Don’t judge someone because... something.

[Aquila]

I decided long ago that I'd rather stand before God in the judgment and be found out to have been too merciful, too loving, too kind, too patient, too gracious... than be found not to have been merciful, loving, kind, patient, or gracious enough.

This tends to put me into a more liberal, or more lenient, camp in the eyes of most people.

I have come to believe that after all is said and done it all boils down to this... loving God and loving others. The two are intrinsically connected. No form of religion or religious practice truly demonstrates one's love for God. All over the world, there are very "religious" people living far more ascetic lives than most born again Christians. But none of that severe religious discipline or practice means that they even know God, let alone love Him. The only way we can truly demonstrate our love for God is... through our love for others. I believe that God loves people and cares more for people than religious conventions, practices, traditions, sacraments, etc. For it is for people that Christ shed His blood... not our religious forms and fashions. To simply love your fellow man as yourself, regardless of race, gender, age, religion, politics, or sexuality, fulfills the spirit and intent of the entire Law in one fell swoop.

And so, in the judgment, the books will be opened, and every thought, word, deed, and intent will be judged in accordance to one question... Was it loving? And it is by this that our righteousness or sinfulness is determined. Many people love cars. Many love country clubs, societies, fraternities, churches, denominations, etc. Many people love sports. Many love their religious traditions. Many love entertainments. Many even love something as beautiful as true doctrine. But all these things have something in common. They are the loving of a thing, a concept, an activity, or perspective... they are not the love of people. In fact, all too often we see love for denomination prove greater than our love for people. Or our love for a politic can prove greater than our love for people. Or our love for pleasures, entertainments, and power can prove greater than our love for people.

Living a Spirit led life of love for God and others is the key to true inner holiness.

[Apostolic1ness]

Originally Posted by Aquila

I decided long ago that I'd rather stand before God in the judgment and be found out to have been too merciful, too loving, too kind, too patient, too gracious... than be found not to have been merciful, loving, kind, patient, or gracious enough.

This tends to put me into a more liberal, or more lenient, camp in the eyes of most people.

I have come to believe that after all is said and done it all boils down to this... loving God and loving others. The two are intrinsically connected. No form of religion or religious practice truly demonstrates one's love for God. All over the world, there are very "religious" people living far more ascetic lives than most born again Christians. But none of that severe religious discipline or practice means that they even know God, let alone love Him. The only way we can truly demonstrate our love for God is... through our love for others. I believe that God loves people and cares more for people than religious conventions, practices, traditions, sacraments, etc. For it is for people that Christ shed His blood... not our religious forms and fashions. To simply love your fellow man as yourself, regardless of race, gender, age, religion, politics, or sexuality, fulfills the spirit and intent of the entire Law in one fell swoop.

And so, in the judgment, the books will be opened, and every thought, word, deed, and intent will be judged in accordance to one question... Was it loving? And it is by this that our righteousness or sinfulness is determined. Many people love cars. Many love country clubs, societies, fraternities, churches, denominations, etc. Many people love sports. Many love their religious traditions. Many love entertainments. Many even love something as beautiful as true doctrine. But all these things have something in common. They are the loving of a thing, a concept, an activity, or perspective... they are not the love of people. In fact, all too often we see love for denomination prove greater than our love for people. Or our love for a politic can prove greater than our love for people. Or our love for pleasures, entertainments, and power can prove greater than our love for people.

Living a Spirit led life of love for God and others is the key to true inner holiness.

but whatever you do dont compromise the doctrine for love's sake.

[Bro Flame]

Love isn't judgment. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't correct people or offer advice that could save them somewhere, somehow down the line in the opportunity presents itself.

Judging someone, as people anyway, generally comes with a spiteful, prideful, and holier than thou spirit. Correcting someone in love is the exact opposite ─ you watch your words and your spirit.

It's very possible that if someone's feelings are hurt over the silliest of mess that they could be turned off to Jesus altogether.

[Amanah]

It is not anyone's business to correct a fellow believer. That is the job of the elders. Only the elders under the guidance of the holy Ghost, through the preaching of the word should be able to correct the saints.

[Amanah]

Dealing With Sin in the Church:

Matthew 18:15 If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.
16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.
17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
18 Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
19 Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.
20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.

[Apostolic1ness]

Originally Posted by Amanah

Dealing With Sin in the Church:

Matthew 18:15 If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.
16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.
17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
18 Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
19 Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.
20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.

this scripture setting is it for the apostles only or the saints also?

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Apostolic1ness

but whatever you do dont compromise the doctrine for love's sake.

It wouldn't be loving to compromise "doctrine", meaning, true biblical doctrine. For it is unto the saving of the soul. Now, let's say an unbiblical doctrine such as the veneration of saints is practiced. That is a tradition of man that is now being taught as doctrine. It would be unloving not to help the believer shed their attachment to such a teaching, because it isn't in Scripture.

So, when we say "doctrine", we must understand that term to mean authentic, true, biblical, Scripture based, teaching. Not the traditions of men, denominations, organizations, cultural heritage, etc. All those are human traditions. Some of those practices might even have some value, but... they are not "doctrine", nor should they be considered "doctrine".

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by Aquila

I decided long ago that I'd rather stand before God in the judgment and be found out to have been too merciful, too loving, too kind, too patient, too gracious... than be found not to have been merciful, loving, kind, patient, or gracious enough.

This tends to put me into a more liberal, or more lenient, camp in the eyes of most people.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Holy Roller

Love isn't judgment. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't correct people or offer advice that could save them somewhere, somehow down the line in the opportunity presents itself.

Judging someone, as people anyway, generally comes with a spiteful, prideful, and holier than thou spirit. Correcting someone in love is the exact opposite ─ you watch your words and your spirit.

It's very possible that if someone's feelings are hurt over the silliest of mess that they could be turned off to Jesus altogether.

Amen. That's why the Scripture states, "he that winneth souls is wise".

Proverbs 11:30
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

Soul winners are wise in their approach. They won't say, "You dirty dog. You're just a filthy sinner. You won't be here in 10 years. Turn or burn, baby." No, the true soul winner is willing to meet down on the persons level in the midst of their humanity and... work with them, to improve their spiritual condition. And it might be a process that takes some time in some cases.

I think we've placed such a premium value on "hardness" to the point that it is our default disposition in our dealing with others. We've laughed with, or were impressed by, "tough guy" preachers on so many occasions, we're emulating them in daily life... when they were just presenting a sermon, keeping our attention, and laying out a teaching in a given context.

For example, those familiar with wrestling knows how the entertaining interviews go with wrestlers talkin trash and smack about each other. It can be funny and even enjoyable. Now, imagine that after enjoying those interviews, we walk around talking to coworkers, friends, family, and church brethren like that. Who wouldn't think we were being jerks? lol

There is a time and place for hardness. But it isn't 24/7. Nor is it for sincere brethren who are mistaken or struggling. It is for those who are enemies of the Gospel. Sadly, in this, we're shooting our wounded daily.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Esaias

Gotta love Christopher Walken. lol