John 12: 47"As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it.
These are the words of Christ. "I did not come to judge the world, but to save it." If we look at the word judge in its original text we see that it is krinō
Properly to distinguish, that is, decide (mentally or judicially); to try, condemn, punish: - avenge, conclude, condemn, damn, decree, determine, esteem, judge, go to (sue at the) law, ordain, call in question, sentence to, think.
So if Christ is not prepared to judge those that do not keep His word yet, why are we? Why are we so ready to jump on to the band wagon and condemn those that do not fall in line with the word of the Lord? If Christ did not condemn anyone to hell while He was here, why do so many Christians feel strangely OK with telling people that they are going to hell? Don't get me wrong here, there is nothing wrong with disagreeing, there is nothing wrong with gentle correction, and we are expected to hold fast to the Word of the Lord, but the hard part is accepting the fact that many will not agree with us. Many will hear the Word and turn their backs. That my friends is not an instant ticket to the fast train to hell. If that were the case then Paul would have been condemned to hell long before he became an apostle of Christ. Moses would have been condemned before he could be called to lead the Israelites, and if that was the case……well I know that I would have been condemned from a fairly early age. The Lord comes to each of us at different times in our lives, for you it might have been at a young age, for others it might not be until very late in life. The point is, if we spend all of our time condemning, and judging, we don't leave much room for compassion, and love. If people are to follow our example, as we follow Christ's, and all they see is judgment, and iron fisted rule, then we are not giving the true picture of Christ. We do a disservice to our youth, and to the Lord Himself. So who is judging whom? Will we not have to stand by our actions, just the same as the next person? Christ goes on to tell us that the very words He spoke will condemn on the last day. That will be the time for judgment, and it will not be you or I in the judgment seat. To make it simple, Love breeds compassion, which breeds understanding, understanding brings about a change of heart, and perspective. Judgment brings about finality, anger, and resentment…..Which did Christ portray when He walked the face of this earth? Which will you choose to show the world? Remember, 3 John1:11 "Anyone who does what is evil has have not seen God"…….yet.
God Bless,
Brian Thetford
The New
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