What About Them?

What About Them?

James 4: ¹¹ Do not criticize one another, my friends. If you criticize or judge another Christian, you criticize and judge the Law. If you judge the Law, then you are no longer one who obeys the Law, but one who judges it. ¹² God is the only lawgiver and judge. He alone can save and destroy. Who do you think you are, to judge someone else?

 

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Speeding along in a friend’s car, it felt great to be behind the wheel of something that could really go fast! We were racing each other on the road when suddenly we cam upon several cops who were waiting for us. We were all pulled over. When one of the cops came to my car, I said in my defense, “What about them?” referring to the other speeders who were not pulled over. The reply, “But I caught you.”

 

• I was trying to use comparison as my defense.
• I thought I could use “judging someone else” to defend my breaking the law.
• I also thought I could do what I wanted to do.

 

James addressed judging other Christians. He specifically spoke to this group, probably due to them gathering together in small groups after being scattered by those who persecuted them. They may have begun to judge one another.

 

My Observations:

• GOD wants me to look at myself instead of pointing out what other people are doing.
• GOD wants me to realize I have flaws that I need repaired by HIM.
• GOD wants me to let go of trying to change people who are not willing to change themselves.

 

Being critical of other people can be a defense mechanism for my own shortcomings. I mean, when I look at someone else and talk about him or her negatively, I am taking the lens off of me. BUT GOD sees my shortcomings clearly and wants me to see them too.

 

HE wants me to back off of looking at someone else and to ask HIM for forgiveness for my clear and blatant sins. HE is willing to forgive me and wants me to grow up to do the same. I am glad HE is the ultimate forgiver.

 

Challenge

• Why is the writer’s warning important?
• Have you ever been critical of someone and been guilty yourself?
• Will you take some time away from being critical and spend it asking GOD to continue to grow you in areas HE would like to grow you today?

Rating Sermons

Rating Sermons

1 Thessalonians 5: ¹⁹ Do not restrain the Holy Spirit; ²⁰ do not despise inspired messages. ²¹ Put all things to the test: keep what is good ²² and avoid every kind of evil.

 

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It had been years since I set foot into a church. Something pulled me back. I don’t know if it was loneliness or regret for where I was in life, I just knew I had to go to church. I went to one and did not like the message or the way it was delivered. I tried others and ran into similar thoughts. “What good is church!?” I said in frustration.

 

• I felt all preachers were scammers trying to protect their salaries.
• I listened intently to messages to see if it was “wrong.”
• I noticed more flaws in the delivery person than the message.

 

Paul. Silas and Timothy provided a few urgent warnings to help the people grow. “Put all things to test” was said to probably provide the people with a filter versus a way to combat. They knew some people would say “things” that were inspired by GOD, yet their delivery may be too coarse or too soft or somewhere in between. Despite imperfect people, the message could be sound.

 

My Observations

• GOD provides the HOLY SPIRIT to live inside me and others who believe in JESUS so I can hear HIM trying to reach me with HIS love.
• GOD inspires men and women to speak about HIM and wants me to embrace HIS loving message, while avoiding evil from men, or women or myself.
• GOD wants me to hear from others and plant what is good in my heart.

 

Hearing the message that “GOD loves” is difficult to hear from imperfect humans. I mean, when I look at what he or she did or is doing, it is hard to hear the love GOD is intently trying to convey. Somehow, HE uses imperfect people to speak about HIS perfection.

 

HE desires that my heart become a malleable place that can be stretched to house the HOLY SPIRIT. When my heart is ready to be filled with HIS love, I can hear messages that are truly inspired by GOD. I can also discern and avoid all kinds of evil. I appreciate and welcome others to speak about GOD the way HE inspired him or her to do.

 

Challenge

• What is the warning of the writers?
• Have you ever heard a sermon or read a message from someone who seems inconsistent with GOD or from a hypocrite?
• Will you overlook the sin of hypocrisy and listen to the HOLY SPIRIT so your heart can be softened to hear HIS message of love today?

Criticism Reduction

Criticism Reduction

2 Corinthians 2: So I made up my mind not to come to you again to make you sad. ² For if I were to make you sad, who would be left to cheer me up? Only the very persons I had made sad. ³ That is why I wrote that letter to you—I did not want to come to you and be made sad by the very people who should make me glad. For I am convinced that when I am happy, then all of you are happy too. ⁴ I wrote you with a greatly troubled and distressed heart and with many tears; my purpose was not to make you sad, but to make you realize how much I love you all.

 

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“Who did this?” I asked my family in my usual investigative tone. I wanted a confession, thinking this will “grow the culprit up.” Little did I know, I was creating an atmosphere of secrets.

