Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Do Not Judge...Really?
Have you ever tried to help others become aware of some false teachers or some authors who are teaching/promoting concepts that are unBiblical and in stead of thanks, people accuse you of being judgmental? They usually proceed with Scripture references such as Matthew 7:1-2, "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the same measure you use, it will be measured to you." They would frown upon you for judging others or they would say you should not be throwing tomatoes at those people and assume that you're a bad, unkind, unloving Christian. Or they say...how dare you judge them, only God can judge...you're so unChristlike.
"Judging" is misunderstood by many Christians. I used to be afraid to judge anybody and thought that it's wrong to do so. But if you keep reading Matthew 7 further (verses 3-5). You will realize that God was talking about hypocritical judgment. "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." The point here is that we need to continually examine ourselves and see if there are any sins in our attitudes/heart/life we must get rid of, and that we must not mind being judged by the same measure (God's Word). I believe God wants us to have discernment...judging between good and evil, right and wrong, moral and immoral, sound doctrine and false teaching, etc. We are encouraged to be more like the Bereans (Acts 17:11). We need to compare everything to the Scripture, not just taking any man's words for it...no matter who/how famous he or she is. I posted about filtering incoming information here. "Judging" is not bad by itself. We do judge people/their character when we choose friends "Do not be misled: 'Bad company corrupts good character.'" I Corinthians 15:33 "He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm." Proverbs 13:20 Good judgment will help keep us safe and keep us from stumbling. "My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight; they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble; when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet." Proverbs 3:21-24
"Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks judgment." Proverbs 10:13
"The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out." Proverbs 18:15
It all comes down to our attitudes of the heart. When we expose someone's wrongdoings, what's our motive? To warn others so that they won't be deceived...so that they won't fall into believing/following the wrong things...because we love them and care about them? We need to do this out of love and humility. If our motive is to bring that person down, to prove that we're better, or to make fun of that person, then it is very wrong. We should never slander or ridicule anyone. We should remain respectful at all time. We may judge their actions but not their heart because only God knows their heart. For example: Johnny stole a candy bar. What Johnny did was wrong. You may call him a thief. But we should not say that he is covetous or that he is such a horrible, mean person...because we don't know his heart. He may have been starving for days or he may have wanted to be able to feed his younger sibling or he has never been taught that stealing is wrong. Similarly, we do not know if false teachers are deliberately deceiving people or if they themselves have been deceived and really think they are teaching the right things. We should continue to love them and pray for them. However, it does not mean that we cannot or should not let others know about their false teachings. If you knew a restaurant or a chef that serves poisonous food, wouldn't you want to warn others before they consume it?
Recently, on a Christian forum, someone expressed a concern regarding Rick Warren (link: http://www.onenewsnow.com/Culture/Default.aspx?id=481280) and Joel Osteen. She was also quoting this verse, "For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." 2 Timothy 4:3-4 Most commenters (sisters in Christ) agreed that these two preachers have done some false teachings. However, a few were not pleased to see that these other sisters in Christ "judged" the two preachers.
What Mr. Rick Warren did (according to the article) was obviously wrong (he lied and he did not uphold the Biblical truth regarding marriage between one man and one woman). A real Godly man fears God, not men and lives by the Book (God's Word), not by peer/media pressure or by society's standard!
"But Peter and John replied, 'Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God." Acts 4:19 "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter." Isaiah 5:20
If you want to know why Joel Osteen is considered a false teacher, please read Christianity in Crisis: 21st Century by Hank Hanegraaff. You can find my daughter's review of the book at http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/lifeoffaith/684181/. What do you think of this video (showing Mr. Osteen's unBiblical view on pain, sickness, sufferings, etc.)? I do not agree with everything Mark Driscoll said and do not like the way he made fun of Joel Osteen; nevertheless, he shared some great points to ponder). Word of Faith (name it-claim it-believe it-get it) Movement and Prosperity Gospel have led many astray.
