Kathy Howard's Blog: Unshakeable Faith for Life, page 87

10 Characteristics of a Blameless Life

Imagine entering heaven and approaching God’s throne. Picture yourself as you kneel at His feet and bask in the joy of His presence. All the struggles of life fade away as you praise Him who sits on the throne.

Do you long to enter God’s holy presence and joyfully worship at His feet? The woman whose “walk is blameless” (Psalm 15:2, NIV) may dwell in God’s sanctuary and live on His holy hill. I long to enter God’s presence, but I’m not sure I would describe myself as “blameless.”

According to Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, the Hebrew word translated as “blameless” in Psalm 15:2 describes a person with “nothing in his outward activities or internal disposition that is odious to God.”

Good definition, but that’s too general for me to get my mind around. I need some specifics about what a “blameless” life looks like. Thankfully, the Bible tells us. Psalm 15 and 102 describe a “blameless” life (Read them now if you have time. They are not long.) The following list of characteristics is derived from these two psalms of David.

She practices praise – Regularly contemplate the holy nature of God. Recognizing His worthiness will not only foster praise, we will also be moved to obedience.
She lives with integrity at home – Sometimes we fail to purposefully watch our words and actions at home like we do other places. We tend to let our guard down; to allow our first, sinful instincts to rule. We need to be as careful at home as we are away from home.
She turns away from everything vile or vulgar – “Blameless” woman do not compromise with the sinful ways of the world. We don’t allow ourselves to become desensitized to immorality, crudeness, or risqué humor by watching it, reading it, or listening to it. For a sad example, read my recent post “Holiness is not a Shade of Grey.”
She ruthlessly guards against evil thoughts and behavior (vs 3b-4) – We must proactively rid our lives of every thought and action contrary to the nature and character of God.
She does not use her words to tear others down – Our speech should be edifying and encouraging. That doesn’t mean everything we need to say will be easy. But it does mean it will be helpful to the hearer.
She does not collaborate with ungodly, wicked people (vs 3-4) – The only way to never encounter ungodly people is to leave this life and transfer to heaven. However, we can choose not to enter into agreements, projects, or business dealings with people whose worldview is not Christ-centered.
She embraces honesty – Satan is the father of lies. Anytime we are less than honest we have yielded to the tempter! Let’s commit to total honesty in our own lives and conduct. We should also expect honesty from the people around us and distance ourselves from those who refuse to be honest.
She does not seek gain that brings harm to others – God wants us to use our God-given skills, talents, and gifts to support the Kingdom, serve others, and provide for ourselves and our families. However, any effort for gain or advancement that takes advantage of others is sinful.
She squashes pride and conceit – Pride fosters an abundance of sin. Those who want to live blameless before God will seek humility by keeping both God and ourselves in proper perspective.
She helps, encourages, and protects the godly – God calls us to serve others and meet the needs of those who cannot help themselves. Do we respond when they cross our paths?

This may not be a complete list of “blameless” characteristics, but it’s a start. Let’s keep searching God’s Word, applying what He shows us, and enjoying His holy presence!

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“Let My People Go”

Human trafficking is a huge, heart-breaking problem around the world and in the United States. My friend Kathi Macias is doing her part to help bring awareness to this issue in order to help put a stop to this modern day slavery. Not only is Kathi my guest blogger today, she is also giving away a copy of her new fiction book “The Deliverer.”

The term “human trafficking” or “trafficking in persons” (TIP) often draws raised eyebrows and skeptical expressions—until statistics are laid out to show that approximately 27 million people are enslaved today, whether for the purposes of slave labor, prostitution, or involuntary organ “donations.”

The Salvation Army has made the rescue of those enslaved around the world their number-one goal at this time, holding seminars and conferences to educate people and to garner support from various individuals and organizations.

The United Nations describes TIP in this way:

“The recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labor or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs.”

In a nutshell, human trafficking is modern-day slavery, and it is the fastest growing criminal industry in the world. It is currently tied with the illegal arms industry for the second largest criminal industry in existence, with the drug industry being the only one to edge it out.