 

• I was being too critical.
• I had not created an atmosphere where improvement is different for each person.
• I was caught up in the fast pace of the world and lost patience.

 

Paul chose to back off from being critical. He knew that something was not quite right with how the people of Corinth were following JESUS. But he had been corrected by GOD himself and did not want others to suffer as he did. Instead, he expressed his love for them.

 

My Observations

• GOD wants me to see HIS grace for my sins.
• GOD wants me to turn my hurt into grace for others.
• GOD wants me to seek grace as a gift that is freely given.

 

Being critical hurts. I mean, when I see something “wrong” I may want it “fixed.” But should “I” be the one fixing it? Not all the time. There are times when it is best for me to back off the situation and ask GOD to intervene.

 

The goal is to keep peace and harmony. This does not mean I should never speak up, but the ratio of speaking up versus letting it go needs to lean towards “letting it go.” If there is a common understanding, then certain words can be misused without me putting a boxing glove in another person’s face. We need each other. I am glad GOD is not critical of my sins.

 

Challenge

• What is the ultimate purpose of the writer?
• Do you see GOD’s grace in the writer’s words?
• How can you reduce your criticism of others in your daily walk?
• What benefits will you receive by creating an atmosphere where people can cheer you along with CHRIST as their motive?

Someone Else

Someone Else

Acts 5: ³³ When they heard this, they were furious and plotted to kill them. ³⁴ Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in respect by all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while. ³⁵ And he said to them: “Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men. ³⁶ For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing. ³⁷ After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed. ³⁸ And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; ³⁹ but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.”

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After attending the church service, I was highly disappointed. I mean the preacher focused on money as expected and cared less about people, so I went to another church. After that service, I was disappointed. I mean the songs were boring and it seemed so dead, so I went to another church. This time, the pastor preached a great message, but the same woman shouted every week and the service was kind of long.

• Many times I judged based on unknown criteria.
• Many times I expected groups of people to behave in a certain way.
• Many times I have been disappointed with the actions of others because I thought they should be acting better than “I” was acting.

A church leader warns the others not to kill the apostles. He gave sage advice to let them go, warning everyone that if the apostles were following GOD, then they would be picking a fight against GOD that cannot be won.

• GOD wants me to look at how I am serving HIM.
• GOD wants me to look only at HIM and not others.
• GOD wants me to surrender my life to HIM so I can see HIM in more places.

Looking at “someone else” causes problems. When I look at what someone else is doing, I do not have all of the information. I do not have their journey, heartaches, pain and perseverance to get them to where they are. I also do not have the message GOD gave that person in their quiet moments.

I do have my own. I can have a great relationship with the Living GOD, knowing that I have been through a lot that others may never see. The pain, temptations, failures and disappointments I face are healed by GOD daily. I am glad I do not need to look at someone else because I can look to JESUS who sees something good inside of me.

• Are you looking at someone and are disappointed with their walk with GOD?
• Do you feel your walk with GOD is better than someone else?
• Will you stop judging and help people grow by sharing your struggles today so they can have their own relationship with GOD?

Stop That

Luke 20: One day as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts and proclaiming the good news, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to him. ² ‘Tell us by what authority you are doing these things,’ they said. ‘Who gave you this authority?’

³ He replied, ‘I will also ask you a question. Tell me: ⁴ John’s baptism – was it from heaven, or of human origin?’

⁵ They discussed it among themselves and said, ‘If we say, “From heaven,” he will ask, “Why didn’t you believe him?” ⁶ But if we say, “Of human origin,” all the people will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet.’

⁷ So they answered, ‘We don’t know where it was from.’

⁸ Jesus said, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.’

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“There she goes again” I said to myself with my eyes rolling sarcastically. It seemed like every week the same person would get up and dance in church as the musician egged her on. Then I noticed a few more people would join in.  I wanted to go up to her and say “Stop that”, but I decided to leave that church. I mean, they were phonies, right?

• In the past I questioned other folk’s motives.
• In the past I labeled church goers as hypocrites.
• In the past I looked hard at what people in the church were doing and I critiqued their behavior based upon “my” expectations.

The church leaders questioned why JESUS was telling people “good news.” They were supposed to be “in charge” so they questioned HIS authority to speak about the ways of salvation.

JESUS quickly saw through their controlling hearts and asked them a question they could not answer about the authority of John the Baptist. HE knew the church leaders sided with politicians who murdered John. The church leaders could not answer HIS question.

• GOD says to me “Do not stifle MY sheep.”
• GOD says to me “Help MY sheep grow.”
• GOD says to me “Feed MY lambs.”

Instead of criticizing how people worship, GOD wants me to help them reach others for HIS purposes. I may not do things exactly the way that person does things, but does that make them “wrong?” Maybe not, especially if they are trying to follow GOD’s word.

