Sunday 28 September 2014

True Followers

True Followers

If we are true followers of Christ we will not speak out the actions of people. That is not what God would have us to do.
Jesus said
“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
While we may dislike the actions of those in the world and some of the laws past by our governments. We have no right to condemn them.
Romans 13:1,2 clearly states
“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, 
for there is no authority except that which God has established. 
The authorities that exist have been established by God. 
Consequently, he who rebels against the authority
 is rebelling against what God has instituted, 
and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” 
It is our job to continue the work of Christ. To love the world and offer salvation to all who are in the world, even those who hate us the most.
Jesus makes that abundantly clear in Matthew 5:44,
“But I tell you: Love your enemies 
and pray for those who persecute you,”
In order to do this I believe we must truly love our fellow man in the way Christ and the apostles did.
Sadly too many ministers and evangelist in the media here in North America are getting into the condemnation game and it’s filtering to those in the pew.
Tony Campolo said,
“We ought to get out of the judging business. We should leave it up to God to determine who belongs in one arena or another when it comes to eternity. What we are obligated to do is to tell people about Jesus, and that's what I do."
                                                     Tony Campolo
The Apostle Paul wrote,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” 
                                                                                               1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
Any Christian be they a minister, evangelist or layman that judges others is guilty of sin. Sin separates us from God.
Judging anyone will not win them to Christ. That’s why we must present the gospel in as pure a form as we can.
At the same time we must speak out against those who call themselves Christians and are judging those in the world.
To quote Tony Campolo once again,
“Let us preach Christ, let us be faithful to proclaiming the Gospel, but let's leave judgment in the hands of God.”
Think about it.

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