Oh, I know. Most people naively believe that human trafficking happens only in faraway countries—Thailand or Cambodia, perhaps. True, it does occur there at a tragic rate. But it also takes place right here in the United States daily, to such an extent that some states are instituting task forces to try and stop it. Texas Attorney General Greg Abbot promises that their new task force “will take an aggressive stand against human traffickers, who have turned Texas into a hub for international and domestic forced labor and prostitution rings.”[1]

Another myth about human trafficking is that it only involves adults. Millions of children around the world are crying out in pain and terror over the heartbreaking error of that statement. According to Wikepedia, trafficking in children may come about as an “exploitation of the parents’ extreme poverty. Parents may sell children to traffickers in order to pay off debts or gain income, or they may be deceived concerning the prospects of training and a better life for their children. They may sell their children for labor, sex trafficking, or illegal adoptions.”

Can there be anything that grieves the Father’s heart more than the forced enslaving of people made in His own image—by others bearing that same divine imprint? I believe each time anyone becomes aware of such evil and cries out against it, that cry is spurred by the Father’s own pain. If ever the Church needed to be involved in helping to right a human wrong, it’s now. Human trafficking must stop! And each of us who names the Name of Christ must ask the Father what He wants us to do to help make that happen.

In my case, that includes writing about it—every chance I get, including blogs, letters, articles, and a new fiction-based-on-real-life “Freedom” series: Deliver Me From Evil; Special Delivery; and The Deliverer. Will you pray for these books to be effective in reaching people and calling them to action? And will you also pray and ask God what you can do to answer His heart cry of “Let My people go”? Millions of enslaved human beings around the world are depending on you to respond.

Were you aware of the depth of the problem of human trafficking? If so, do you know of ways to help?

To enter for a chance to win a copy of “The Deliver” leave a comment below. You can also enter by sharing this post on Facebook or Twitter. Please be sure to comment to let us know you shared it! Contest closes Tuesday, Sept 4th.

***Kathi Macias (www.kathimacias.com; www.boldfiction.com; www.thetitus2women.com) is the award-winning author of nearly forty books, including the Golden Scrolls 2011 Novel of the Year and Carol Award finalist, Red Ink. She is also a popular speaker at writers’ and women’s conferences and retreats. She lives in Southern California with her husband, Al.

 

[1] www.humantrafficking.org, “News and Updates,” April 5, 2010.

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Let God Fight Your Battles – Monday Minute in the Word

Ten feet tall and covered with impenetrable armor from head to toe, the fierce foe blocked the road ahead. I could not go around him. Turning back was not an option. And I certainly did not have the strength or skill to fight him. My foe screamed a battle cry. I called out to God to help me in my time of distress.

The foe advanced to fight. The battle commenced but I did not have to defend myself. For God had stepped into the gap between me and my foe. My all-powerful God fought the battle for me. I watched in safety and praised God for a victory won.

Facing life’s battles

Photo courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net

I have faced trials in which I felt like I was battling an entire squad of these fierce foes – just me against highly trained, battle-ready soldiers. Out-numbered and out-powered with no chance of coming out alive.

King Jehoshaphat felt the same way when three massive armies allied themselves against Judah and gathered to march on Jerusalem. (See 2 Chronicles 20 for this amazing story of faith.) But Jehoshaphat did not panic and he did not attempt to fight the battle himself. Instead, he brought the problem to God, followed Him in obedience, and praised God while He delivered the victory.

7 steps of faith to win the battle

Are you facing an overwhelming battle today? Is there a trial or struggle or tough decision in the road ahead? Here is a quick summary of Jehoshaphat’s steps of faith in 2 Chronicles 20 we can apply to our own battles:

Immediately turned to God for guidance and called on the community of faith to fast pray (2 Chron 20:3-4)
Recounted God’s past might works and reflected on His character (2 Chron 20:6-9)
Laid the problem before God and asked for His divine intervention (2 Chron 20:10-12)
Heard God’s answer and responded with worship (2 Chron 20:13-19)
Obeyed God’s direction (2 Chron 20:20)
Praised God while they waited for His deliverance (2 Chron 20:21)
Watched God win the battle, then gathered the spoils (2 Chron 20:22-26)

This story is full of wonderful truths for Christians as we face the inevitable trials of life. God will fight the battles that come our way if we give them to Him.

What battle are you facing today? Which of the faith steps above do you have the most trouble taking? Why?Share and Enjoy:[image error][image error][image error]

Putting Our Minds Where Our Mouths Are

How do you feel about memorizing Scripture?

I know what many of you are thinking. “There’s no way I can memorize Scripture.”  Or, “I don’t need to memorize Scripture because I have six Bible translations at home as well as Bibles on my laptop, phone, and Kindle.” But wait! Before you stop reading, let me give you a few things to consider.

