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Study

Matthew 7:1 

Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. 

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Yesterday, we talked about the difference between judging and discerning, both of which happen on individual and corporate levels. Groups of Christians, whether we are talking about congregations, denominations, or even global church communities, are required to discern God’s guidance on moral issues.  Most recently, the United Methodist Church entered a time of fierce discernment, debate, and decision making over issues of sexuality.  Just as faithful, intelligent and prayerful individual Christians can be led by the Holy Spirit to different conclusions, so too large bodies of Christians often end up divided over issues which are not clearly defined in the Scriptures.  Please be in prayer for our Methodist brothers and sisters worldwide as they struggle through these decisions and the impact they have on their members and their public witness. 

Corporate discernment, however, crosses the line into judgment when people use a policy or moral standard as a weapon against groups of people.  Jesus’ caution not to judge, lest we be judged, guides corporate church bodies to refrain from pointing to one group as being particularly sinful over other groups of people. 

The distinction made by Augustine to “hate the sin, but love the sinner” is also critically important as the Church seeks to hold to the teachings of Jesus Christ.  Being prophetic about what God calls us to do (and not to do) cannot take place without love.  Loving people cannot take place without reference to what God calls us to do (and not do).  Law and Gospel are to be held in tandem, each holding the other accountable. 

First and foremost, we are all children of God – broken and sinful – forgiven and empowered.  Here in Holy Week, we see the depth of Christ’s love and sacrifice and ultimately it is only God who has the power to judge. 

Pray

Let us pray, 

Lord God, guide your church everywhere to be places of love and conviction, speaking both truth and grace.  Forgive us for the ways we have born a witness of hatred rather than love, division rather than unity, even violence in place of peace.  We pray in the name of the one who said to the criminal “Today you will be with me in paradise,” Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Amen.

Our devotions on the “Fasting from . . .” series comes to a close as we turn towards the reading of the Passion of Jesus Christ.  We pray that these devotions have served as a path towards a deeper faith in Jesus, reliance upon his grace, and guidance in our lives.  We do so in hopes of more fully experiencing and sharing the grace so freely given by God.  Thank you for your faithful study and reflection during this series.

Please contact the church office if you’d like to receive the daily devotions through email.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Study

Jesus said:  

Matthew 7:1-5 

Do not judge, so that you may not be judged.  For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get.  Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye?  Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while the log is in your own eye?  You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye. 

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There are two terms which are often confused – judgment and discernment.  There are also two distinct arenas where judgment and discernment are applied – individually and corporately.   

Individual Christians are called to discern between right and wrong.  We are called to be shaped by the Word of God, centered in the teachings and actions of Jesus Christ.  And we are challenged throughout Scripture to hold fast to our beliefs in changing times.  As it says in Ephesians 4:14: 

We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. 

Faithful discernment shifts into critical judgment when we believe that our understanding of the scriptures applies to everyone.  In areas where God’s Word is not definitive, two faithful, intelligent, prayerful Christians can come to different conclusions.  When we think that how we think is the only way to think, then we slip into an unhealthy judgment of others. 

Additionally, when we get too locked into our own perspectives, we often focus on particular sins (someone else’s) rather than our own.  That where this “do not judge” passage comes into play.  When we let our certitude drive our relationships with others, we far too readily point out the speck in our neighbor’s eye, while ignoring the log in our own. 

Reflect

Do you see a distinction between judgment and discernment in your personal life?  Do you know people who cross the line between discernment and judgment?  In what areas do you cross the line and harm the message of God’s grace? 

Pray

Let us pray, 

Lord God, it is truly right and proper that we should learn from your Word, be shaped by your call and hold fast to the values you teach.  Where we are complacent, wake us up, that we may be your faithful servants and vibrant witnesses.  Yet we also confess the ways we are judgmental in daily life, the times we condemn those with whom we disagree, and the harm such judgment does to your message of grace.  Forgive us.  We pray in the name of the one who taught in both grace and truth, Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Amen.

We will address corporate discernment/judgment tomorrow. 

Please contact the church office if you’d like to receive the daily devotions through email.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Study

In Matthew’s Gospel, after Jesus resurrected from the dead, he sent his followers to a mountain where he appeared before them.   

Matthew 28:17 

When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 

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While this verse may seem inconsequential, Dr. Mark Allan Powell points out that in the original text, the words “but some” are not found.  The Greek simply says: “When they saw him, they worshiped him and doubted.”  When Dr. Powell challenged the “but some” translation, a colleague said “You can’t worship and doubt all at the same time.”  To which Dr. Powell said, “You can if you’re a Lutheran!”   

One of the central pillars of Cross of Life is authentic community – the basis of which is vulnerability.  We do not pretend to have all the answers, we worship and doubt all at the same time, we engage in heartfelt conversations sharing both our faithful and faithless moments.  We seek to be real.   

As our church website says to all newcomers: “Even though we don’t know you personally, we know the ways we all seek to grow and learn, the incredible demands on our time and energy, the ways the church has let us down in the past, even the times when life has been so overwhelming that we question God’s very presence.  But we at Cross of Life also know the joy of intentional spiritual growth, the peace we find when we simplify and put first things first, the incredible gift of forgiveness in community, and the power that comes through an authentic faith struggle lived out in community.”

Reflect

How are you participating in the authentic community of Cross of Life or your church home?   

How might your honest and vulnerable testimony to your imperfect faith counter the perception that all Christians are judgmental? 

Pray

Let us pray, 

Lord God, you surrounded yourself with flawed disciples who, despite their enthusiasm, struggled to understand your mission in our world.  Yet you loved them, worked in them and used them to change the course of history.  Bless Cross of Life and churches everywhere with an authenticity of faith and community, that your love would be made known.  We pray in the name of the one who predicted Peter’s denial even as he gave him the keys to the kingdom, Jesus Christ our Lord, 

Amen. 

Please contact the church office if you’d like to receive the daily devotions through email.