Wrong Discriminations and Condemnations
I have challenged (at least via intercessory prayer in relation to such in a sermon) any judgmental statements made by others.
Usually members of the other Protestant churches make a wrong assumption
that such churches are just doing religion
and not relating as Biblical Christianity indicates.
I believe that many Christians will be surprised by who is in Heaven or the New Earth and who isn't.
***What I have heard in my past church going:
Every true Christian will receive the gift of speaking in tongues.
True Christians will know when they were spiritually born again, at least the month and the year.
All true Christians will only use the KJV Bible.
True Christians will not quote Bible commandments to others.
All God-pleasing churches will have all of the sign gifts happening during the worship services.
True Christians will be healed having the right faith and demanding God using His promises.
True Christians should love the modern Christian music and other worship forms like dancing.
No true Christian should wear jewelry or/and make-up.
True Christians must do street preaching or ministries for the homeless.
True Christians will only worship in church on Saturdays.
True Christians will only worship in church on Sundays.
True Christians will tithe.
True Christians will always dress modestly in public.
True Christians will dress-up in good looking clothes, suits for men and long dresses for women.
Divorce disqualifies Christians from church leadership positions.
True Christians will never divorce.
A parent is to blame if his or her children go spiritually astray.
True Christians will do volunteer missionary projects.
True Christians will not argue or fight or raise their voices.
True Christians will read the whole Bible once a year.
True Christians will memorize a lot of Scripture.
True Christians will every day read from a daily devotional book in the morning before eating breakfast and the evening before going to bed.
True Christians will have nothing to do with other denominational churches or other religions.
True Christians will never go to movie theaters or even professional sporting events.
Should true Christians be tolerant of the following?
Note: The ones I have italicized are very common in most churches that I have been in.
1. Matthew 5:17-30--
self-righteousness, selfish motives, spiritual hypocrisy, anger, ridicule, and character assassination
2. Matthew 11:23 & Romans 1:17-32--
homosexuality, hindering of truth, unthankfulness to God, futile living, vain imaginings, foolish reasoning, stupid speculating, boasting, hero and animal worshipping, lusts for sexual impurity, body dishonoring, unrighteousness, iniquity, covetousness, greed, malice, envy, jealousy, murder, strife, deceit, treachery, ill will, cruel ways, secret backbiters and gossipers, slanderers, hate, insolence, arrogance, boasting, inventors of new forms of evil, disobedience to parents, unfaithfulness, and those who condone the above behaviors.
3. Galatians 5:15-21--
partisan strife, selfish cravings, immorality, impurity, indecency, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, divisions (dissension), party spirit (factions, sects with peculiar opinions, heresies), envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like.
4. 2 Timothy 3:1-5--
stress, troubles, self-love (self-centerness), loving of money, desiring for wealth, pride, arrogance, contemptuous boasting, abuse, blasphemy, scoffing, disobedience of parents, ungratefulness, unholiness, profanity, unnatural (callous) affection, promise breaking, slander (false accusing and trouble making), intemperance, uncontrolled brashness, hating of those who do good, betraying, self-conceit, loving of sensual pleasure and vain amusements more than and rather than loving God, doing piety religion, denying the power of God for righteousness.
What God hates in our churches:
R -- ritual
E -- earnestness for superficiality
L -- legalistic
I -- ignorant of a lot of what is God-pleasing
G -- going on with tradition
I -- “I” problem especially in pride and selfishness
O -- obnoxious
N -- nasty, hypocritical, and condemnatory like the Pharisees of old
Also in many churches there is lack of Christ-like compassion.
Examples: There is frequent interrupting when two are talking to each other. ‘
Individuals without cars are looked down on and not helped.
There are cliques and new comers are not welcome.
And there is a lot of condemnatory talk against other Christian denominations and individuals.
Modern day Phariseeism or wrong expectations-- selfish legalism-- has increased.
The Apostle Paul wrote a lot of verses that indicated Holy Spirit urged discerning/warning judging.
And check what 1 Corinthians 6:1-11 says.
1 Does any of you dare,
when he(or she) has a matter of complaint against another (brother or sister),
to go to law before unrighteous men (and women)
[men (and women) neither upright nor right with God,
laying it before them]
instead of before the saints (the people of God)?
2 Do you not know that the saints (the believers) will [one day] judge {and} govern the world?
And if the world [itself] is to be judged {and} ruled by you,
are you unworthy {and} incompetent to try [such petty matters]
of the smallest courts of justice?
3 Do you not know also that we [Christians] are to judge the [very] angels
{and} pronounce opinion between right and wrong [for them]?
How much more then [as to] matters
pertaining to this world {and} of this life only!
4 If then you do have such cases of everyday life to decide,
why do you appoint [as judges to lay them before] those who
[from the standpoint] of the church count for least are without standing?
5 I say this to move you to shame.
Can it be that there really is not one man among you
who [in action is governed by piety and integrity and] is wise
{and} competent enough to decide
[the private grievances, disputes, and quarrels]
领英推荐
between members of the brotherhood,
6 But brother (or sister) goes to law against brother (or sister),
and that before [Gentile judges who are] unbelievers
[without faith or trust in the Gospel of Christ]?
