Not Like Me

Do not judge, or you too will be judged. Matthew 7:1

“Christians are not supposed to judge.” Really?

Most likely you’ve heard this phrase at some point in your life because it’s become common-law. What do I mean by that? It’s a rule regularly applied to custom situations in a manner not appropriately mandated by God’s statues. I imagine you may find this a little jarring. But, when we hear phrases used so often and by so many people, it’s natural for us to simply adopt them rather than questioning, “Are we using this phrase in its biblical sense?”

In some cases we are, but we need to clarify what we mean by “judging.” “To judge” is not the same as “to be judgmental” for we expect any human judge to reach conclusions without an attitude of judgementalism. “To judge” is not the same as “to condemn” for not all judging results in punishment, disapproval, or forced displeasure. “To judge” is “to form an opinion or conclusion about something” (Oxford Dictionary).

Certainly, we stand on scriptures that address judging. The most famously used is Matthew 7:1, “Judge not, or you will be judged.” This paired with Jesus’ words, “For I did not come to judge the world but to save the world” becomes a tricky dilemma for English speakers (John 12:47). Jesus himself is using the word “judge” with instructive language, but does Jesus really want us to not form options or have a perspective of our own?

Of course not. Followers of Jesus are to become wise and discerning and to “distinguish good from evil” (Hebrews 5:14). Christians are to judge but not to be judgmental or condemning. Jesus clearly said, “He without sin cast the first stone” meaning we can only judge from a place where we are all guilty and we must leave all punishment-declaring justice to the one who is without sin (John 8:7).

“For the Lord is our Judge, the Lord is our Lawgiver, the Lord is our King; He will save us” (Isaiah 33:22). “He shall judge the world in righteousness, and he shall administer judgments for the people in uprightness” (Psalm 9:8). So, when we hear this common statement, let’s rephrase it as, “Christians are to judge from God-given wisdom, but never to take God’s place as Judge.”

Today, we all stand before the same Judge. Use this time to confess where you have turned judging into condemning or giving someone forced displeasure because you have wrongly stepped in as God.

By Yvonne Biel

Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father.

But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’” Luke 15:11-32

Have you ever noticed in the parables of Jesus that He never says, “Perfect, my good and faithful servant! Enter into your Master’s glory”? No, instead Jesus says well done. While Scripture does tell us to be perfect as He is perfect, this has more to do with the perfection of Christ won for us at the cross.
We live in a society that values perfection above all else, don’t we? The perfect house, car, body, spouse, grades, football season, etc. Holding up under these demands is absolutely exhausting. Yet, this demand for perfection was never demanded by God. He knows that we are imperfect and fallen, and that we are but dust. If the God of the Universe can show such compassion on fallen sinners like us, how is it that we, being fallen, demand so much from others before we find them worthy of love? Love by its very nature is messy, so how can we rightfully demand perfection?

While perfection is idolized, the reality is we live in a broken world. We ourselves are broken, and surrounded by men, women and children who share in that brokenness. We are broken in our viewpoints, beliefs, morals, ethics, economic understandings, viewpoints on race, religion, and sexuality.
This brokenness could make us feel unworthy, unloved, and unfit for service in the Kingdom, were it not for the two little words, “But God.” God’s love, grace and sacrifice change everything for us. The story of the Prodigal shows that so clearly. Yes, the younger son was wrong in his actions. Yes, the older son was wrong in his views and judgements. But the Father, full of tender love and compassion, had open arms for both of them. We will make wrong choices and mistakes in this life against God and others. Perhaps what is needed is not so much an impossible standard, but an arm around the shoulder that says, “Yeah, me too,” for we are all imperfect, broken sinners in need of grace.

Jon Foreman wrote a song called “Somebody’s Baby” about a woman named November who was broken, looked over and forgotten. It is a sad song that brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it. May we, as citizens of the Kingdom, find the Novembers in our circles and instead of shunning them for their mess, love them as Christ would have…and does.

