Here Comes De Judge!

Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In was a comedy sketch TV program that aired in the late 60s and early 70s.  My parents used to love that show.  One of the sketches I remember best was the “Here Comes De Judge” sketch that featured Flip Wilson and later Sammy Davis Jr.  In this sketch, you would have an innocent defendant stand before “De Judge” and receive all types of abuse.  For a sample of this sketch watch this: http://video.aol.com/video-detail/laugh-in-here-comes-the-judge/2172108200

 As funny as it was to watch some poor guy get misjudged and abused at the hands of a judge, we all know, in real life, being misjudged by others isn’t funny at all.  How many times have we been falsely accused of wrongdoing, or have our motives for an action totally misunderstood.  Think of how painful it was to have to defend yourself when you know you are an innocent victim of wrong headed judgment. 

 For many well-meaning people, the solution to making wrong judgments is simply to make no judgments at all… This sounds like a great solution, but, unfortunately, there are times when judgments need to be made.  Would you feel comfortable leaving your child at a babysitter, without making a judgment about that sitter’s character?  Or could you marry someone without ever examining their life to be sure they are a suitable mate for you?  Can you standby idly watching a loved one take a life path that would lead to their harm or even death?

 Making, or not making, judgments about others are a very complicated necessity of life.  The Lord has given us insight into this subject in His Word…

  THE SCRIPTURE:

 The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee? Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done one work, and ye all marvel. Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man. If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day? Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

(Joh 7:20-24)

 THE STUDY:

 In a nutshell, our text gives us the Lord’s teachings on the judgment of others... there is a righteous type of judgment and there is an unrighteous type of judgment.  Therefore, the core of our study is this… which type of judgment is righteous and what type is unrighteous.  Once again, the Lord does not leave us guessing about these things. 

 Here are the basic principles we are to use to help us render the proper type of “righteous” judgment:

1. When we judge others without looking at ourselves first, we are judging unrighteously.  Matt 7:1-5, Rom 2:1-1.  Many times this type of judgment can become a stumblingblock for those being judged.  Rom 14:10-13


2. When we judge other’s motives, by trying to guess what is in their heart, is an unrighteous judgment 1 Cor 4:1-5


3. We should not be critical of others who choose not to keep the dictates of OT ceremonial laws, they no longer mandatory for us to keep. They were fulfilled, and ended, with the first coming of Christ to earth.  These laws were given to teach the OT believers about the first coming of Christ (a shadow of things to come). When Christ came the purpose of these laws was fulfilled and they are no longer to be observed.  Col 2:13-17, John 7:20-23


4. Our judgments should not be influenced based upon the possibility of personal gain. James 2:1-9


5. Our motives for judging others must ALWAYS be with the intent to help those we are judging.  We should never judge others with the intent to find fault so we can justify our own lives or look better in the eyes of others around us.  James 4:10-12  As we seek to help others it should be with a humble attitude realizing, apart from God’s grace, we would be in the same shape, or worse, than the person we are judging.  1 Thess 5:14-28, Gals 6:1-6


6. We must judge others to choose our teachers, leaders and associates in life.  To not render this judgment is to open us up to false teachings and sinful practices in our life.  Matt 7:15-20, 2 Cor 6:14-18


7. We must be constantly making life decisions based on the context of God’s Word.  We must judge other’s actions and teachings before we follow in their footsteps.  Roms 2:26-29, 1 Cor 2:13-16, Luke 12:56-59

 (Note:  I’ve only been able to summarize the basic teachings found in the above references for the sake of this study.  I would suggest that we prayerfully study each of the above references for a much more complete understanding of the principles for Scriptural judgment making.)

 THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION:

 For followers of Christ, righteous judgments should be a daily, habitual action.  How many different decisions are we called upon that dictates a judgment be made?  How many times do we fail the Lord by making unrighteous judgments concerning our lives and the lives of others?  For the Christian, knowing, understanding and applying the above principles is of utmost importance.

 For those who are not yet followers of Christ, the first and most important judgment you will ever make is to decide the truthfulness of God’s Word.  Does the Bible contain errors?  Are the historical accounts of both Old and New Testament fictional or are they factual?  Finally, and most importantly, are the Bible’s claims about Christ true; and therefore, can I trust in Christ with my soul’s eternal destiny?

 By God’s grace, you will come to an acceptance of the truthfulness of Scripture and the need to trust in Christ and His work on the cross.  1 John 1:1-4  

 If you have any questions concerning this blog, or if you have a subject you would like discussed, please feel free to email me at settledinheaven@gmail.com.    I will answer all emails via my blog, email, or both.