GOD wants me to bear fruit and I cannot when I am focused on what someone else is doing. I must be responsible for bringing people to HIM and praise HIM for making every human different. I praise GOD for giving my life purpose.

• Are you criticizing what someone else is doing?
• Do you think they are not doing GOD correctly and you are?
• Will you stop trying to control people to do things your way and allow them to be led by GOD?

Control

Luke 9: ⁴⁹ Now John answered and said, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow with us.”

⁵⁰ But Jesus said to him, “Do not forbid him, for he who is not against us is on our side.”

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Having numerous things to do, I felt a bit stressed. Expecting perfection, I went over to a person who was doing me a “favor” and asked them to stop. I didn’t want to tell them they were doing it all wrong so I politely suggested they do something else. “I wonder if they are going to do that wrong too” I thought to myself.

• There have been times when I wanted control over people.
• There have been times when I desired others to follow “my” way.
• There have been times when I was proud of the way things turned out for “me” so I wanted others to do it “my” way.

John, brother of James, came to JESUS with some incredible news. “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in YOUR name, and we forbade him because he does not follow with us.” He was one of the disciples who fought over who was the “greatest” disciple. Though miracles were happening, he had a complaint.

• GOD says to me “I made many people for MY purpose.”
• GOD says to me “I have given each person who belongs to ME a special talent.”
• GOD says to me “I will bless those who serve in MY SON’s name.”

My perfection had extended into being a church critic. “They are doing it all wrong” or “Look at those ignorant people” were my misguided thoughts as I left one church after another. Instead of recognizing the beauty that they were following GOD, I saw flaws in their “performance.”

GOD wants me to applaud when people mention HIS name and let HIM decide whether they are sincere or not. I cannot judge the way someone worships GOD, but I can serve HIM the way HE made me. HE wants me to drop the critique and embrace as many as I can so HE will be praised by the multitudes.

• Are you criticizing people about how they serve GOD?
• Do you think people are insincere in their methods?
• Can you stop looking at other people and praise GOD for HIS amazing diverse creation?

Inside Out

Luke 7: ³⁶ Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. ³⁷ And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, ³⁸ and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. ³⁹ Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.”

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Garnished with a smile, I stepped into church. With worries as high as a mountain, I dare not smile and say “everything is fine” in front of the group. No one asked how I was doing, no one checked in the next week.

• There were times when the hurt outweighed the wealth.
• There were times when something inside just had to come out.
• There were times when I wanted to cry out, but had not place to do it.

The woman had a reputation of doing sinful things. She may have even been wealthy as she held an expensive alabaster flask of fragrant oil to anoint JESUS’s head. She was so hurt that she used her tears and hair to wash HIS feet. The Pharisee on the other hand criticized her lifestyle.

• GOD wants me to throw away my criticism.
• GOD wants me to stop looking at what other people are doing and tell HIM about my sin.
• GOD wants me to seek HIM when I am hurting.

The phonier the church, the more masks are worn by the attendees. Pharisees criticize people for their imperfections, BUT GOD sees through this. HE wants the sinner to be able to confess their sin without being damaged more. HE also does a wonderful thing by allowing me to come to HIM with any problem.

• Are you hurting?
• Is life up one day and down the next?
• Can you seek GOD directly with your hurt, worries and problems today?

Booger Check

Luke 6: ⁴¹ “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? ⁴² How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

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“Keep your nose clean and check for boogers along the way” was the sage advice I was not expecting. I was headed into meet with the steering committee to discuss an important project and needed some pointers. “What was that supposed to mean?”

I blew off the advice and went to seek those who were more critical. I got plenty of advice. One day, an executive pulled me to the side and asked me “Why are you hanging around the group who drags people down?”

• There were times when I wanted to be part of the critical group.
• There were times when I wanted to criticize versus being criticized.
• There were times when I kept company with nay-sayers and I soon turned into one of them.

JESUS points out how deep a critical heart can run. I believe HE was saying “How can you be critical with others when you have not declared yourself a disaster?”

• GOD wants me to check my attitude when I approach HIM or HIS children.
• GOD wants me to look at myself before I step in with HIM.
• GOD wants me to examine my pitiful attempt at righteousness and count my actions as dung instead of patting myself on the back.

I finally learned I needed to do a “Booger check” with others. We would sit together and help each other with our blind spots. This close group would eventually watch each other’s back and would accept advice as well as dish it out. GOD wants me to admit I need help first before jumping in and providing my “wisdom.”

• Are you critical of others?
• Do you find wrong in what other people easily?
• Can you examine yourself before you are critical of others so you will change your approach with them?