people, nor swindlers will inherit
the Kingdom of God. And some of you were these things: but you have
been washed, but you have been made holy, but you have been made
righteous by the name of the Lord Y'shua Messiah and by the Spirit of
our God.
Luke 6:35-38
(Jesus) -
But love ye your enemies,
and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great,
and you shall be the children of the Highest: for He is kind unto the unthankful
and to the evil. Be therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
Judge not, and you shall not be judged: condemn not, and you shall not be
condemned: forgive, and you shall be forgiven: Give, and it shall be given
unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over,
shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that you mete withal
it shall be measured to you again.
Jesus, In the same discourse (Luke 6:43-46) For a good tree brings not forth
corrupt fruit; neither does a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For every
tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a
bramble bush gather they grapes. A good man out of the good treasure of his
heart brings forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure
of his heart brings forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart
his mouth speaks. And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I
say?
Those who selectively pick and choose the Words of God in an attempt to
justify their sin do so at their own peril as Peter declared (2 Peter 3:16).
No-Judgment Zones: The Latest Way a Wicked Culture Has Duped the Church
- By John Burton - ...Can you imagine parenting without any form of
judgment? It's ridiculous to consider. Can you imagine a workplace
without any repercussions for violating company rules? How about a government
with no judges and no judgments? It would result in anarchy and absolute
disinterest in justice as the thugs run free. On the contrary, we celebrate
justice and are thankful when rapists, killers, shoplifters and reckless drivers
must stand before a judge and be held accountable for their crimes. Yet, many in
the church are tragically renouncing justice (judgment) in the context of our
modern Christian experience.
How "progressives" distort and falsify 'Do not judge'"
"Progressives," or "reprobate minds" as Scripture refers to them (Romans 1:28), have
deceptively taken what Jesus proclaimed out of context by quoting only part of
how Jesus instructed on judging and reproof. ...But evil men and seducers who shall wax
worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived." (2 Timothy 3:13 ) "Progressives"
have been successful in fooling those unwise in redefining tolerance, diversity, rights,
justice, discrimination, ethics, science, free speech, and history, due to their
lack of self-discipline and believing they do not have to abide by the premise of
"the
Laws of Nature and of Nature's God."
"Judge not, that you be not judged" (Matthew
7:1) instructs us to judge carefully without hypocrisy, it does not say withhold
judgment. Jesus completes this by saying: "Hypocrite! First remove the plank
from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your
brother's eye." (Matthew 7:5) Jesus reaffirms this in John 7:24. He also
reveals the "do not judge" fallacy in confronting those who lead others astray.
Jesus, immediately after His discourse on judging (Matthew 7:1-5)
refers to unbelievers as dogs and pigs (Mt. 7:6) and false prophets as "ravening
wolves" (Mt. 7:15). Jesus was not polite to
those who would lead others astray with their deceptive words, calling them
"blind guides,
full of hypocrisy and iniquity, serpents, generation of vipers, and how can ye
escape the damnation of hell?" Should this
not provide believers a reference when confronted by unbelievers with the "judge
not" fallacy?
Jesus implored His followers "as my Father has sent me,
even so send I you." How then are
Christians called to "reprove the world of sin," to be the "salt of the
earth" and the "Light of the World" without judging, reproving, and
rebuking? (John 3:19-21, 2 Timothy 4:2) Timid Christians have been deceptively silenced, because they are
unsure of their foundation in Christ. "Progressives" have successfully used this
ploy with false charges that Christians are being offensive and intolerant.
Christians have fallen prey to this mistaken claim that they should not judge,
revealing many are not founded on the Word of God, do not wear in
the full armor of God, and are disobedient to their Lord's call to be the Salt &
Light of the earth, to boldly preach the Word of God and reproving the world
of sin.
Matthew 7:1-5 -
Judge not, that ye be not
judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what
measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why behold you the mote
that is in thy brother's eye, but consider not the beam that is in your own eye?
Or how will you say to your brother, Let me pull out the mote out of your eye;
and, behold, a beam is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first cast out the
beam out of your own eye; and then shall you see clearly to cast out the mote
out of your brother's eye.
"Judge not, that you be not judged" (Matthew
7:1) instructs us to judge carefully without hypocrisy, it does not say withhold
judgment. Jesus completes this by saying: "Hypocrite! First remove the plank
from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your
brother's eye." (Matthew 7:5) Jesus reaffirms this in John 7:24.
