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Judgement in the Church
One commentator wrote that the United Methodist Church offered “a safe affiliation for politicians of all stripes because it provided a vague respectability without offering much of a clue about what they actually believed. UMC leaders at all levels have been extraordinarily skittish about drawing even minimal boundaries of doctrine and discipline. UMC culture has placed a high priority on not offending people within or beyond our congregations.”
Statements of belief are oftentimes very vague, much like a politician who is evading a question from a member of the press. An example of this view is a statement by a UMC which described itself as “a safe, non-judgmental community. . . committed to loving and being in ministry with all people.” What exactly does this mean? Is being “judgmental” wrong? Is it unloving? Unchristian?
In John Wesley’s sermon entitled The Great Assize (judgment), which he considered to be his best sermon, he called on those court officials in attendance who pass and execute judgment on others to “consider carefully that God the Son, at the second coming, was going to pass judgment on them! They would hear the joyful words, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world’ (Matt. 25:34), or they would hear the dreadful words, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels’ (v. 41). And Wesley encouraged those officials to live in fearful anticipation of that future judgment so that they might be properly motivated to live holy lives. Heaven, hell, judgment, and the second coming were all recurring themes in much of John Wesley’s preaching. “The Great Assize” was simply his best.”
One Methodist pastor found himself growing more aware that his responsibility to preach the whole counsel of God and not simply what he or his congregation was comfortable hearing. Then God whispered to him, “You need to be more afraid of me than your people.”
While that message of judgment may not be heard very much these days, it is neither ignored in the Bible, nor in the ecumenical creeds.
Judgements that have already occurred:
The judgment of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:14-24). God banished the first couple from the Garden of Eden.
The judgment of the antediluvian world (Genesis 7:17-24). God sent a worldwide flood in judgment of mankind’s sin in Noah’s time.
The judgment at the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:5-9). Noah’s post-flood descendants remained in one location in defiance of God’s command, so God confused their language, causing them to disperse over the earth.
The Judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 19). Besides homosexuality, the people were arrogant, overfed, and unconcerned about the poor among them (Ezek.16:49–50).
The judgment of Egypt and their gods (Exodus 7-12). The ten plagues against Egypt at the time of the exodus were “mighty acts of judgment” (Exodus 7:4) against a stubborn, cruel king.
The judgment of believers’ sins (Isa. 53:4-8). Jesus took this judgment upon Himself by His crucifixion and death. Because our sin was judged at the cross, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”
(Rom. 8:1)
Judgments occurring now in the church age:
Self-evaluation (1 Cor.11:28). Self-judgment requires each believer to be spiritually discerning, with a goal of being more like Christ (Eph. 4:21–23).
Divine discipline (Heb.12:5–11). The Lord disciplines His own; that is, He brings His followers to a place of repentance and restoration when they sin. In so doing, He makes a distinction between us and the world: “When we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world”
(1 Cor. 11:32). Whom Christ loves, He chastens
(Rev.3:19).
Judgments to occur in the future:
The judgments of the tribulation period (Rev. 6-16). God’s judgment against the wicked leaves no doubt as to His wrath against sin. Besides punishing sin, these judgments will have the effect of bringing the nation of Israel to repentance.
The judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:10). Resurrected (and raptured) believers in heaven will be judged for their works (1 Cor. 3:12). Works of lasting value to the Lord will survive (the “gold, silver, and precious stones”). Rewards, which the Bible calls “crowns” (Rev. 3:11) will be given by the One who is “not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him” (Heb. 6:10).
The judgment of the nations (Matt. 25:31–46). After the tribulation, the Lord Jesus will sit in judgment over the Gentile nations. They will be judged according to their treatment of Israel during the tribulation. This judgment is also called the judgment of the sheep and the goats because of the imagery Jesus uses in the Olivet Discourse. Those who showed faith in God by treating Israel favorably (giving them aid and comfort during the tribulation) are the “sheep” who will enter into the Millennial Kingdom. Those who followed the Antichrist’s lead and persecuted Israel are the “goats” who will be consigned to hell.
The judgment of angels (1 Cor. 6:2–3). Satan’s hordes of demons will be judged by the redeemed ones of the Lamb. Some of these demons are already imprisoned in darkness and awaiting judgment, according to Jude 1:6, due to their leaving their proper dwelling place.
The Great White Throne Judgment (Rev. 20:11–15). This final judgment of unbelievers for their sins occurs at the end of the Millennium. The unbelievers of all the ages are judged for their sins and consigned to the lake of fire.
Specific sins that Jesus condemned included:
1. Hypocrisy: Jesus pronounced a curse on hypocrites seven times in Matt. 23:13-29. Jesus told the Pharisees that their inner life was “full of self-indulgence” (Matt. 23:25). They judged others for sins that they were guilty of themselves (Matt. 7:1-5).
2. Spiritual Pride: there is the parable of the self-righteous Pharisee who despised others even in his prayer (Luke 18:9-14)! It is spiritual pride that makes believers constantly judge other believers.
3. Impurity: Impurity enters into our hearts mainly through our eyes and our ears. This impurity then comes OUT from our hearts and expresses itself through the various members of our bodies – primarily through our tongues and our eyes. Jesus hated impurity so much that He told His disciples that they should be willing to pluck out their right eye and cut off their right hand rather than sin with those members (Matt.5:27-29).
