Introduction
Baseball is an American sport that has been around for a long time.
There are two teams, competing with each other and overseeing the game and the pitching of the ball is an umpire.
Have you ever seen an umpire make a bad call?
The crowd boo’s and blood pressure and anger rises.
Our sense of fairness has been violated and we are ready to fight when it comes to fairness.
We hear of a serial killer getting caught, convicted, then life in prison.
We scream “not fair, do the same things to him he did to others!”
Or worse than that a serial killer gets put on death row then he gets saved and we know he is forgiven all his sins and is going to the same heaven we are!
Silently now we scream at God “not fair!
Bad call God!”
This attitude reveals some ugly sins in us.
This attitude whether expressed or suppressed reveals a judgmental attitude that Jesus tells us not to do.
We are judging other people by using the standard of our own life.
Whether that judge be outward expressions or suppress our judgment within!
We are setting ourselves up as a judge on a bench and thinking we know what people deserve or don’t deserve.
We are to exercise judgment using the Word of God as our standard but not to judge using our own lives as a comparison.
It reveals we really are not as fair as we would like to think about ourselves.
As we approach February the 14th a time that one express love one to another.
Is it not what our Lord commanded us to do?
To love one to another!
Judgment is set aside for God and God only.
Illustration
This attitude of becoming a self appointed judge, was revealed in Jonah who God called to preach to Ninevah.
He finally goes and preaches God’s wrath and judgment.
Then they do the oddest thing.
They repent and get right with God and God blesses them.
This makes Jonah mad.
After all the wickedness they have done and I told them You O’ God were going to hammer them and they repent and You bless them!
We laugh at the immaturity of this but are guilty of the same attitude.
Let’s take a look at our text this morning and if you would please stand with me as we read form The Word of God.
Read the list of sins in Romans 1:29-32
Being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. Romans 1:29-32
Paul says God’s wrath is revealed towards those who commit such sins you can hear congregation getting excited saying, “amen, sick em Paul.”
“If you think you are higher up than anyone else when you point your finger at others you are wrong.
Remember! It takes one to know one.”
Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. Romans 2:1
The love of Christ cannot be demonstrated when we are pointing fingers.
Just remember you may be pointing a finger at someone, but there is three pointing back at you.
1. Bad call # 1:
THE PROBLEM IS NOT THEM IT’S US.
We are looking at the problems and sins of the world all wrong!
The church is guilty of pointing the finger at the world and proclaiming foul.
We have said our society is morally drifting downward but refusing to see it in the church!
Our own sins have changed the way we see things. We don’t see things properly.
We must judge ourselves before we can use the Word properly.
The church is to be salt and light.
1. We must admit we (the church) have drifted from the Word
of God.
2. We (the church) must fear judgment.
We proclaim judgement will fall on America what about the churches/ pastors/ church leaders/members?
And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? Romans 2:3
For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 1 Peter 4:17
3. We must weep tears of repentance.
Remember the problem is not them it’s us.
As we approach February the 14th a time that one express love one to another.
Is it not what our Lord commanded us to do?
To love one to another!
Judgment is set aside for God and God only.
2. Bad call #2:
WE MUST STOP COMPARING OURSELVES
TO ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE WORD
OF GOD.
We start drifting away from the Word ever so slowly.
The next thing you know we are using a new standard, our opinion.
Illustration
Our ugliness shows up like the elder brother in the prodigal son parable.
Father rejoicing over youngest son repenting and returning to Father’s house after experiencing sowing his wild oats.
Elder son’s response is he is not rejoicing.
In fact he is appalled at the Father throwing a party for his wild younger brother.
He reveals his condemning nature when he complains to his father about it.
“I’’ve been faithful, I did not go out and spend my inheritance foolishly, etc.”
When in fact he thought about doing same things but either too scared or did not have the opportunity to jump in this sin.
Maybe not as outgoing, popular, etc.
He is guilty of judging His Father and his brother.
When we compare ourselves with other people we set ourselves up as a judge.
Illustration
Or another parable about the Master hiring laborers to work in his field.
Hires some in morning and says I will pay you at end of day.
Noontime hires some others to work right alongside these first workers.
I will pay you what is right at end of day.
Then near end of day hires some more, same thing.
End of day pays all same wage.
First workers scream not fair.
Master says did I not give you what I promised?
Yes but paid other more.
Reveals the truth about us.
We are guilty of comparing ourselves with others.
That’s our problem.
God doesn’t compare us to them.
Remember we must stop comparing ourselves to anything other than the Word of God.
As we approach February the 14th a time that one express love one to another.
Is it not what our Lord commanded us to do?
To love one to another!
Judgment is set aside for God and God only.
3. Bad call #3:
DON’T MISTAKE THE PATIENCE OF GOD
FOR APPROVAL.
Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? Romans 2:4
God’s judgement is not always immediate.
Often people mistake God’s patience for getting by with sin.
God is using His goodness to let them see how much He loves them and wants them to turn.
Illustration
When a person realizes how much he deserves judgment yet realizes the goodness of God to him it leads he to repentance.
But the most hardened sinners are not outside the church; they are sitting in these pews.
The most hardened type sinners are faithful church attendees who continually have sinful bad condemning, critical attitudes.
They have successfully deceived themselves into a state of religious respectability among their peers.
Remember don’t mistake the patience of God for approval.
As we approach February the 14th a time that one express love one to another.
Is it not what our Lord commanded us to do?
To love one to another!
Judgment is set aside for God and God only.
Conclusion
Nothing but the Holy Spirit can overcome this hardened heart.
God is patient but not endless.
It may not be one; two, three you’re out.
But eventually the game will be over and you will be left out.
Those who hold onto wrong critical attitudes and behavior are storing up wrath.
Sooner or later it is coming to their house.
Like water stored up in a dam that will one-day break.
Only one way out of it, repent.
