Often times, Christians get defensive when you point out sin in their life saying "Don't judge me" and quoting Matthew 7:5, but who am I to judge? According to Paul in 1 Corinthians 5:11-13, We, Christ followers, are to judge... as long as we are first examining and eliminating sin from our own lives. "But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. 'Expel the wicked man from among you.'"
Paul is pretty blunt in his statement. Believers are not to judge those outside the church, that is to be left to God, but "anyone who calls himself a brother" should be held accountable by his/her fellow believers. We are to "Expel the wicked man from among you" by either removing the wickedness in the man or removing the man.
The church has become so stagnant because of trying to be politically correct and not judging people that it makes me sick. We allow sin among believers so much to the point that it comes across as approving of that lifestyle. It absolutely makes me sick. I believe in loving all and being open to all as a church, but when somebody calls themself a brother or sister in Christ, life-change should happen and we should be the first to encourage it. Paul says so himself.
I was at a Christian camp this past summer and was in a small group with a couple of self-proclaimed believers that were gay/lesbian. One day in our small group, they asked the question if homosexuals could get into heaven. (I believe that homsexuality is a sin and cannot keep you out of heaven just like any other sin cannot keep you out of heaven.) But the other students responded to the degree that they felt there was nothing wrong with homosexuality. And the students that did have a problem with it didn't say anything. Now these students are, more than anything, mirroring the attitudes and responses that they have seen in adults toward similar issues.
My problem is that how can the church expect its congregation to leave sinful lifestyles if we do not act against them. If we only act like there is nothing wrong with these sinful lifestyles, almost to the point that it comes across as approval, then are we ourselves guilty of sin? I challenge each and everyone one of you to first examine your own life and remove the log from your own eye, but then to push your brothers and sisters in Christ to overcome their own sin.
2 comments:
If there is no sin in heaven, and the Bible tells us to "Repent of our sin and TURN away from it"...does that not mean, that when we are convicted of a sin or that the Bible tells us something is a sin....that we are to ask for forgiveness, then STOP doing what that sin is? We are to walk in the light that is shed(some have more light(knowledge) than others. We are to love the sinner, but hate the sin. Show compassion, but without compromising the known law of God. I attended a church where the leadership had dealt and dealt with a man(who was also in a leadership position) to stop an adulterous affair. He knew it was wrong, but, would not stop. It broke up his family-was causing strife in the church. The leadership had reached the point where they were going to ask the man to leave the church. Not that they had lost their love or compassion for this man. But, like Paul said....they were to the point of removing the wickedness. I agreed with the decision. Christians cannot keep on "going along with worldly views" trying not to step on toes! It makes me sick too. And I'm positive it saddens God and we will have to answer for our complacity.
Thanks for your thoughts here. I needed this today. We had to ask our pastor to resign last month and have had a lot of negative feedback. This is just another affirmation of what we believe, there are times when the church leaders have to take charge and do the right thing. Keep up the good work.
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