"But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. You may be sure that man is warped and sinful: he is self-condemned." (Titus 3:9-11)
How often have you repeated the same argument with someone? Children do it a lot and I know roommates do it too. Whose time is it to clean or who never cleans? How about that co-worker or friend who doesn't seem to realize that what they are doing is wrong? It is easy to try and change a person instead of leaving them to fix their own sins but think about how different the world would be if Christians did this. Mass protests outside of abortion clinics and gay rights events would probably not exist. In fact, most public protests would not exist. Matthew 18:15-17 says that you should first talk to the individual, then bring a few witnesses to point out a fellow believer's sin, only then can you bring it before the church to have the sinner kicked out of the church.
I realize that most of you are thinking that I'm saying we shouldn't stand up for what the Bible says. I'm well aware that we should stand up for what is correct, I'm just not sure what the proper procedure is in the modern world, or even the procedure for earlier times. This was going to be a post about how God says we should judge people without being condemned ourselves but I'm still searching for a good verse to explain how we can judge a believer to correct and rebuke them when not judging them as God judges us all. That seems contradictory to me but I know there must be a verse to explain how we can judge in love and yet not judge others. Do you know any verses or sets of verses that can explain what the Bible says on judging? I've read a few blog posts that try to explain it but the actual Bible verses are sparse compared to their personal explanations. (OpenBible has a long list of verses on judging Christians but nothing quite as simple as I want.)
I've gotten off track. What I'm saying is that I am still searching the Bible to find out how to judge fellow believers without condemning myself. (I have found a few vague references to doing it with love or gentleness but that is vague to my literal mind.) However, I find this Titus verse interesting, combined with the Matthew verses I paraphrased, in dealing with stubborn people. (And I know I am a very stubborn person right now so thank you for your patience, those of you who are trying to help me.) I also found a verse in 1 Corinthians ( 1 Corinthians 5:12 and 13 to be exact) that says Christians are only to judge those inside the Church and leave those outside the Church to God for judgement. I realize that I am probably over-simplifying this, but if you take those three sets of verses together, what right do Christians have to hold public protests? I realize this goes into the realm of politics (which I try to avoid) more so than religion but I found it an interesting thought about applying the actual words to modern society.
Feel free to correct me on any of my thoughts here or if I misunderstood a verse somewhere along the line. I would love to debate anything I put on this blog, just please have Bible or doctrine support ready. I realize that I don't understand everything and welcome a debate.
I'm sorry I don't have a song for this post since I can't think of any related to correcting fellow believers. Do you know any?
How often have you repeated the same argument with someone? Children do it a lot and I know roommates do it too. Whose time is it to clean or who never cleans? How about that co-worker or friend who doesn't seem to realize that what they are doing is wrong? It is easy to try and change a person instead of leaving them to fix their own sins but think about how different the world would be if Christians did this. Mass protests outside of abortion clinics and gay rights events would probably not exist. In fact, most public protests would not exist. Matthew 18:15-17 says that you should first talk to the individual, then bring a few witnesses to point out a fellow believer's sin, only then can you bring it before the church to have the sinner kicked out of the church.
I realize that most of you are thinking that I'm saying we shouldn't stand up for what the Bible says. I'm well aware that we should stand up for what is correct, I'm just not sure what the proper procedure is in the modern world, or even the procedure for earlier times. This was going to be a post about how God says we should judge people without being condemned ourselves but I'm still searching for a good verse to explain how we can judge a believer to correct and rebuke them when not judging them as God judges us all. That seems contradictory to me but I know there must be a verse to explain how we can judge in love and yet not judge others. Do you know any verses or sets of verses that can explain what the Bible says on judging? I've read a few blog posts that try to explain it but the actual Bible verses are sparse compared to their personal explanations. (OpenBible has a long list of verses on judging Christians but nothing quite as simple as I want.)
I've gotten off track. What I'm saying is that I am still searching the Bible to find out how to judge fellow believers without condemning myself. (I have found a few vague references to doing it with love or gentleness but that is vague to my literal mind.) However, I find this Titus verse interesting, combined with the Matthew verses I paraphrased, in dealing with stubborn people. (And I know I am a very stubborn person right now so thank you for your patience, those of you who are trying to help me.) I also found a verse in 1 Corinthians ( 1 Corinthians 5:12 and 13 to be exact) that says Christians are only to judge those inside the Church and leave those outside the Church to God for judgement. I realize that I am probably over-simplifying this, but if you take those three sets of verses together, what right do Christians have to hold public protests? I realize this goes into the realm of politics (which I try to avoid) more so than religion but I found it an interesting thought about applying the actual words to modern society.
Feel free to correct me on any of my thoughts here or if I misunderstood a verse somewhere along the line. I would love to debate anything I put on this blog, just please have Bible or doctrine support ready. I realize that I don't understand everything and welcome a debate.
I'm sorry I don't have a song for this post since I can't think of any related to correcting fellow believers. Do you know any?
http://www.wels.net/news-events/forward-in-christ/october-1999/witnessing-christ-non-christians?page=0,2
ReplyDeletewww.wels.net/what-we-believe/questions-answers/law-and-gospel
A person doesn't have to be WELS Lutheran to look through the first website- about witnessing (or judging- some people believe that is the same thing?) to non-Christians. There are quite a few Bible verses in there, and I loved the explanation.
ReplyDeleteThere is a difference between judging (sometimes confused with witnessing) non-Christians, and loving accountability done between Christians. I believe these can often get confused. It's not wrong to make views vocal, but I believe a message of hate and judgment may often be the one that most non-Christians have come to believe Christianity is. It's important to get the message of love, and the hope and peace that can come through Christ, to others.
To approach someone in love, one example may be inviting the person out to lunch- a person you have a relationship with and care about. Talk about what's going on in their lives, what struggles they have- they may bring it up themselves. Ask them questions, and ask how their walk with Christ is. Consider talking about the peace following Christ can give.. and what may be hindering them from that. If you have experience in what they are struggling with, don't tell them the answer, but allow them a way of sorting through the good and bad in the immediate, short and long term. If they don't want to talk about it, and it is significantly affecthing them, perhaps have someone with more direct experience in what they're struggling with talk to them. just thoughts
and Jesus loves me, is an excellent song :)