Saturday, July 16, 2005

From "You Can't Be A Christian," by

"From the Morning"
Don't you hate it when people scoff at the idea that 'so and so' is a 'born-again Christian.' "What a hypocrite" they (the very people who reject Christianity) proclaim, "He has done so many bad things."

Its ironic, if not hypocritical, that many people who reject Christianity on 'moral' grounds are eager to judge others as being unworthy of Christianity."

read the rest of the story here

I've witnessed (and been a part of) the same type of hypocrisy in the church. We "forgiven" need to remember who we are...forgiven. I can speak of this first hand, since I have been guilty of this...judging someone who has sin in their life and condemning them, even shutting them out. The worst of the worst hypocrisy is among church members. Brother Lustalot falls and all of a sudden we are quick to blame and cast him out of the church, rather than having compassion and reaching out to restore the man.

Or Sister Bucketmouth, who can never find a good thing to say at the church annual meeting, is shunned, condemned and gossiped about, rather than trying to get to the root of her bitterness and restoring her. I can cite a dozen examples, but this is a limited format...

We need to remember where we came from. God saved us while we were still sinners. Every time I feel like a brother or sister has offended me, or is in sin, I need to remember grace... I'm not perfect and God still forgives me. If He can forgive me, then He can forgive that man or woman we can be so quick to judge. We tend to want grace for ourselves, but judgment for others. There's a double standard sometimes, and God hates it.

Remember the parable of the man whose debt was forgiven, yet he refused to forgive one who owed him less than he was forgiven for... He was "given over to the tormentors."

Just a thought...

Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Galations 6:1

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