John 7:24 -
Judge not according to
the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
"Reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine"
John 3:16-21 - For God so loved the world, that he gave
His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have
everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world;
but that the world through him might be saved. He that believes on him is
not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not
believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the
condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather
than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that does evil hates
the light, neither comes to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he
that does truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that
they are wrought in God.
2 Timothy 3:13-17; 4:1-5 - But evil men and seducers shall wax
worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things
which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast
learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which
are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ
Jesus.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That
the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
I charge
thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick
and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove,
rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when
they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap
to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears
from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things,
endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy
ministry.
Fools despise wisdom and
instruction
Proverbs 1:5-7 - A wise man will hear and will increase
learning, and a man of understanding will attain to wise counsels to understand
a proverb and its interpretation, the words of the wise and their riddles.
Reverence of the LORD* is the beginning of knowledge. Fools despise wisdom and
instruction. (One New Man Bible)
Proverbs 9:6-10 - Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the
way of understanding. He that reproves a scorner gets to himself shame: and he
that rebukes a wicked man gets himself a blot. Reprove not a scorner, lest he
hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. Give instruction to a wise
man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in
learning. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of
the holy is understanding.
Proverbs 17:10 - A reproof enters more into a wise man than an hundred stripes
into a fool.
John 8:3-11 - And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him
a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto
him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the
law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what do you say? This they
said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down,
and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when
they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them,
He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a
stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And
they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by
one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and
the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none
but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are your
accusers? has no man condemned you? She said, No man, Lord. And
Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin
no more.
Truth Is Going to Offend Those Who Hate, Consider Those Who Will Be Misled,
Deceived, & Destroyed If You Don't Preach the Truth -By Bradlee Dean - ...In
their carnal, worldly minds, they think you are loving them by not telling them
the truth or by preaching another gospel that does not line up with Scripture
(Galatians 1:8). We are to be the salt of the earth, not the sugar (Matthew
5:13). Furthermore, I think of Paul, who stated: "I ceased not to warn every
one night and day with tears" (Acts 20:3).
Neither Peter nor Paul were squeamish about
judging others
Here are some excerpts from the epistles
that illustrate judgment, reproof, and rebuke: (Did Peter and Paul violate "Do
not judge? ")
Peter said to Simon the magician "Your heart is not upright before God. Repent
of this wickedness of
yours " for I see that you are filled with bitter gall, and you are in the bonds
of iniquity" (Acts 8:20,23).
Paul said to Elymas, "you son of the devil, you enemy of all that is right, full
of every sort of deceit
and fraud. Will you not stop twisting the straight paths of the Lord?" (Acts 13:9,10).
Paul: "But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was
to be blamed." (Galatians 2:11).
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such
an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be
tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:1-2).
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove
them. (Ephesians 5:11)
Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear. (1 Timothy 5:20).
For the grace of God that brings salvation hats appeared to all men, Teaching us
that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly,
righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope,
and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who
gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto
himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and
exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee. (Titus 2:11-15)
It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such
fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have
his father's wife. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he
that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I
verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though
I were present, concerning him that has so done this deed, In the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of
our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of
the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. (1
Corinthians 5:1-5)
"And ye shall be
hated of all men for my name's sake"
We are called to preach the Word, not convict and convince, for that is the work
of the Holy Spirit. As Paul indicated, while we plant the "seed" and water, God
causes the increase. (1 Cor. 3:6-7 - I have planted, Apollos
watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that plants any thing,
neither he that waters but God that gives the increase.)
Matthew 10:14-22 - And whosoever shall
not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city,
shake off the dust of your feet. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more
tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for
that city. Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye
therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men: for they
will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their
synagogues; And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for
a testimony against them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no
thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour
what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father
which speaks in you. And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and
the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and
cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's
sake: but he that endures to the end shall be saved.
John 1:5 - And the light shines in darkness; and the darkness
comprehended it not.
John 3:22 - For every one that does evil
hates the light, neither comes to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
Titus 3:9-11 - But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies,
and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and
vain. A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;
Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sins, being condemned of himself.
Proverbs 23:9 - Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will
despise the wisdom of thy words.
Luke 11:52 - Woe unto you, lawyers! for
you have taken away the key of knowledge: you entered not in yourselves, and
them that were entering in you hindered.
Isaiah 5:20 - "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good
evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for
sweet, and sweet for bitter!"
Matthew 5:11 - "Blessed are ye, when men
shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against
you falsely, for my sake."
Colossians 4:5-6 - "Walk in wisdom toward them that
are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned
with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man."
1 Peter 3:8-18 - Finally, be ye all of one mind, having
compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not
rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing;
knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he
that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil,
and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him
seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and
his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them
that do evil. And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which
is good?
