IS IT RIGHT TO JUDGE? Part 6

IS IT RIGHT TO JUDGE? Part 6: THE PERILS OF NOT JUDGING

Tuesday, November 07, 2017

   Matthew 7:21-27 Not every one that saith unto me [Jesus], Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

  Construction without consideration of authentic quality makes for disastrous results. Buildings and people without sound foundation deteriorate and fall apart when stressed.

  This is just as true spiritually for Christians individually and the congregant church.

  At hand, we have the perfect construction and maintenance plan, God’s schematic; His Word living (Jn.1:1) and written (Jn.17:17; 1Thes.2:13). To neglect, not reference, or trivialize sacred direction of self, brethren, or worldview is perilous.

  Without personal examination of self we suffer not just loss of God’s support, but He resists us (Jam.4:4-10), or worse (Heb.10:31).

  Without congregant judgment a church may lose its place as a spiritual powerhouse and become no more than a benevolent social ministry (Rev.2:18-23), or worse (Rev.2:5).

  Think not construction or maintenance faults are always readily recognized. Even undisciplined children can be happy . . . for awhile.

  I confess that in my flesh I cringe at responsible examination of self or the local church. (Especially in having suffered expense of exercising the latter.) But I know I must, howbeit reluctantly, judge, for it too is part and parcel of mature discipleship. 

EBB4

Thought question: Who are these individuals Jesus speaks of in Matthew 7:22-23?