By Sheila Rennau

Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! … Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. Isaiah 55:1,2b-3. NIV

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; If I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. Psalm 139:7-10 NIV

Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:13-14. NIV

In John 4:4-42 Jesus showed love first by being present with a Samaritan woman, then with her whole village. He engaged in a conversation with her while she was at Jacob’s well to get water at mid-day. Perhaps she was there at noon to avoid other people who didn’t approve of her choices to marry, divorce and live with at least 6 men. Jesus asked for a drink (John 4:7), most religious Jews wouldn’t touch a utensil a Samaritan had touched. Jesus offered her living water (John 4:10), then he spoke about eternal life (John 4:14). His next question began an honest exchange about her past and present relationships (John 4:16-18). The conversation climaxed with Jesus declaring himself to be Messiah. Then the woman went back to her village and told the people that Jesus knew everything about her – she thought he could be Messiah. The people came to see Jesus, asked him to stay and he spent 2 days in the village teaching the people. As a result of the woman’s invitation, and the people listening to Jesus’ teaching, many in the village believed in Jesus as “the Savior of the world,” John 4:42b.

Jesus shows love to us with his presence as well. He wants to converse with us about our physical, sexual, emotional, mental, and spiritual lives. Psalm 23:4 tells us, “even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” God is with us, no matter our circumstances. Psalm 139 tells us there is no place we can go, nor any circumstance we can be in where God is not right there with us.

As a result, we need to be willing to be present in other’s lives. We need to be willing to show love to others by engaging in conversation, by listening to their answers, by speaking honestly with others about who God is, about his desire for us to worship him “in spirit and in truth,” John 4:24b. We need to be ready to point other people to Jesus, the Messiah, he is the only one who can offer forgiveness from sin, living water and eternal life to hurting people in our lives.

By Grace Hunter

But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.  Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them.  The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst  they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery.  Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?”  This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground.  And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”  And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground.  But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.  Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”  She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”  John 8:1-11

John, one of the closest disciples to Jesus and the longest living, shares this incredible story of his Savior. It is generally attributed to him, unique to his Gospel and found nowhere else. He shares rich details of Jesus’ character, compassion and response to this woman in contrast to those of the religious leaders, the Pharisees. They stood in pride, judgement and disrespect. Jesus knelt in humility, grace and love.

The Pharisees used this woman as an accusatory trap for Jesus to choose between breaking Roman Law or the Mosaic law. Jesus in great wisdom asks them to follow the Mosaic law to determine if they should throw the first stone. As the Judge, with ultimate authority he persuades the human judges to disqualify themselves. Jesus respectfully reminds them of the law using a finger to write in the sand, like God wrote the Ten Commandments. He kneels with dignity before these important men on the woman’s level and humbly reminds them all mankind came from the dust and are sinful. It is the only time ever mentioned that Jesus wrote and no one knows exactly what he wrote. But it caused each Pharisee to leave the scene quietly beginning with the oldest, an important detail, perhaps regarding rabbinical traditions, but definitely implicating themselves.

We want to follow Jesus’ example here and love like Jesus loves. He meets us where we are at and doesn’t look down on us. We need to meet others where they are at and be like Jesus neither condemning or condoning, but extending the love of the Father. Jesus showed tough love to the Pharisees and a tender love to the woman. He didn’t flaunt who he was but he made his convictions known. Jesus’ love and forgiveness impacts everyone in the incident and us the reader. Isn’t that the way God wants us to be? Impacted by his love and then impacting others with it. Extending the love that’s been extended to us. We can have a holy influence with a heart made new by Jesus’ forgiveness. Let him help you drop the stones in your hand and fill your open hands with love to extend to others.

By Donna Burns

He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.  1 Peter 2:22-25

Peter learned so much from Jesus. He sinned and Jesus forgave him, and as a result Peter knew the difference from where he once was (a straying sheep) to now being “the Rock” the church was built upon (Matthew 16:18 – an overseer of souls). He was commissioned to share the good news of Jesus with everyone. He labored for peace among the early church, and in the world.

