CHRISTIAN CHALLENGE SERMON XI: BE KNOWN BY FRUITFULNESS NOT FOOLISHNESS
Have you ever been called to jury duty? Why were you called? If selected to serve, what were you expected to do? Make a judgment, based on evidence, with regard to a matter before the court. You were instructed by the judge to do so honestly and objectively.
As a juror who happened to be a Christian, did the responsibility of sitting in judgment on someone else bother you? If so, why? If not, why not? There are times and circumstances when an honest, objective judgment has to be made regarding the actions of our fellowman.
The theme touted by many voices in America is tolerance. Does it mean that everyone is supposed to put up with anything and everything that may be thrown at us? Absolutely not! We have options for dealing with differences of opinion.
Just as Christians need to be discerning enough to see that the word “love” is often thrown at us by “toleration extremists” to try to convince us that we must accept unchristian practices in society, we also need to see that the term “judge not” is often thrown at us to try to stop us from making a judgment with regard to practices considered by us to be unbiblical, or immoral, or illegal.
There’s much biblical support for “making judgments”: about doctrine . . . preachers and teachers who could be false prophets in “sheep’s clothing” . . . fruitfulness vs foolishness in carrying out the will of the Father. . . brothers and sisters in Christ who have obviously strayed from the “straight and narrow”- Church Discipline.
But in making judgments, we must be cautious! We are not to judge motives, but we may have no choice but to make a judgment about misconduct. One is inward and the other is outward. God knows the heart. Only He judges motives. We only make judgments based on factual evidence. Then we speak the truth in love!
R. J. Robinson whose preaching was telecast throughout the CSRA, was driving back to Augusta late one night after preaching in South Carolina. He was pulled over for speeding. As the state trooper flashed his flight in Dr. Robinson’s face he exclaimed, “You’re the preacher on television!”
Jack grinned and thought to himself, “I’m off the hook.” The trooper continued: “You know, preacher, I’m glad we met because this gives me a chance to tell you how much your sermons mean to me and my wife.” Smiling broadly, Dr. Robinson replied:
“Thank you, sir, am I free to go now?” “Well, not yet,” said the trooper. “You exceeded the speed limit by 20 mph!” “I didn’t know I was going that fast” said the preacher, “I didn’t mean to. I’m sorry.” Replied the trooper: “Such a high speed could get you killed, and we don’t want that to happen, do we? So I’ll give you a citation to help you remember to slow down and stay alive.” What did Jesus mean by His instruction on judging others? The answer lies, as does all Scriptural teaching, within the context of its occurrence. As we read our Lord’s lessons on how our relationship to Christ transforms our actions, keep in mind that the context is the Sermon on the Mount – Matthew 7:1-6 . . .
Jesus told His disciples that, with regard to all that He had taught them, they are not to be hypocritical in judging others in terms of how well or how poorly fellow believers have lived up to the doctrinal and behavioral standards that He had set!
He is addressing his remarks to Christians, telling them not to judge another Christian as to their degree of righteousness with regard to all that He has taught!
No critical attitude that manifests itself in a derogatory, condemning way! All too often some folks perceive their own self-worth by seeking to tear others down to a level lower than their own.
Within the church body in particular some folks seem to have a keen sense of “rumor” . . . always seem to be “in the know” about what the real truth is!
There’s nothing so unbecoming of a child of God than a judgmental rather than discerning spirit – always looking for what’s wrong and then assessing one’s motives – when we all are probably as guilty in our own ways as they are in theirs.
The folks listening that day to Jesus’ analogy of “the speck versus the plank” must have laughed out loud at his humor! It is as if Jesus drew on the chalkboard of their minds a cartoon like the ones we see on the editorial page of newspapers!
Just imagine a caricature of a person, with a 2x4 protruding from one eye, pointing a judgmental finger at another caricature of a person with a tiny particle of sawdust in one eye. How silly it would be for the one to point the finger at the other! No Christian is perfect. But how easy it is to see in another’s life a shortcoming that we have overlooked in our own. So: Be discerning of actions not judgmental of motives. To be discerning can be fruitful. To be judgmental can be foolish.
Discernment is the mature Christian attitude that assesses situations and behaviors objectively . . . insightfully . . . cautiously!
Judgmental attitudes are often rooted in personal opinions and political preferences. Mature discernment is more concerned about knowing the truth, then making judgments with regard to conduct - based on spiritual, moral and sometimes legal, standards. My take on what Jesus said is simply this: Don’t do stupid stuff, like “giving dogs what is sacred or throwing pearls to pigs; they may trample them under feet, and then turn on you and tear you to pieces.”
Don’t waste inordinate amounts of time and effort trying to persuade those, who have no regard for that which is sacred, of the error of their ways. Just be sure you show the utmost respect and reverence for sacred things God has entrusted to you, but always do, and insist on, what is right – biblically, morally and, if it comes down to it, legally.
How are we as mature Christians supposed to discern whether, or when, to confront things that are against God, and to resist efforts of those who advocate such, or who by their silence appear that they don’t care? Matthew 7:7-11 . . .
The demands of discipleship seem to be so great! But hold on, the Lord God is great and is good! We entered the kingdom by saving grace. We live as citizens of the kingdom by sustaining grace. Thus, Jesus urged us to keep on praying to the Father for help. Be persistent! “Keep on asking . . . seeking . . . knocking.”
You might say that here we have a rising scale of intensity. Asking is an act of humility - we tell God our needs. Seeking is asking plus acting – we tell God our needs and we do our part. Knocking is asking plus acting plus persevering – we keep it up; rarely would we knock on a door just once, right? We persevere.
We repeat our knocking until the door is opened or we decide that nobody is home or they don’t want to come to the door. But God is always at home and we are always welcome. And to prove to us that we are always welcome, our Lord never tricks us or treats us in a way that would humiliate us in ways such as those referenced by Jesus . . .
God the Father treats His children with a goodness that is far superior to the way we treat each other. So, Jesus concluded this part of the sermon with a much needed “therefore” – Matthew 7:12 . . .
Although this verse of scripture is often quoted as a general life principle – and that sounds good on the surface - Jesus was presupposing that those to whom He spoke had already submitted themselves to the rule and reign of God. So: What they would receive from others, and what they would give in return, would reflect values and qualities of the Lord God. Therefore:
Those who have given themselves to God act with grace because they have received God’s grace through God’s Son.
Those who know Him not only know life eternal but they know how to treat others in ways that reflect how God has treated them. Which is to say:
God our Father always does what is right . . . good . . . best. He expects His children to do the same!
Ability to do the same comes by being in constant communion with Him. And the most effective prayer we can communicate to God would be:
“Father God, help me to act toward others - in a way that testifies - to the loving and gracious way - You have acted toward me - through your Son and my Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.”
