Grading Yourself On A Curve

We've all most likely heard someone quote the verse, "Judge not lest ye be judged".  It's likely the most quoted verse in Christian scripture.  It's easy to see why this is so.  I mean, who really wants to subject themselves to the scrutiny of someone who might be less merciful than God Himself?  I would guess that not many of us would volunteer for that.  But you know, I have often said that if you love me you will not leave me to my sinful devices.  If you really love me, if I fall into temptation and succumb to it you will snatch me from the flames.  This is a biblical mindset.  But how many believers are willing to subject themselves to the scrutiny of others so as to be made accountable to them for their behavior?  

If you are a person who studies God's word you are probably familiar with the Apostle Paul and his ministry to the people of Corinth.  I'll be candid with you and just say it plainly, in my opinion the people of Corinth seem like a completely depraved and nasty people.  These guys were into things that to me seem so extremely vile that I can hardly believe they could call themselves Christians, but they did.  From adultery and debauchery to orgies and the like, these people (at least some of them) seemed so far given over to their sinful flesh that I often wonder at the fact that God spent so much time reaching out to them through the Apostle Paul, but He did.  

What my eyes and mind would cling to is the fact that at least I'm not a sinner "like those sinners".  And in the spirit of hypocrisy I would cling to some ill-perceived saving worth within myself when compared with these people.  But I would be wrong.  While it's true that I am not a sinner like these people were sinners, I was equally in need of a Savior, and I am still.  

My sinfulness and equal need of a Savior does not negate the fact that there was great evil being practiced in the church of Corinth, nor does it negate the fact that God was not pleased with it.  When Paul wrote to these people his words were full of judgment and warning, rebuking them for the sinful things they were into, and sending the clear message that those who do such things are to cease and desist, or suffer for not doing so.  From being cut off from the church, to succumbing to death, Paul makes clear that consequences would follow the unrepentant.  How would these people be cut off from the church without judgement?  Surely God didn't come down and mark each unrepentant individual so as to segregate them from the rest of the church.  No, these people were marked by their lifestyles....and they were judged within the church for it.  

Paul says in 2 Corinthians 13:5  "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith.  Test yourselves.  Or do you not realize this about yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you? Unless indeed you fail to meet the test!"  Just before he said it, he warned that he was coming again and he was going to do some discipline in the church, complete with witnesses and judgment.   He even said, "I will not spare them" when speaking about those who were living sinfully while claiming to know God.  He meant business, and it was serious not just to him, but to the entire church.  God says, "Do not be deceived, God can not be mocked.  A man will reap what he sows".  Paul intended to come to Corinth and set up court in which brothers and sisters in the Lord would not only have to make a judgment about each other but actually witness to what they knew of each other and yield themselves to the scrutiny of the body of Christ as a whole.  And there were consequences attached to this hearing.  Paul, in challenging these people, told them to "examine yourselves" and "test yourselves" prior to his coming.  In order to take an examination or a test there must be facts and standards.  That means there is definitive criteria by which a person can KNOW if they are in the faith....and it most certainly includes an assessment of behavior, not just a confession of faith.  And those who are not walking according to the rules of faithful Godly behavior most certainly fail that test.  

Unfortunately, anyone who wants to can claim to be a Christian.  This is nothing new.  It happened in Corinth and it happens today.  It's the reason so many horrible things have been done in the name of Christ.   But unlike in the days of the early church there is no longer an expectation of accountability or a strict standard by which men and women are judged.  Instead, a large percentage of the body of Christ has bought into the "judge not" rhetoric and consequently the "test" is no longer administered on demand.  There is no fear of being turned out of the church or cut off from the rest of God's people.  There is no push to change behavior.   There is only the all inclusive call to "just have faith", and condemnation is believed to be averted!  The church began grading on a curve and the standard is zero judgment, zero mention of proper behavior or of condemnation (because that just isn't loving or pleasant and it makes people feel bad).  No, the test that is currently being used to "examine yourself to see if you are in the way" has one and only one criteria, "Claim you are good and it will be so".  But God says, "Woe to those who call evil good..."!   Of course, you know how that kind of test turns out for the church.  Every Tom, Dick and Harry, Sally, Jane and Sue is welcomed with open arms and open minds into the church, regardless of his or her lifestyle and this is how the culture of church has changed so much through history.  Unlike the church in Corinth, there often is no challenge to forsake sin.  No longer is sin an abomination, but rather, it is just a "poor choice" or a "struggle", nothing shameful.   It isn't unusual for sin to be considered just an "alternate lifestyle".  Adulterers, thieves, homosexuals, bisexuals, abusers, neglecters, the lazy and the indifferent....all are welcome without challenge and without judgment...all because there is ONE scripture to which the masses cling, "...judge not...".  