4. Indifference to Human Need: Jesus was angry when the leaders of the synagogue did not want Him to heal a man, just because it was the Sabbath day (Mark 3:5). The rich man went to hell because he did not care for his brother Lazarus. The priest and the Levite in the parable of the good Samaritan, were condemned because they did not show compassion on their fellow-brother-Jew who was lying on the roadside wounded.
5. Greed: Hoarding riches and serving money rather than God (Matt. 6:24)
6.
Immorality: The woman at the well caught in adultery was told to go and sin no more
(John 8:11)
How should the church deal with outward sins in the church?
Gal. 6:1 “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.”
2 Thess. 3:14-15, “If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not regard him as an enemy but warn him as a brother.”
Gal. 5:19-21 “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
1 Cor. 5:11 “But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.”
1 Tim. 5:20 “As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.”
James 4:4 “You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”
With the above passages in mine, how should the church handle domestic abuse, embezzlement of church funds, drunkenness at church picnics, identity theft, bank fraud, adultery, drug trafficking, arson, prostitution, homosexual behavior, assault, or kidnapping by member of the congregation?
A. Celebrate it
B. Tolerated it
C. Ignore it
D. Censure it
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Why Study the Bible?
Don’t many consider the Bible to be just a book of myths? Why do we read the Bible rather than the sacred literature of other religions?
How do we know that it is from God? How do we know that what we have today is an accurate translation from the original? Is the Bible complete or have there been some books that have been lost?
We should be able to answer these questions, and there are answers! So start here!
Answers to Common Bible Questions
Lent is a six week period of spiritual devotion starting on Ash Wednesday and ending at Easter. Those who observe Lent usually give up something for Lent. Some might give up coffee, or soda pop, or alcohol, or chocolate. May I suggest that you give up something that will really impress God and make this season of Lent one of the most memorable and meaningful seasons of your life? May I suggest that if you are giving up something, why not give up some of the acts of our sinful nature mentioned in Gal. 5:19? Why don’t we give up lying about others? Do you think you can give up the hate you feel towards others? How about envy, can we work on putting envy aside this year? How about giving up on the naïve idea that all pastors are mature Christian leaders whose word should always be accepted, rather than wolfs in sheep’s clothing (Matt 7:15). How about giving up the idea that everyone in church is a real Christian (Matt 7:21-23). How about giving up your desire to seek revenge on those who have hurt you (Matt 18:21-22)? If you are insecure and feel threatened when you see the success of others in ministry, how about giving up efforts to hinder others who have been called to minister (Rom 12:4-8)? Of course it is easier to give up something like chocolate, etc. and make yourself feel like you are doing something that is pleasing to God. If you are not willing to give up unchristian behavior, might I suggest something that will really please God this Lent? Give up all evidence of your profession of Christian faith, such as books, pictures and jewelry. Don’t talk about God, Jesus or the Church. I think God would appreciate it if you would stop giving HIM a bad name by the way you live. Let’s give up what hinders our witness and become a better ambassador for Christ (2 Cor 5:20) this Lenten season.
In Matthew 2:1-2 is says that the magi saw "His star in the east." What was this star that guided these men to Jesus? Some have suggested that it could have been a comet, an asteroid, or perhaps a meteor or an especially bright star. The problem with these suggestions is that these physical things either quickly move across the sky and then disappear or are too far away to provide directions with any precision. It would be hard to get directions from such objects. The "star" had to move constantly or intermittently at the same pace as the magi. Then it says that it hovered over the house where Mary and Joseph had moved to with Jesus. It hardly sounds like a comet or meteor or a star as we know them. Can you think of another time that people in the Bible were guided by some form of light? How about the time when Moses was leading the Israelites out of Egypt? He didn't have a global positioning system with him. He did have a pillar of fire that led him at night (Ex 13:21-22). We see this light in Solomon's Temple (2 Chron 7:1-3) and when the Jews were about to go into Babylonian captivity, we see it leaving the Temple (Ezek 9-11). In the New Testament we see it at the birth of Jesus (Luke 2:9) at His transfiguration (Matt 17:5) and His ascension (Acts 1:9). What exactly was this guiding light? The word "star" can also be translated as "radiance." It appears that it was this "radiance" that guided Moses and the magi. The Jews call this the "Shekinah", a physical manifestation of the glory of God in the form of a supernatural radiance. This, I believe, is what the Star of Bethlehem was.
Imagine that you are the pastor of a church. A young married couple is having some difficulties in their relationship and they seek counsel from you. On Monday the wife comes in to give her assessment of their marriage. What do you think she will say? She might say that she is a hardworking, caring and supportive wife and that it is her husband who is the neglectful, insensitive brute and the source of all problems in the marriage. You feel so sorry for this wife and when you see her husband in the hallway, you think to yourself, "What a jerk." On Friday the husband comes in and gives his assessment of the marriage. He tells you that he is hard working and very generous and that she is the major problem in the relationship. As the pastor, you are wondering if they both are talking about the same marriage. Each person tells you what makes them look best and their spouse the worst. Where is the truth? The truth is probably somewhere in between Proverbs 18:17 says, "The first to present his case seems right, til another comes forward and questions him." There are conflicts in all relationships, between spouses, parents and children, employees and employers. When you hear one side of a story, don’t assume that what you hear is the complete truth. And don’t pass on to someone else what you have heard. Probably, at least some of what you heard is untrue to gain your support in a conflict.