7 Why, the very fact of your having lawsuits with one another at all
is a defect (a defeat, an evidence of positive moral loss for you).
Why not rather let yourselves suffer wrong
{and} be deprived of what is your due?
Why not rather be cheated (defrauded and robbed)?
8 But [instead it is you] yourselves who wrong and defraud,
and that even your own brothers (and sisters) [by so treating them]!
9 Do you not know that the unrighteous {and} the wrongdoers
will not inherit {or} have any share in the Kingdom of God?
Do not be deceived (misled):
neither the impure {and} immoral, nor idolaters,
nor adulterers, nor those who participate in homosexuality,
10 nor cheats (swindlers and thieves), nor greedy graspers,
nor drunkards, nor foul-mouthed revilers {and} slanderers,
nor extortioners {and} robbers
will inherit {or} have any share in the Kingdom of God.
11 And such some of you were [once].
But you were
washed clean
(purified by a complete atonement for sin
and made free from the guilt of sin),
and you were consecrated (set apart, hallowed),
and you were justified [pronounced righteous, by trusting]
in the Name of The Lord Jesus Christ
and in The [Holy] Spirit of our God.
I look for the good in others and in churches,
but The Holy Spirit helps me to realize wrongs and sins for me to at least do intercessory prayer about.
But sometimes I have to exhort or even rebuke.
Some have responded with a rebuke against me accusing me of condemn judging.
I have never done the just mentioned.
Matthew 7:1 “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” has been misused so much by individuals
who don't want to repent towards Christ-likeness righteousness
and some of the famous Christian leaders have threatened those who oppose their teaching and life styles.
Constructive criticism is not a judging sin.
If one looks at the context of Matthew 7:1, he or she will discover
that it does not apply to what is said above about judging and to the following statements.
True Christians will not condemn judge,
but they will discern right and wrong judge so they can do proper intercessory prayer
or/and to do Holy Spirit urged exhortation or rebuke
as Jesus Christ, the Apostle Paul, and many Christian leaders have done in the past.
For the much needed church discipline to take place the discerning judging needs to be done.
Also the Bible is full of warnings about unrighteous actions and teaching being done
and such require discerning judging.
There is too much tolerance of wrongs in the Christian churches and in society.
But extreme carefulness must be done in the indicated exhorting and warning ministries.
A pastor cannot even do such without making judgments about what Scripture to teach and how to teach it.
So what can true Christians tolerate about what is happening in
churches, home groups, marriages, politics, entertainment (TV, movies, sports, jokes, funny stories, etc.),
and other places one goes to?
How could living Proverbs 3:5-8, Romans 12:1-4, and Philippians 4:4-9 help you make a good list of criteria
to help know what is tolerable?
Proverbs 3:5-8
5 Trust in Jehovah with all your heart,
and lean not to your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
and He shall direct your paths.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear Jehovah and depart from evil.
8 Healing shall be to your navel and marrow to your bones.
For returning back to basic true Christianity,
Bible lover Bill
Romans 8:28, Proverbs 3:5-6, Philippians 4:4-8, and Jude 20-25
Wonderful Collection for Divine Wisdom and Love-- https://app.box.com/s/5juhky1c3zenx549ht6pk1b27esa2of1
https://www.facebook.com/BibleloverBill daily ministry for God (2-3 times daily)
Interesting Spiritual Acronyms (Version 7)-- https://app.box.com/s/9zdglf1ydiwsnfbs8nxpajz5wp6nso7a
For Understanding ETRSFing-- https://livingforjude20to25.wixsite.com/for-bible-study/etrsf
Very Important Teachings in John 13-17-- ETRS (7 pgs.)-- https://app.box.com/s/gh5b0h11v5wuej8k4ta85yaj2f80lmat
Proof of Jesus Christ being the Word-- https://app.box.com/s/zg366bol3yh9t9a35w2a2a8p2a6p5w2k
Living Bible Poems-- https://app.box.com/s/ap38pcffaagx27kdp4rg8kjz7b54p5xn
**** my Box account folders' URLs for e-mailing (5)-- https://app.box.com/s/m9yxwh7zst36k6qrdklibrlw16mxzm0y
For Educators-Teachers-- ETRSF (29 pgs.)-- https://app.box.com/s/eq56u52stc7wmva7swes9gsyswiap185
Time usage exhortations and advice-- ETRSF-- https://app.box.com/s/y475dheh5wtoh9breg55c58g90h1eulu
About Testing, Examining, and Questioning-- ETRSF (13 pgs.)-- https://app.box.com/s/a0asiwu9h4ycnyhr2j5mrhqmtmugette
About Rulers and Ruling-- ETRSF (11 pages)-- https://app.box.com/s/6qh208lcdta0f2p7887jsxg35pmz2951
'Justice' Bible Study Tool-- ETRSF (22 pgs,)-- https://app.box.com/s/kcyin2yqa7hxlm8416delao6vzpnv0hi