But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be
not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; But sanctify the Lord God in
your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a
reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good
conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be
ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better,
if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he
might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the
Spirit:
2 Timothy 2:15-19 - Study to shew thyself approved unto God,
a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But
shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who
concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already;
and overthrow the faith of some. Nevertheless the foundation of God stands sure,
having this seal, The Lord knows them that are his. And, Let every one that
names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
2 Peter 3:3-4 - Knowing this first, that there shall come in
the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the
promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as
they were from the beginning of the creation.
The Truth Will Cause Many to Hate You - By Michael L. Brown - ...Let us
present the real Jesus, the Jesus to whom the crowds swarmed, the Jesus who ate
with despised tax collectors and prostitutes. And let us demonstrate real, New
Testament love, the kind of love that embraces the outcasts and meets people
where they are. After all, Jesus said that He came "to seek and save the lost"
(Luke 19:10, NIV).
...Let us not be known as the haters and the
bigots because we are nasty people who look down their noses at others, the
people who are "too good for you." And let us be better known as followers of
Jesus than as members of a political party, as born-again believers more than
rightwing (or leftwing) ideologues. ...As Jesus said to His disciples, "Students
are not greater than their teacher, and slaves are not greater than their
master. Students are to be like their teacher, and slaves are to be like their
master. And since I, the master of the household, have been called the prince of
demons, the members of my household will be called by even worse names" (Matthew 10:24-25, NLT).
And this: "If the world hates you, keep in mind
that it hated Me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its
own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the
world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: 'A servant is
not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you
also. If they obeyed My teaching, they will obey yours also" (John 15:18-20,
NIV).
"For everyone that does evil hates the Light..."
Colossians 2:4,8: And this I say, lest any man
should beguile you with enticing words. Beware lest any man spoil you
through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after
the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Psalms 1:1-6 - Blessed is the man that walks not in the
counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in
the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and
in his law does he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree
planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth his fruit in his
season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he does shall
prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind
drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor
sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knows the way
of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Ephesians 5:11 - And have no fellowship with the
unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
John 15:18-19: If the
world hate you, you know that it hated me before it hated you. If you
were of the world, the world would love his own: but because you are not
of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the
world hates you.
John 16:8-11 -
Nevertheless I tell you the
truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the
Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto
you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of
righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of
righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of
judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
Acts 4:18-19 - And they
(Sadducees) called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach
in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said unto them,
Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto
God, judge ye.
Jesus was not
polite to those who would lead astray,
calling them "blind guides,
full
of hypocrisy and iniquity,
serpents, generation of vipers, and how can ye escape the
damnation of hell?"
John
2:13-16 - And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up
to Jerusalem, And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves,
and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small
cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and
poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them
that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my
Father's house an house of merchandise.
Matthew 23 - But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees,
hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go
in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. Woe unto you,
scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a
pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. Woe
unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make
one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell
than yourselves.
Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say,
Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by
the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! Ye fools and blind: for whether is
greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifies the gold? And, Whosoever shall
swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever swears by the gift that is upon
it, he is guilty. Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the
altar that sanctifies the gift? Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, swears
by it, and by all things thereon. And whoso shall swear by the temple, swears by
it, and by him that dwells therein. And he that shall swear by heaven, swears by
the throne of God, and by him that sits thereon.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees,
hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin (dill
or fennel), and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy,
and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make
clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of
extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within
the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you,
scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto white
sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full
of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly
appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and
iniquity.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees,
hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the
sepulchers of the righteous, And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers,
we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them
which killed the prophets. Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. Ye
serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
Wherefore, behold, I send unto you
prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify;
and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from
city to city: That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the
earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of
Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. Verily I say unto you,
All these things shall come upon this generation. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou
that kill the prophets, and stone them which are sent unto thee, how often would
I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathers her chickens under
her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I
say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he
that comes in the name of the Lord.
The sting of death is sin; and
the strength of sin is the law.
1 Corinthians 15:56
Proverbs 6:16-19 (BBE) - Six things are hated by the Lord;
seven things are disgusting to him: Eyes of pride, a false tongue, hands which
take life without cause; A heart full of evil designs, feet which are quick in
running after sin; A false witness, breathing out untrue words, and one who lets
loose violent acts among brothers.
2 Chronicles 19:4-6 - And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem: and he went out
again through the people from Beersheba to mount Ephraim, and brought them back
unto the LORD God of their fathers. And he set judges in the land throughout all
the fenced cities of Judah, city by city, And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the
LORD, who is with you in the judgment.