Unfortunately, for those who refuse to "examine" or "test" themselves truthfully according to God's standards, judgment is coming.  And though many believe they are free from damnation simply because they've learned to think well of themselves and cheer themselves on with encouraging scriptures about there being "no condemnation", it would be wise for the all tolerant masses to take seriously the command to examine themselves to see if they are in The Way.  I challenge you, like Paul, to search out what that test includes!  It's important, because when God said, "there is therefore now no condemnation" He was referring to those who are "in Christ" not those who live in sin!  Paul's letter should give men a clue that it isn't only a matter of laying claim to being a Christian.  Anyone can say they are a Christian.  But if you are someone who is living like the Corinthians lived, you should be afraid, because more severe than the judgment of men is the judgment of Christ Himself!  When you stand before God and make your futile claims to Christianity, He will not be swayed by your mere words or claims aligning yourself with Christ.  He will not grade you on a curve.  A man is either with God and living like it, or he is not with God and living in sin.  Examine yourselves to see if you are in The Way, both in body and mind.  And don't think that you will benefit from grading yourself on a curve.        

Easily Offended

There is so much to take in and consider when trying to understand love from God's perspective.  People have a natural form of love that comes with ease and at first consideration it might seem to be sufficient in regards to the command to "love your neighbor as yourself".  But in truth, the natural love or affection that comes without much effort to humans is never quite enough to satisfy the "as yourself" qualification of that command.  

For instance, it is easy to bring a hot dish over to a sick or grieving family, but it does not come easily to serve the same family to the full when their grief creates a physical need for an extended period of time.   The days following the death of a loved one might be filled with good food and well wishes, even a show of support with help in lawn care and other menial tasks of the like.  But indeed one or two months later when the initial shock of loss has passed, there surfaces a deeper more lasting form of grief and challenge that is often faced alone by a grieving family.  This is just one such instance where the easy natural love people have for one another proves to be insufficient to meet the mark of "loving your neighbor as yourself".  I'm convinced that the love spoken of in what Jesus called the second greatest command is something entirely beyond what comes naturally to man kind.  It is a deliberate, selfless, enduring kind of love that has only been demonstrated by God Himself.  Yet we are commanded to do it.

1 Corinthians 13 chisels away the likely misconceptions of love one might have, describing in great detail it's meaning according to God's desire.  It defines God's expectation of love so pointedly that I find myself in wonder at my inability to comprehend it and live it out, yet I cannot deny it.  I must confess that as a Christian woman of thirty plus years I grapple with loving my neighbor as myself quite often.  As the example I gave earlier shows, I believe I am not alone in this.  

Today, however, I want to focus on one aspect of love that seems like a no brainer to me, but apparently is quiet challenging to many people in the church, particularly women.  And when I say this, I am not pointing fingers at a specific church or situation in a church.  I am merely bringing up a matter that I've witnessed myself and that women have questioned me about on a number of occasions.

1 Corinthians 13:5 tells us that "love is not easily offended".  But I wonder how many of us have become "offended" in our church experiences.  I'm guessing that every single one of us is guilty of this failure.  And you know, the World is not ignorant about this either.  Believers have, on a number of occasions, given reason for the World to mock and scorn because we demonstrate a propensity to be offensive and to be easily offended.  

For example, we could name the stereo typical "Women's Ministry" dynamic that is so often scorned by unbelievers who have "tried doing the church thing".  You know the one I'm talking about.  Ladies gather, ladies talk, ladies try to organize something for any given ministry and one or two ladies assume the role of Bossy Bessie.  When Bossy Bessie rears her ugly head all hell breaks loose in the kitchen.  This kind of sinful, self serving, self exalting behavior makes people want to run from women's ministry.  It is offensive and people become offended and they pull away.  

If we take seriously the words of 1 Corinthians 13 then our behavior while we serve should reflect the kind of love God prefers.  Otherwise we are nothing but resounding gongs and clanging symbols and our service has no worth.  All too often I've heard women use the word, "hurt" to describe their response to the offensive behavior of "Bossy Bessies".  They respond with personal indignation to the sinful behavior of those who want to rule the roost in women's ministries becoming easily offended.  I'm guilty of this myself.  I must confess that I've done my fair share of avoiding serving at church functions because of Bossy Bessies.  But I've realized that head on love inspired confrontation of the sinful lording of others is best.  Any other response just lends itself to more sinfulness.  

Love is not easily offended.  God tells us this.  So if we respond to the sinfulness of others by "licking our wounds" and "feeling hurt" and all the other gossipy destructive responses that typically go hand in hand with being easily offended then we do not love.  We become just as guilty as Bossy Bessie who insists on having her own way.  To what end does this lead?  It leads to lack of unity and gives reason for the world to mock and criticize, depriving them of the witness of God's love between us, even causing others to stumble.  This is to our shame.  The only remedy is repentance all around.  And God will help us do it.  Love your neighbor as yourself is the second greatest command.  By paying attention to God's description of love we will be better equipped to keep this command more faithfully.   The state of being offensive and being easily offended will lose its grip on people's hearts, and believers will become the unified witness God desires them to be.  