God wants us to be free from sin, not from sufferings and trials. He wants us to be holy, not wealthy and healthy. I believe God provides and God heals but in many cases, God sustains people by providing strength, peace, joy, courage and heal their hearts while they still have to endure physical/mental problems, sickness, and hardships in life on earth. "I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33
If you think of "prosperous" as advancing in the pursuit of God & of furthering His kingdom and being rich in faith, then by all means, be prosperous. I'm all for abiding in Jesus and bearing good fruit. However, Joel Osteen and other prosperity preachers believe in something else that is not Biblical. I was born and raised up in a third world country where there are slums and children search through garbage for food/survival. Do you think poor people, barely surviving people, starving people don't have enough faith in God? Do you think people who struggle with physical or mental problems don't have enough faith in God? That's what Word of Faith Movement preachers and Prosperity Gospel preachers believe. Look at Joni Eareckson Tada and Nick Vujicic; God has not healed them physically yet but He has been using them mightily to reach people with the Good News and His love. Look at Charles H. Spurgeon who suffered physically and mentally (battling with depression) all his life; God used him to bless and minister to countless people. You don't think Paul had hardships? "They (Paul and Barnabas) preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. 'We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,' they said." Acts 14:21-22 Paul is implying that following Christ (a life of faith) is not a life free of hardships.
Someone quoted 3 John 1:2, "Dear Friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well."...saying that God wants us to be healthy (what Joel Osteen believes).
My response: That verse is John's prayer for Gaius. Of course, anyone would pray for good health. John continues in verse 4, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth." Walking in truth is more important than having good health. I believe God wants us to be more concerned about our heart, soul, and spirit than our physical condition. God wants us to be faithful, thankful, and joyful whether in health or in sickness. We should pray for God's will to be done in our life. If you are diagnosed with cancer, what will you say? Will you blame God if He never heals you...will you blame yourself that you should have had more faith? If you truly believe God wants people to be healthy, you believe it's His will...and if it's His will, when you pray for healing, He should heal you, right?
I do not want any of you to just believe my words, Hank's words, or Driscoll's words. I hope you all do your own investigation on these questionable preachers, search the Scriptures, and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth to you. Judge for yourself :)! |
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Tuesday, June 16, 2009 - Joel Osteen
I find a lot of things wrong in the lives of people at work, but it is not my calling to straighten up their lives. Some are born again, some are not.
Would be fired if I did anyway, and the Lord knows that. I love whoever the Lord lays on my heart to love, doing somethiing for them, a smile, a kind word, etc.
But I have to realize my motivational spiritual gift is mercy, so this may be why we see things differently on judging. My life is not perfect enough to judge anyone anyway, but may God didn't give me that responsibility. He gives us all different gifts, and we do better moving under the guidance of the Holy Spirit with our gift He has given us. Joel Osteen's gift is to encourage and lift Christians up out of their sinking lives, discouraged lives, hurting lives, gives them hope, shares the way of salvation for the lost. He has been a blessing to me. I am not prosperous in wealth and may be, but want to be prosperous in faith, and in the joy of the Lord. He wants us to have an abundant life, it is mentioned all throughout scriptures. Some he does prosper with wealth, but they will be judged more if they are not good stewards of their money. Have asked God not to give me wealth if it would draw me away from my relationshp with Him, and yet Joe keeps buying megabucks and the other one, $2 a week trying to win the lottery. I told him he doesn't have a chance sand shared my prayers some time ago, and even of late. I personally am sure we won't win, but he has to keep trying i guess. lol. Love you, glad we can agree to disagree. There are those whose gift is to heal, others, the gift of teching, preaching, etc. David Jeremiah is my favorite of all on TV. Wow, he preaches the Word like I used to hear it years ago. after Bill Wickey's experience there, wow, any church's pastor can go the wrong way, be deceived by the enemy, the deceiver is working overtime for sure. Anyway, have talked too much. Love, Mom