Romans 2:11-15 - For there is no respect of persons
with God (Deuteronomy 10:17). For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish
without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the
law; (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of
the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law,
do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law,
are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their
hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean
while accusing or else excusing one another;)
James 2:10-13 - For whoever would keep the
whole Torah but would stumble in one thing, has become guilty of all. For the
One who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not commit murder:" but
if you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a
transgressor of Torah. So you must continually speak, and so you must act as one
going to be judged through the law of freedom. For judgment without mercy is to
be given for the one who does not do mercy: mercy, full of glad confidence, has
no fear of judgment.
John 8:31-36 -
Therefore, Jesus was saying to the
Jewish people who believed in Him, "If you would remain
in My Word, you are truly My disciples and you will know the truth, and the
truth will make you free." They answered Him, "We are Abraham's seed
and we have never been slaves: how do You say that "You will become free?" Jesus
answered them, "I most definitely say to you that
everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. And the slave does not stay in the
house forever, the son does stay forever. If therefore the Son would set you
free, you will truly be free."
1 John 3:8 -
He that commits sin is of the
devil; for the devil sins from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God
was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
Salt & Light Dictates Reproof
As stars can only be seen in a dark sky, a believer's Light should be seen by
those living in darkness.
Philippians 1:27-30
- Only let your conversation be
as it becomes the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be
absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one
mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; And in nothing terrified by
your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of
salvation, and that of God. For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ,
not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; Having the same
conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.
Philippians
2:14-15 - Do all things without murmurings and disputing: That ye may be blameless and
harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and
perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
Colossians 4:5-6
- Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your
speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye
ought to answer every man.
Matthew 5:13-16
- You are the salt of
the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted?
it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under
foot of men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill
cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on
a candlestick; and it gives light unto all that are in the house. Let your light
so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father
which is in heaven.
1 Peter 4:1-6 -
Forasmuch then as Christ has suffered for us in
the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that has suffered
in the flesh has ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his
time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past
of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we
walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and
abominable idolatries: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with
them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: Who shall give
account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. For for this
cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be
judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
Matthew 13:37-42 - He (Jesus) answered and said
unto them, He that sows the good seed is the Son of man; The field is the world;
the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of
the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end
of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are
gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The
Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom
all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a
furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the
righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears
to hear, let him hear.
Matthew 10:16
- "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be you therefore wise
as serpents, and harmless as doves."
"Turn the other cheek"
Matthew 5:39 -
But I say unto you,
That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn
to him the other. See also Luke 6:29.
The word for "smite" is not in reference to a
fist, as in war; but to an open hand, "slapping" someone in a mocking way as an
insult. Notice the two Scripture references both used the word "reproach," as in
defy or insult a person. This in no way reflects defending against a greater
harm to yourself or in defense of others, as in war. It would be quite different
if terrorists used slapping instead of deadly weapons.
From Strong's Concordance:
resist: G0436 - anthistemi --
pronounced: anth-is'-tay-mee from 473 and 2476; to stand against, i.e. oppose:
KJV -- resist, withstand.
smite: rapizo - G3374 -- pronounced:
hrap-id'-zo from a derivative of a primary rhepo (to let fall, "rap"); to slap:
KJV -- smite (with the palm of the hand).
Lamentations 3:30
- He gives his cheek to him that smites him:
he is filled full with reproach.
Job 16:10
- They have gaped upon me with their mouth;
they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves
together against me.
Mark 14:53, 65
- As was the case when they led Jesus away to
the high priest: and with him were assembled all the chief priests and the
elders and the scribes. ...And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face,
and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike
him with the palms of their hands.
When Jesus was slapped He did not turn the other cheek but instead
challenged the reason for why He was slapped. John 18:22.23 - Then the High Priest asked Y'shua about His disciples
and about His teaching. Y'shua answered him, "I have spoken
openly to the world, I always taught in a synagogue and in the Temple, where all
the Jewish people gather, and I spoke nothing whatever in secret. Why are you
asking Me? You must ask those who heard what I said to them: see, they know what
I said." Then after He said these things one of the attendants standing
by hit Y'shua saying, "Would you answer the High Priest this way?" Y'shua
answered him, "If I spoke wrongly, you must testify
concerning the evil: but if I spoke correctly, why do you beat Me?" Then
Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the High Priest.
