It is common for brothers and sisters in Jesus to declare, “We are not to judge one another!” The truth is, there is judgment that is necessary, and there is unacceptable judgment which is harmful. For example, in response to the reports of sexual sin within the church of Corinth, Paul responded, ”I have already passed judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present” (1 Cor. 5:3). Was Paul sinning in his judgment?
Love
IN SEARCH OF THE WHOLE-HEARTED LIFE
It is common for brothers and sisters in Jesus to declare, “We are not to judge one another!” The truth is, there is judgment that is necessary, and there is unacceptable judgment which is harmful. For example, in response to the reports of sexual sin within the church of Corinth, Paul responded, ”I have already passed judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present” (1 Cor. 5:3). Was Paul sinning in his judgment?
Love Expressed, Increases
When the Gospel came to the Greek people, they had no language for unconditional love. No word could adequately represent the magnitude for the concept. They had to make up a word that defines God's loving nature. That word is Agape. The most important thing about love is what we do with it.
Agape is unselfish love which expects no return We love for the sake of loving. Love begets love as surely as hate produces hatred. Love grows when given but diminishes when withheld. Agape is the unconditional love that God give us because of Who He is in Himself. He absolutely loves His enemies. The absolute proof of which is John 3:16 and Ephesians 2:1-10.
Forgotten Words of Jesus
As long as I’ve been a Christian, I’ve noted two spiritual pillars that are incredibly difficult to keep in mind. They are all-too easy to forget. One is to rejoice in our suffering. The other is to put ourselves in the shoes of another person whenever we’re dealing on the level of human relationships.
I will confess that I’ve had a hard time remembering these two things. And I’m in need of constant reminding of them.
And so is every other Christian.
Losers & Lovers
I was listening in the background to a friend praise a man he had recently met. He was obviously quite enamored with this individual, and rightly so. His description went something like this: "A great guy, a wonderful Christian, loving husband, faithful, great father, loves to spend time with his children, very successful at work and in his finances. He's a great boss, president of the local Chamber of Commerce, an elder in his church, hates smoking and drinking, not a hint of scandal about him. Its obvious God is with him."
Reconciliation
MY FATHER AND IIt was 3:00 AM when my brother burst in to my dorm room with the news that my father had been killed in a plane crash. My father was an apostle in function, planting churches wherever He went, but unrecognized in a church organization that did not believe they existed anymore. His plane went down in Homer Alaska while on his way to another small group of believers He was discipling.
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