Benefits of Scripture Memory

Memorizing God’s Word solidly entrenches His truth in your heart and mind in a way that simply reading it cannot. When God’s truth becomes a part of you, He can use it to minister to you in powerful and very personal ways. Here are a few ways God can work in our life through His implanted Word:

Provide comfort, encouragement, peace, and strength (Colossians 3:15-16; Psalm 1:1-3; 119:28)
Give guidance and wisdom (Psalm 37:31; Psalm 119:24, 98, 105)
Foster spiritual growth (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12; 1 Peter 2:2)
Equip for evangelism (1 Peter 3:15; Acts 18:28)
Source of joy and blessing (Psalm 119:24, 47, 103; James 1:21-25)
Strength to resist temptation (Psalm 119:11)

How do I begin memorizing Scripture?

Now you may agree that memorizing Scripture is beneficial, but you are still overwhelmed at the idea. “Where do I start? How do I do it?” I’ve had those same feelings. For years, I knew God wanted me to purposefully work to memorize His Word. I made a half-hearted attempt several times, with limited success. However with a renewed commitment and some helpful, practical tips for memorizing I have begun to successfully “hide God’s Word in my heart.”

The first step towards success is making a commitment to God and yourself. The next step is to arm yourself with some helpful tips. Here are some Scripture Memory Tips to help you get started. Then you will need to choose a passage to start memorizing.

How do I decide what to memorize?

Choose a passage God is using in your life. He may emphasize it during your quiet time, a sermon, or Bible study. Start small with just a verse or two. You can work up to lengthier passages later. This verse or passage may:

Speak to an area of weakness in your life
Have special significance in your spiritual journey
Remind you of something important about God
Be useful for instruction or to help guard against sin

My New Scripture Memory Challenge

I’ve encouraged others to memorize Scripture and this website has numerous plans and tools to help. Although I personally work to regularly memorize new verses and review past ones, I admit I could do a better job of hiding God’s Word in my heart. That’s why I’ve decided to take things to the next level and accepted a challenge to memorize an entire chapter. (For more about my most recent memory commitment and how you can participate, see Monday’s post.)

Here’s my challenge for you: Do more than you are doing now. If you’ve never memorized Scripture before, then start with one verse a week or even one a month. The important thing is to start. If you’ve been memorizing individual verses for a while, move up to short sections. If you’ve done small chunks like that before, then consider joining me in memorizing the first chapter of 1 Peter.

Let’s talk! Where are you now in the Scripture memory journey? Do you need to begin or do you need to take it to the next level?

Here are some links to some helpful article and resources to help you in your commitment to memorize Scripture:

Scripture Memory Tips
“Why Memorize Scripture” by Don Piper
Hiding His Word in My Heart (The 1 Peter 1 Challenge)
A section a month plan
Salvation Basics plan
Topical Plan

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Even in the Opening Lines

Are there verses in the Bible you skip over when you read? For instance, I suppose every one of us have jumped past a list of “begats” to move on to the “interesting” parts. And what about the opening lines of a New Testament epistle? You know, that part that says, “Hey, it’s me Peter. I’m sitting down to write this letter to Christians in some place in the world I can’t even pronounce. Just wanted to say ‘hi’ before I get to what I want to say.”

I admit it. I’ve rushed through the opening verses of a letter before. But I’ve discovered those opening lines can hold rich treasure, just waiting for us to discover it. Consider the opening of Peter’s first letter:

 This letter is from Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ.

I am writing to God’s chosen people who are living as foreigners in the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. 2 God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and his Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ.

May God give you more and more grace and peace.

1 Peter 1:1-2, NLT

Have you ever felt unwanted, unloved, or rejected? Honestly, probably all of us have felt like this at one time or another. The Bible tells us over and over that God loves you and wants you. In fact, right here in the opening lines of Peter’s letter to the believers in all those places with funny sounding names, we read it again.

God wants you

You belong to God. God knows you. God chose you for Himself. No matter where you go, God’s grace and peace go with you. Wow! Wonderful truth in the opening lines of a letter from the apostle Peter – a man who’d spent three years walking with Jesus.

I wanted to share this passage with you today because I am working to commit it to memory. In fact, I have just recently accepted a challenge to memorize the entire first chapter of First Peter. I’ve been regularly memorizing Scripture, but this is definitely a new level for me.