No Power of Hell, No Scheme of Man

You can probably name the song that this phrase comes from.   It's one of my favorites.  Of course, I have a few.  But In Christ Alone is one of the best.  For some reason this phrase in particular plays in my mind from time to time.   I don't know why, but it just pops in and repeats in my thoughts.   Perhaps it's the swell of the melody.   Perhaps it's the promise that I cling to.  It's comforting to know that as formidable as any foe can be, even if it is Satan himself, the truth is, nothing can pluck me from God's hand.  

With as many hurting people in the world as there are, and as many stories as any one person might have regarding adversity, it's not uncommon to hear people ask the question,

 

"If God is a good God, why does He let (insert any possible problem here) happen?"  

I've answered this question many times for both believers and non believers.  If we all look back over our years and consider things that have happened, we might all find something formidable that shakes us.  These things might come for any number of reasons.  But, no matter why they come, there are two things certain.  Satan would use them to destroy us and God would use them to refine us and inspire His praise upon our lips. 

It's true even regarding the current wickedness our nation has embraced.  Homosexuality is not a new thing.  The only new thing is that the Supreme Court has now placed homosexual relationships legally on par with God given marriage calling them equal.  But there is no equality with the wicked and the righteous.  And there never shall be.  It shouldn't surprise any of us that the wicked act wickedly and celebrate such things.  But please don't for one moment believe that wickedness and righteousness have anything in common.  

It may be that some of God's children are reeling from the ruling, but in truth, Jesus said these things would happen.  None of what the wicked do or push for should take any of us by surprise.    I did cry when I heard the news.  Not because I hate gays.  Not because I want to hinder anyone's "love", though I will not equate lust with love ever because they are just not the same no matter what anyone would have us believe.  I cried for my nation that increasingly heaps God's wrath upon itself.  I cried because of the great deception that has come and will only get worse.  We are told in scripture that many will be deceived and that they will be deceived because they refuse to love the truth and so be saved.  My sorrow was like that of Jesus when he wept for Jerusalem and her blindness.  But my sorrow was not one of defeat.  Nor was it one of resignation.  It was one of great longing for the salvation of the lost.  Including those who once believed themselves to be Christians but have turned away.  

I want to encourage true believers everywhere not to become downcast within themselves during this current swell of wicked pride.  This is another step toward the defining line.  There will come a time when the wicked will no longer be able to freely and successfully blend in with the righteous children of God.  Even now you can see the lines becoming clearer.  Those who believe God and His word are standing strong for righteousness in many ways, not just regarding the matter of homosexuality.   

Those who have convoluted their minds and embraced doctrines of sexuality that do not align with God's are even now becoming bold enough to show where their allegiance truly lies .  If you don't believe me, just take a look at all the rainbows on Facebook and the news.  These people have hijacked a symbol of promise from God and applied it to their profile pictures and even the White House to represent their rejection of God's will and plan for sexuality.  They flaunt their chosen path with pride and those who "like" and support their choice are no less accountable for the wickedness that is going on.  

Believers, this should not hinder your praises.  God is still a good God, even when He hands the wicked over to their delusions.  God is still a good God even when the wicked revel and rejoice in what they fail to see is God's patience with them.  

I've been asking and praying for the Church to become obvious.   And so now it it upon us.  Those who accept God's word and believe are becoming more and more noticeable as the wicked masses who at one time have been able to blend in are now openly displaying their lack of wisdom and love for God's truth.   

Fear not.  No power of Hell, nor scheme of man will ever pluck you from His hand.  I encourage you to maintain an attitude of humility while at the same time maintaining God's standard of holiness outlined for us in scripture.  The world will have you believe that you are wrong and merely being hateful for agreeing with God that sin is sin.  The world will call you a bigot and hypocrite and hater and many other things.  It will push to stifle the truth spoken from your lips and will seek to put it's foot upon you socially.  The enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy.  This is not new.  Believers will become more and more defined as wickedness becomes more and more promoted and accepted.  You may even now have noticed the "good christian friend" you thought you knew so well has all this time embraced and condoned the perversion of homosexuality, making her stance clear socially via Facebook.  This is a good thing to notice. She was a good blender before now.  You knew not how to pray for her.  But she's come out of the closet and openly aligned herself with the wicked.  It may grieve you as it has grieved me many times in the past.  But it should never cause you to feel afraid or lost.  No power of hell or scheme of man can ever pluck you from His hand.   And if your friend truly loves God and belongs to Him, she will set aside her wickedness and agree with God, even if it takes great hardship and sorrow to bring her to that point.  Until then, we must pray and continue to speak the truth in love so as to snatch people from the clutches of Death.  

May God continue to guide His children in all love and faithfulness.  May His Spirit fill each one of His children with the knowledge of the Truth.  May we humbly repent of our sin and seek His face and do His will even in the face of blatant wickedness and frenzied worship of perversion.  

God Bless you!