Even God's Elect Will Be Deceived
See also:
False Doctrines
and False shepherds
Matthew 24:24
- For there shall arise
false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders;
insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Matthew 23:14-15, 27-33 - Woe unto you,
scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a
pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. Woe
unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make
one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell
than yourselves. ...Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are
like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are
within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also
outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and
iniquity. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the
tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, And say, If
we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with
them in the blood of the prophets. Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves,
that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. Fill ye up then the
measure of your fathers. Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape
the damnation of hell?
Do not fall prey to those who say we are not
to judge one another. How are Christians then called to reprove the
world of sin, to be the "salt of
the earth" and the "Light of the World?"
Why Are We Afraid to
Preach About Sin? - By J. Lee Grady - ...Paul's preaching in the first century was unquestionably confrontational.
He didn't hold back from addressing sin, nor was he afraid to call sin what it
is. Paul knew a spineless Christianity would produce spineless Christians. He
told Timothy that biblical preaching would require three brave verbs:
...Reprove...
...Rebuke...
...Exhort...
...Paul was also not afraid to name sins. I recently did a survey of all of
Paul's epistles to see how he addressed sexual immorality. I discovered that he
confronted sexual sin head-on in 10 of his 13 epistles. He boldly called out
adultery, fornication, sensuality and homosexuality in a culture that was
saturated in hedonism.
...It's time for us to grow a backbone. Let's get rid of weak Christianity,
spineless preachers and jellyfish morals. Let's preach the message of the Bible
instead of a neutered version. Let's not only point out sin but also point
people to the only hope they have of overcoming it, our strong Savior, whose
death on the cross was the ultimate confrontation of sin.
A SOFT & EFFEMINATE CHRISTIANITY
(From "Peace & Holiness" by Horatius Bonar 1808
- 1889) Scottish
churchman and poet - For there is some danger of falling into a soft and effeminate Christianity,
under the plea of a lofty and ethereal theology. Christianity was born for endurance. It walks with firm step and erect frame;
it is kindly, but firm; it is gentle, but honest; it is calm, but not facile;
obliging, but not imbecile; decided, but not churlish. It does not fear to speak
the stern word of condemnation against error, nor to raise its voice against
surrounding evils, under the pretext that it is not of this world.
It does not shrink from giving honest reproof lest it come under the charge
of displaying an unchristian spirit. It calls sin "sin," on whomsoever it is
found, and would rather risk the accusation of being actuated by a bad spirit
than not discharge an explicit duty. Let us not misjudge strong words used in
honest controversy. Out of the heat a viper may come forth; but we shake it off
and feel no harm.
The religion of both Old and New Testaments is marked by fervent outspoken
testimonies against evil. To speak smooth things in such a case may be
sentimentalism, but it is not Christianity. It is a betrayal of the cause of
truth and righteousness. If anyone should be frank, manly, honest, cheerful (I
do not say blunt or rude, for a Christian must be courteous and polite), it is
he who has tasted that the Lord is gracious, and is looking for and hasting unto
the coming of the day of God.
I know that charity covereth a multitude of sins; but it does not call evil
good, because a good man has done it; it does not excuse inconsistencies,
because the inconsistent brother has a high name and a fervent spirit.
Crookedness and worldliness are still crookedness and worldliness, though
exhibited in one who seems to have reached no common height of attainment.
The culture wars can not be blamed solely
on the left's immoral quest for uninhibited sex with anyone, including young
children, and same-sex relationships, and criminalization of Judeo-Christian
Biblical concepts and virtues. Christians, whether shepherds or layman must
also take responsibility for having allowed this denigration into darkness.
While there are organizations and Christians that have honored Christ's command
to shine His Light and be the salt of the world, many Christian appear to be
simply spectators, with no oil left in their lamps. This apathy has
resulted in the myth of separation of church and state to become an unwritten
law of the land. Yet, separation of church and state does not exist in America's
Constitution or Bill of Rights. Worse still, it has allowed the likes of Kevin
Jennings and GLSEN, under the guise of "safety" to dupe, and yes, deceive not
only government-run school administrators, politicians (even "Christian"
politicians), the "mainstream" media, Hollywood elites, and most
disturbingly, many of God's elect as well.
The left has been successful in
deceptively redefining words like "normal, bullying, morals, values,
bigotry, hate, tolerance, safety, discrimination, and diversity," all in an
effort to criminalize Christianity in the hopes of silencing God's elect
completely. Without sufficient resistance, the left has advanced their agenda of
obliterating America's foundation of "unalienable Rights" being "entitled" only
if they do not violate "the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God." The left
prefers laws defined by the left and of the left, meaning anything goes to
satisfy self-pleasing impulsive pleasures regardless of health risks and
consequence, and where virtue is non-existent.