You’re invited to memorize Scripture

I’ll be memorizing 1 Peter 1 with several hundreds of my closest friends and you’re invited to join in. Here’s the “Hiding His Word in My Heart” invite at Do Not Depart. DND team member Lisa Burgess also hosts a Facebook group called “Hide His Word” that offers helps, hints, and encouragement in our Scripture memory efforts. Whether you choose to memorize 1 Peter 1 or work on a single verse you can ask to join the group and enjoy its support!

For more on the benefits of Scripture memory and a few helpful tips watch for Thursday’s post right here!

Do you ever tend to skip over sections in the Bible when you’re reading or studying? If so, what parts?Share and Enjoy:[image error][image error][image error]

Jealousy Can Be a Good Thing

One spring morning while out jogging (back when I still jogged), I was attacked by a bird. The paved path I had traveled on many times passed within feet of a tree where this momma jay apparently had a nest full of new babies. I thought the first close “pass by” was a fluke. Surely this feathered creature did not mean to brush my arm with the tip of her wing. But then she circled around and dove at me again and again.

Anyone watching surely had a good laugh. As the momma bird kept up her assault, I attempted to scare her away with frantic hollering and wild waving of my arms. I even managed to perform these defensive maneuvers while continuing to stumble down the path as fast as my legs would carry me. But she made sure I was a good 50 yards away from her babies before she returned to the nest.

“Jealousy” fosters protection

The apostle Paul reminds me a bit of this momma jay. He had a fierce desire to protect the Christians in Corinth from false teaching that might lead them away from the pure Gospel of Christ. These feelings of spiritual protection fostered what he referred to as “godly jealousy.”

2For I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. I promised you as a pure bride to one husband—Christ. 3 But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent. 4You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed. 2 Cor 11:2-4, NLT

There’s sinful jealousy and godly jealousy

We usually consider jealousy as something we must get out of our lives – a sinful attitude to turn away from. In fact, as we mentioned in Monday’s post, Scripture warns us over and over to forsake jealousy (Romans 13:13, James 3:14). And while “jealousy” is defined as “envious and contentious rivalry,” the same Greek word also means “ardor in embracing, pursuing, or defending anything” (Strong’s Greek & Hebrew Dictionary).

Like the mother bird fought to protect her babies from the dangerous middle-aged jogger, Paul arduously fought to protect the Corinthians from teachers that would lead them astray from God and His truth. Paul’s jealousy was not selfish or self-serving. His only motivation was to protect God’s honor and glory by guarding His possession from those who wanted to do them harm or steal them away.

Our God is Jealous

Paul’s jealousy reflects the character of God. When God dictated the second commandment to Moses He described Himself as “jealous” (Exodus 20:4-5). And later in Exodus, when God gives Moses the commandments a second time, He not only refers to His jealousy again, He names Himself “Jealous” (Exodus 34:14). For more on

God pursues a relationship with us and will fight to defend that relationship when anything or anyone threatens to come between us. For instance, when we give something else God’s rightful first place in our lives, He will move to get our attention.

Those of us who have a saving relationship with Jesus, who have been born again by the indwelling presence of His Spirit, belong to God. We are not our own. We don’t have the right to give ourselves to another. God will jealously fight for us and for His honor. And – like Paul – as God’s people we also can jealously fight for God’s glory and honor.

What is the motivation behind “godly jealousy”? Is there a situation in your life now that could use a little godly jealousy?

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God’s name is “Jealous” – Monday Minute in the Word

If you made a list of God’s attributes what would top your list. Like me, you might start with words like “loving,” “merciful,” “gracious,” and “forgiving.” What about “jealous?” Would you write that attribute on your list?

Most of us probably wouldn’t include jealousy in our top ten attributes of God. Yet, the Bible tells us over and over that our God is a jealous God. In Exodus 34:14, the Lord warned Israel, “Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.”

The first two commandments reveal the reason for God’s jealousy:

You must not have any other god but me. You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind… You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. Ex 20:4-5, NLT

Our God demands – and has the right to – our exclusive devotion. The one true God, Creator of the heavens and the earth, will not tolerate sharing the worship that He alone deserves with anyone or anything else.

I believe we tend to skip over this particular characteristic of God because to us it sounds negative. The Bible clearly teaches that our jealousy is sinful (Gal 5:19-21, Romans 13:13, James 3:14 ). But when we desire things or long for admiration it stems from pride and selfishness. We don’t deserve the honor or recognition we crave. Only God has the right to receive all honor and glory and worship.