 Follow my Squidoo Instructional Lens “Presenting God’s Grace”  “The Solemn Obligation To Present the Doctrines of Grace to the Lost and Saved Alike”http://www.squidoo.com/presenting-gods-grace

 May the Lord bless your study of His Word. Like God’s Word… may your soul’s salvation and your life’s faithfulness be “Settled in Heaven.”

Be Like Charmin not Sandpaper

Mr. Whipple had it right.  Do you remember the old Charmin commercials?  Mr. Whipple had to be guarding the Charmin tissue because he recognized its outstanding softness would cause many shoppers to be attracted to it. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yG-y8poTLU)  And, once attracted, they would want to squeeze it.  Why?  When given a choice, anyone would elect to experience pampering and soothing over irritation and annoyance.   

The same principle applies to our life experiences.  How often have we been put into a situation where we had to put up with someone who was just plain mean?  You know the type… it seems like everything they do is done with the intent of stirring up the most problems and hurting the most feelings.  Instead of being patient and kind to others, they choose to be harsh and aggravating.   In other words, they rub their associates like sandpaper instead of Charmin.   

When given a choice, I would ALWAYS choose to spend time with the Charmins of this life.  I only spend time with the sandpapers when it is absolutely necessary.  The question we need to ask ourselves is “which type of a person do we want to be, a Charmin or a sandpaper type of person?”  The type of person that we desire to be tells us a lot about ourselves…         

 THE SCRIPTURE:

 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (Gal 5:22-25)

 THE STUDY:

 In our above verses, we find that one of the “fruits of the Spirit” is “gentleness”.  The word gentleness is speaking of a life that is kind, encouraging, and helpful; not harsh, nor harmful, nor bitter.   We all know someone with a gentle personality.  They are the ones that give us the much needed “boost” when we are discouraged.  We derive strength from them when we are weak.   It is this type of person that somehow brings out the best in all of us.  This is the type of God that we serve…

 The Father showed us this “gentleness”,or “kindness”, when He sent His Son to die for us…  “That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”  (Eph 2:7)

God the Son displays His “kindness” to us through the salvation He graciously gives to us… “But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; “(Tit 3:4-5)

 Remember, the basic principle found in Gals 5:22-25, a “fruit of the Spirit” is something that is displayed in a Christian’s life through the enabling of the indwelling Spirit.   This is a vital key to living a gentle, kind life. 

As fallen, sinful mankind, we all struggle to be kind to others.  It is much easier to be impatient and mean to others than to be patient and kind.   If we are left to ourselves we all would be short tempered to others.  But, if we look to the Spirit’s intervention in our life, He will enable us to be patient and kind when it is so very difficult to do.   Like all others areas of the Christian life, reliance on the Lord’s strength is the key to successful living. 

None of us can live a Godly life without His intervention and strength…”I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. “(Joh 15:5)

 THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION:

 After setting the example for us, and then, enabling us to live a gentle life, what more could we ask from Him?  All he asks from us is to live a life that displays Him to others.  By us being kind, we are showing others His kindness; by us showing mercy, we are showing others His mercy; by us forgiving others, we are showing others how He forgives sin.  

Showing our Lord to others, through our lifestyle, is the greatest privilege possessed by a Christian…“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” (Col 3:12-13)

 If anyone has not received Christ as their Lord and Savior, go back and review the verses about God’s kindness He has shown to man.   In both cases, the Father’s and the Son’s kindness is extended toward you.  He will not turn anyone away who comes to Him for salvation.    By coming to Him, in faith, trusting His words and His works, you will be saved.   Please read some or all of the following verses from God’s Word, they will help you to understand more about trusting in Christ and what God has done for us: 

God the Father’s role in our salvation (Eph 1:1-6); God the Son’s role in our salvation (Eph 1:7-12); God the Spirit’s role in our salvation (Eph 1:13-14)

Our responsibility is to trust Christ’s words and His works for us (John 6:63-64; John 10:24-30; Acts 4:10-12; Acts 16:30-32; Roms 10:8-9)

 If you have any questions, or would like more information please feel free to contact me at the email address at the end of this blog.  Or, if you would rather, contact any Bible believing church in your area.  I’m sure they will be glad to answer any questions you may have about the forgiveness of our sins or living a gentle life.    

 If you have a subject you would like discussed, please feel free to email me at settledinheaven@gmail.com.    I will answer all emails via my blog, email, or both.

 May the Lord bless your study of His Word.

 Like God’s Word… may your soul’s salvation and your life’s faithfulness be “Settled in Heaven.”