Jesus experienced the difference of those in the Kingdom and those not. I recently saw this quote on Facebook, “Many turn from Jesus because of a bad experience with religious people. Jesus also had a bad experience with religious people. They crucified him.” The way he suffered (Matthew 25:11-14) and died (Mark 15:39) made others take notice. He responded not with threats but with dignity. He acted in accordance with who he was. If we profess to follow Jesus and his way others will notice.

Like Peter, we were once dead in sin and now we are alive in Christ (Galatians 2:20). Once we were lost, but now we’re found, we were in darkness, but now we‘re in the light of God’s presence. We were alone but now we’re members of his church, part of the community of God’s Kingdom. As citizens of God’s Kingdom you are commissioned to spread the good news (Matthew 28:19-20). It will do us well, and the world, if we keep aware of this difference from where we once were and where we are now in Christ. More importantly, as an ambassador from the Kingdom of Heaven what we do and say reflects our citizenship. Does how we live show our allegiance, our priority to and our identity in King Jesus?

The greatest story your life can tell is where you were before knowing Jesus and where you are now that you know him personally. Write out three paragraphs, one about what your life was like before you know Jesus, one on how he brought you into citizenship in his Kingdom and one paragraph on what your life is like now that you know Jesus. Live in that place of grace and entrust yourself to God who judges justly. As these next months unfold, determine to share God’s love as his ambassador through your story and keep the Kingdom growing. Our just and sovereign God will take care of the rest.

By Donna Burns

Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 1 Peter 2:18-21

If you want to use a word that sparks strong feelings and controversy, look no further than the seventh word in the above passage. See it? Submit. To submit means that we intentionally yield to or put ourselves under the authority of another. As citizens of a nation where our independence is heralded, this concept can rankle.

It rankled Peter’s audience in Asia Minor too, who would have been under the authority of Nero. Yet, Peter tells them to submit. Why? We submit (obey laws, show respect and honor, do our part as productive citizens) when the person in authority over us, be it a boss, mayor, governor, or president is good or evil because our first allegiance as a citizen of the Kingdom is to God.

When we submit, in humble reverence to God, He strengthens us to not only hold up under the pressures around us, and even the struggle within us, but also allows us to shine and bring glory to His Name to a confused and unbelieving world. Submission is how we become ambassadors for Christ because it is by our actions, not only our words, that people take notice of how and why we are different.

If we break the law and hurt others or become dangerous to society, we should be punished. We learn that lesson as small children. But if we are punished for doing right, as hard and unwanted as that is, Peter reminds us that this is commendable before God.

Yes, it is unjust and wrong when authority figures abuse their authority, but even Jesus submitted to the rulers of His day. He had every right to rebel. He was innocent, and yet He silently endured the cross, Now, He is lifted up to the place of honor where every man, woman, and child will one day bow and confess that He is Lord.

When Christ hung on the cross, He prayed for those over Him, and He forgave them. Unjust bosses and rulers don’t need our nasty-grams or backbiting, they need our prayers because only the power of God can change a heart.

This week, take some time to read through the Armor of God passage in Ephesians 6. Pray that God will equip you with each piece as you interact with your boss, and the elected officials over you (mayor, governor, president, etc.). Ask God to guard, guide, and change you, and ask Him to bless those over you in mighty ways.

By Sheila Rennau

Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.  For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. 1 Peter 2:2-17

An exercise I do when I read these ancient texts, outlining how we should live, is consider the time in which they were written. I don’t want to dive too deep into the study of when this passage was written, but more than likely, it was within the first century. To understand the import of this statement in that time period is to understand the absolute depravity of leadership in Rome. The value of human life was near nil, and nothing escaped the exercise of desire. Even with the evil we’ve witnessed and read about in the last 200-300 years, it rarely, if ever, approaches first century Rome.

