Friday 19 September 2014

Judgement & Eternal consequences

Judgement & Eternal Consequences

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” 
Matthew 7:1,2
I currently am sixty years old. I’ve known the Lord since I was nineteen that means I’ve been around the block so to speak a number of times.
When I was a young Christian I was blessed to have some very good Pastors. Men of God who preached the word as they say in season and out.
They taught me the basics of the gospel and evangelism very well and over the years I’ve done my best to live up to both their examples and above all the example Christ set.
I am very well aware that my actions as a Christian can and do have eternal consequences.
One thing that bothers me no end no end are everyday Christians that sit in the pew, as well as pastors, and evangelist both in the media and out that pass judgment on others.
Whether they mean it or not they do and they turn people away from Christ.
Case in point the homosexual community. So many, so called Christian evangelist and pastors have condemned them and judged them from the pulpit. They seem to think homosexuality is some kind of special sin. At least that’s the way those in the gay community see it.
One evangelist even made the outrageous statement in the nineties that God was going to strike dead all the homosexuals in America. As we can tell he was wrong.
He was also wrong in condemning them. In doing so he judged them and only God can judge.
Our job as Christians is to present the Gospel of Christ to anyone who will listen.
Paul writing to the Romans makes it clear,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”
                                                                              Romans 3:23.
That all means all. That means the evangelist that made the outrageous statement and every other person that has ever lived.
Jesus made it clear,
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” 
Matthew 7:1,2
             Dietrich Bonhoeffer worte,           
“Judging others makes us blind, whereas love is illuminating. By judging others we blind ourselves to our own evil and to the grace which others are just as entitled to as we are.” 
Wise words.
The Apostle James wrote,
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,  
because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!” 
                 James 2:12,13
We as Christians need to be reaching out to the gay community. And to every other community and person we come in contact with.
We need to presenting the love of Christ and the salvation only he can bring to them in a simple strait forward manner.
A person at my church once asked me if a gay man could get to heaven. I didn’t hesitate to say yes. In exactly the same way everyone else does. By accepting Jesus as their Lord and saviour.
We as Christians have a great responsibility. We cannot take what we do lightly. Our actions can and do have eternal consequences. We must be careful to act and do what God has called us to do.
Jesus himself said to his disciples,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” 
                                                                           Matthew 28:18-20
Go and do likewise.
Think about it.

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