“God’s jealousy means that God continually seeks to protect His own honor.” Wayne Grudem, “Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine”

As God’s child I should also seek to protect His honor. Does my life glorify Him? Have I allowed anything to take His rightful place? Have I given God any reason to be jealous? I pray that instead of rousing God’s jealousy, my life will bring Him honor and glory. He certainly deserves it. (Thursday’s post will explore whether or not we can ever display godly jealousy.)

Is there anything in your life today that would cause God to be jealous? How do you feel today about the truth that God is jealous over you?Share and Enjoy:

Jesus Knew the World Would Hate Chick-fil-A

Last Wednesday I happily waited in a drive-thru line that wrapped around the building and into the neighboring parking lot. It was Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day and I wanted to show my support for the Christian-owned fast food chain. (By the way, I showed my support on Saturday too!)

The Chick-fil-A Controversy

Chick-fil-A president & COO, Dan Cathy

In recent years, more and more American corporations have sided with same-sex marriage. Companies like J.C. Penney, Kraft, Microsoft, Starbucks, and Coca-Cola have shown their support with advertising, donations, and employee policies. (See this AP article for more info.) But Chick-fil-A and its president Dan Cathy have continued to stand on biblical principles.

Chick-fil-A has been actively supporting pro-family, Christian groups with charitable donations for a long time, but just last month comments made by Cathy in a Baptist Press interview sparked a firestorm of controversy. Here is Cathy’s response to the reporter’s question about the company’s support of the traditional family.

“Well, guilty as charged,” said Cathy when asked about the company’s position. “We are very much supportive of the family — the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that. “We operate as a family business … our restaurants are typically led by families; some are single. We want to do anything we possibly can to strengthen families. We are very much committed to that,” Cathy emphasized. “We intend to stay the course,” he said. “We know that it might not be popular with everyone, but thank the Lord, we live in a country where we can share our values and operate on biblical principles.”

A multitude of media and gay rights groups strongly rebuked Cathy and Chick-fil-A twisting his remarks into “hate speech.” The mayors of Boston, Chicago, and San Francisco proudly declared the chain was not welcome in their cities. As the controversy heated up, Mike Huckabee declared August 1 to be “Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day” and the country began to take sides.

Why are people mad at Chick-fil-A?

Why such strong feelings over a chicken sandwich? It shouldn’t surprise us that our culture applauds Starbucks for officially supporting gay marriage legislation while it condemns Chick-fil-A for supporting the traditional family. Jesus told us this would happen.

On the night He was betrayed, Jesus spent those last hours preparing the disciples for what lay ahead for them. Jesus warned them that since the “world” hated Him, it would also hate and persecute those who belong to Him (John 15:18-21). So, why did – and why does – the world hate Jesus? The world hates Jesus because His righteousness reveals its sin (John 7:7).

When we live holy lives that reveal the righteousness of Christ the world will hate us for the same reason – our lives expose the sin of the world. When Christians take a stand for Christ and firmly follow biblical principles, the world will respond with persecution. Jesus knew Chick-fil-A would be persecuted by mainstream society in America because it took a stand for biblical principles.

Maybe I’ll take a little heat for this post too. That would be alright.

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God Speaks Today

How many different ways do you communicate with people? Facebook, Twitter, and Outlook are all open on my laptop right now. And my I-Phone is lying beside me on my desk. I am prepared to communicate! At just about any time you can reach me by text, phone, Tweet, FB post, or email.

One more thing. My Bible is also open to the book of Hebrews:

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.    Hebrews 1:1-4, NIV

God speaks to His people

What?! The Creator of the universe reveals Himself and His ways to lowly mankind. This fact fills me with awe and wonder. God speaks to me – and to you – through His written word and through the Word.

How often do we stop and reflect on this incredible truth? God speaks to you. God speaks to me. God speaks…

God speaks through His Son

Jesus is the “radiance of God’s glory.” The Greek word doxa, translated as “glory,” refers to the luminous manifestation of God’s person. Jesus is the visible revelation of God’s nature and ways.  Jesus physically and verbally represents God the Father. You want to know the Father? Get to know Jesus.

Sustaining, Superior Savior

The author of Hebrews wanted to make sure his readers did not minimize Christ. He packed the opening of his letter with powerful words to describe our Savior.