Then, as now, Jesus followers experienced the same soul-freedom we do today. Living within this freedom removes the moorings of the trappings of life. Was life for them difficult, and is life for us difficult? Absolutely. While we’re not being roasted to illuminate dinner parties, life for us can be hard. And yet, we can find joy in this experience similar to those praising Jesus as they burned. Up to now, most of us haven’t experienced anything close to this tortured existence. Not having enough money for cars, homes, or other possessions doesn’t count. What truly counts is how we live our lives while on the earth.

These words in the passage are truly powerful. The words penned by Peter were targeted for Gentile and Jewish believers in the Diaspora. Just as he told them in this letter, our lives are to fearlessly reflect Jesus to everyone around us. When the time comes for people (“Gentiles”) to speak out against us, our life and actions will speak louder than their words. The way we live is observed to the degree we don’t need to ‘toot our own horn.’ People will know.

Just as our ancestors in the faith were called to honor the Emperor, so are we (1 Peter 2:17). Remember that when the Emperor ‘s rulings superseded the preeminence of God, they chose Christ. As we go through our daily lives, experiencing the peace and presence of God with us, engaging in the practice of prayer, let’s pray for our leadership. I’m certain some would rather chew aluminum foil than pray for our politicians, but this is what we’re called to do (1 Timothy 2:1-4). Remember, our moorings adhere to God and our choice, Christ.

By Rich Obrecht

Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. I Peter 2:11-12 NIV

We are citizens of God’s Kingdom (Philippians 3:20) and citizens of America. We are called to be good citizens of both. Peter charges us “to abstain from sinful desires which war against our soul,” I Peter 2:11. Both Peter and Paul talk of this war that rages in our minds, souls and bodies, (Romans 7 & 8, Galatians 5:16-22). Thankfully, they also offer solutions. “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you,” I Peter 5:7 is part of the solution. Paul tells us, “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ,” II Corinthians 10:3-5.

Much of the battle for our souls is fought in the mind. What do you spend time thinking about? Is your day consumed with thoughts that result in turmoil, conflict, sin? Sometimes my thoughts are similar to a Merry – Go – Round, always ending up in the same place, with no way to get off, and no solution in sight. For me, Paul offers a solution in Philippians 4:6-8. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about these things.”

For me, I have to actively take charge of my thoughts, take them captive, pray, seek God and make a conscious effort to think about what God wants me to think about. Then, we can be responsible citizens of America and Heaven and “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life,” Philippians 2:14-16a. Let us live in the Spirit and be citizens that display love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control to everyone.

By Grace Hunter

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2:9-10‬

Followers of Jesus have always had a sticky relationship with politics. Jesus himself was killed largely due to his refusal to align with the political systems of his day. Part of the challenge for us is the fact that we are not called to align with groups or even a country. Jesus did not spend his time teaching us which policy or candidate was correct. He wasn’t interested in party lines, instead he came to declare the beginning of a new political system all together. That new system is what Jesus and the New Testament writers called the Kingdom of God. As followers of Jesus we are, as Peter tells us above, a holy nation. We are not Jews, Greeks, Romans, or Americans. Instead we are citizens of the Kingdom of God.

Does that mean we should avoid the subject of politics altogether as Jesus followers? By no means! In fact, Jesus wasn’t killed because he didn’t pick a side, he was killed because he critiqued both sides and offered new citizenship in his Kingdom. This week, as we explore how to think and engage in politics as followers of Jesus, we do well to remember that our allegiance is ultimately to Jesus as King, not to a party or even an earthly nation. We are a holy nation and the party line is love, forgiveness, self sacrifice, humility over pride, and of Jesus as king!

This past Sunday we heard a song called “Citizens” by Jon Guerra. It’s a song that expresses a longing for God’s kingdom to be realized. Today I challenge you to listen to another song by Jon called “Kingdom of God.” This song is a reflection on the ideas found in the Sermon on the Mount. The Sermon on the Mount is Jesus’ magnum opus of sermons. In it he paints a picture of the kingdom for us. As you listen, ask God to increase your understanding of his Kingdom vision and to make you a good citizen of that kingdom over all others.

By Aaron Bjorklund