Let’s talk about the greatness of Jesus today! What descriptive words for Jesus do you see in these verses? What do they mean to you today?Share and Enjoy:[image error][image error][image error]

To Judge or Not to Judge

Last week’s post about holiness (“Holiness is Not a Shade of Grey”) initiated very passionate discussions on my site, Facebook, and Twitter. Most comments echoed the need for holiness in every area of a Christian’s life. Other comments raised the question of judgment, even citing Jesus’ words from Matthew 7:1. For instance, is it wrong for one believer to tell another believer she shouldn’t read “Fifty Shades of Grey?”

freedigitalphotos.net

“Do not judge.” I’ve been studying and praying about this since last week so I could address the question in a biblical way. One of my constant prayers and desires is that whatever I teach or write will be accurately aligned with the truth of God’s Word. So I’ve been in the Word and in prayer. Today’s post – the result of this study and prayer – seeks to answer the question:

When, if ever, is it okay for a Christian to correct another Christian’s behavior or call specific behavior “sin?”

Do not judge?

Here are the two primary Bible passages referenced in last week’s discussion against “judging”:

Do not judge, or you too will be judged. (words of Jesus) Matthew 7:1, NIV
There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor? James 4:12, NIV

Wait, do judge?

Sounds pretty straight-forward, right? Well, consider these words spoken by the same people in the same biblical book:

If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back.  But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. Matthew 18:15-16, NLT
My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins. James 5:19-20, NIV

The Bible never contradicts itself

Now what? Those who acknowledge the Bible as the accurate, authoritative Word of God also believe the Bible does not contradict itself. Apparent “conflict” will always stem from our incorrect understanding of a passage or issue and never in God’s truth. One of these two mistakes are often the culprit:

We fail to consider the entire counsel of Scripture.
We try to interpret one verse or passage outside of the larger context.

The Whole Counsel of Scripture

As we read through the entire Bible, we see these clear truths we can apply to the question of “judging.”

God calls His people to holiness. (Eph 5:3, 1 Peter 15-16, 1 Thess 4:4,7, 1 John 3:3)
God commands believers to encourage each other to holiness and hold each other accountable in our personal relationship with Christ. (2 Timothy 4:2, Colossians 3:16, Hebrews 10:24, James 5:16)
God commands other believers and the church to point out sin and call individuals to repentance. (Matt 18:15-17, James 5:19-20, Gal 6:1-2, 1 Cor 5:1-5)
It is to be done with love and gentleness. (Gal 6:1, Eph 4:15)
The goal is the protection, restoration, and welfare of the believer who has sinned. (Matt 18:15, 1 Cor 5:5, Gal 6:1, James 5:20)

Context of the passage

In the larger context of Matthew 7, Jesus does not condemn what we might call “judging” in every sense. To follow His command in verse 6, we will have to make a discerning judgment call. Instead, Jesus condemns a hypocritical, self-righteous attitude that points out others’ failures without first dealing with their own.
In the larger context of James 4, James himself points out the sins of the believers and calls them to repentance (James 4:1-10). In verses 11-12, James continues his call to righteous behavior. The problem James condemns is “slander,” a type of judging that is harsh and unkind.

Conclusion about “judging”

Both Jesus and James condemned a harsh, critical “judging” of people’s motives. This kind of “judging” is motivated by a self-righteous, hypocritical attitude. In the whole of Scripture, God clearly commands Christians to lovingly point out sin and exhort each other to holiness. It is not our place to determine their motives, but it is our responsibility as a member of the body of Christ to gently identify behavior that God has already judged to be “sin.” The goal is to reconcile that person with others and with God and to keep the sin from spreading to others (1 Cor 5:5-7, Heb 12:15, James 5:19-20).

So, when and how should we approach another believer about sin?

First, check to see if there is sin in your own life.
Check your attitude. Only act if your goal is the welfare of the other person.
Make sure God calls this behavior sin. Only God has the right to determine right and wrong.
Speak in love and gentleness with the goal of protection and restoration.

Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly. John 7:24, NIV

Let’s Talk. How do you think our “tolerant” culture has affected the way the church approaches this difficult topic?

Other posts you may find helpful:

Steve Fuller “What did Jesus mean when He said ‘Do not judge?’”
Jeff Lacine “The Local Church: A Safe Place to be Judged”
Bible study author and teacher Laurie Cole Front Porch Friday video, “Judge Not?”

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