Commandments

God's laws aren't to "confine" you or "take away your freedom". They're there for your own safety and protection.

Example seen on a random website:

"Married mother of two Els Van Doren was caught up in a love triangle with two other members of her skydiving club: Marcel 'Mars' Somers (male), and Els 'Babs' Clottemans (female). Perhaps it was wise of Mars to choose two lovers with the same first name -- he'd never say the wrong one by accident. But it was less wise to abandon one for the other in the same house. Even less to leave the jilted lover alone with the skydiving gear. In an obvious move in retrospect, Babs got a pair of scissors, cut Van Doren's parachute cords, and headed off to bed. One week later, the trio leapt from a Cessna at 13,000 feet."

Wow. And it all could have been prevented, had only someone paid attention to that whole "adultery" and "coveting" thing.

Judge not, lest ye be judged

Are we to never judge? Some think that, but they're wrong. It is true, Biblically, that it is okay to "Judge". The "Judge not, lest ye be judged" applies to making a "final" judgment, as to whether the person in question is to be saved or not. It does not apply to day to day judgments.

Regular old judgments like "is the person who just ran off with my wallet a thief?" we are not only allowed to make, but are commanded to "judge in righteousness".

However, some kinds of judgment about a person's sinning status are not in righteousness. And, for full disclosure, I've sinned the sin of judging unrighteously before, and it's a sin I still work on to this very day.

1. If the thing you are judging them of is not a salvation issue. Such as if they are a poor dresser. Perhaps you are right, perhaps you are not, but it is not a salvation issue. It is not a "righteous" judgment, but just being judgmental.

2. If the thing you are judging them on might be a sin, but reasonable people could think that it was not. Such as the guy who doubles the price of the water and food he sells right after a hurricane. Does this reflect an honest assessment of greater costs, or is he trying to make a fast buck? Reasonable people could come to differing conclusions, only God knows for sure, therefore to judge would not be righteous, but only being judgmental.

3. If the thing you are judging them on is something you then trumpet about for they to be shamed in front of everyone. It is one thing to quietly judge that the little strumpet your son wants to date is, in actuality a strumpet. It would be quite another to post about her trampiness on social media, or to let the whole congregation know you think she is of loose virtue.

"Judging in righteousness" then, while allowed, and even commanded, should be done with great caution. In the case of the poor dresser, I'd not do it at all. In the case of the potential price gouger, I should phrase it as, "It appears such may be a possibility, but such is between he and his Maker." In the case of the strumpet, it need not be mentioned to anyone. Well, except to your son!

Oh, sure, one could go up to the poor dresser, the price gouger and/or the strumpet. If you really are concerned about saving their soul, sure, go discuss it with them. Other than that, though...may as well leave it alone.

Skipping the Sermon on the Mount

I wonder if way back in the day, when people were going to the Mount to hear Jesus give a sermon, if there were some who didn't go, saying:

...I'll go next week!

...I'm not going, Jebediah is going, and he sucks!

...I'm not religious, I'm spiritual!

...You know who else preaches outside? Pagans!

...I hear that there are a lot of sinners who are going!

...I hear some attending are hypocrites!

...I hear they're even letting Romans come!

...I can just read my scriptures at home!

...Did this guy even go to Divinity school?

Now me, I know people I love who have used some of these excuses. And I know people I should love and don't quite, who have used some of these excuses.

And that's all they really are. Excuses.

"My friend couldn't make it, some here haven't showered."

Could it be said by some that they are actually "good reasons"? Well, I've said before, "Satan never tempts you with bad reasons. He tempts you with good reasons - that's why it's tempting!"

In actuality, the only reason for not going to church is for being aged, infirm, ill, injured or some such like that. Something that literally makes it impossible for you to go, or more damaging to you to go then not.

It's not like I've never missed church for a migraine - I have. But I will never miss church for mean Mrs. Grundy being there, or my sure knowledge that Old Man Potter kicked his dog last week, or how they even "let" French people attend! (I hope there's no French people reading this, and please know some of my best friends are frogs - er, French!)

But honestly, if you think there is something or someone going on at church so terrible, you need to sit down and evaluate that church. Is the church honestly wrong in letting that situation or someone be present?

If so, then you are saying the church itself is wrong, and that it's time for another church.

Whoah, whoah, you exclaim, you're not saying the church is that bad? The church is still true, it's just some local bobble or if world wide, not truly so bad as to mean finding another church?

Well then? Well?

If the problem is not worth leaving the Church itself over, then the problem, however bad it is seeming to you cannot be enough to boycott church. Nor would God or His Son Jesus or the Holy Spirit counsel such.

Jesus did not forsake the Temple because Pharisees were in there! Nor did His Disciples!

Being Tested in Faith

If only God would tell us in advance that He was about to test us, what would we not be willing to endure?

Does He want us to wear a crown of thorns? Sure, we're up for that! Does He want us to carry a literal cross? You bet! Just tell us how far!

Yeah, it's kind of almost easy, isn't it? If He personally comes and tells you to do this or that. Yeah, you'd know it would be physically hard, but hey, even if you died, pretty much a guarantee of where you'll eventually wind up, huh?

But He doesn't.

Oh, wait, don't get me wrong. You do get tested. But they are tests pertaining to this life on Earth, this imperfect world, tests due to our own sinning natures and the sinning natures of others. God Himself is not throwing stumbling blocks at you, He is simply observing how you handle the ones that come about naturally.

Swim this stormy sea?  Or deal courteously with that
dork in the next cubicle who stole your candy?  Yeah,
sure, I'll hold your watch and wallet.

God watches how you deal with those tests. Is your faith in Him strong enough to deal with those? The co-worker who did you wrong, the church brother who did you wrong, the family member who did you wrong? And a million other petty things from that guy who bumped you to the loan officer who turned you down on a technicality?

Can you pass those tests? Because from my own personal experience, and seeing and hearing of the pain of others I know who've been through various of life's travails, those can be pretty hard tests.

Those tests can make cross carrying and crown of thorn wearing look pretty darn good.

But see, God really is about knowing our hearts and seeing how strong our faith is. It really is no test at all if we are told in advance that we'll endure a given amount of pain and then get a sure reward.

The real test of faith is - can you deal with life's routine crap, and still love Him and still love His son and still love His children, including the ones who annoyed you to no end?

Loving Him and His son no matter what, yeah, maybe we're all down with that. But loving our enemies - or just friends and family and acquaintances that annoy us - hmmm...that's the real test now, isn't it?

The Parable of the Unforgiving Wealthy

Compare Matthew 18:23-35, the Parable of the Unforgiving Debtor with how it works nowadays.  In the parable, the Unforgiving Debtor was failing to forgive one who owed him money.  Nowadays, he steals from the poor, gives to the rich, and tells the poor piously, "Welfare is socialism".

Matthew 18:23-35

23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.

24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.

25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.

26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.

29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.

31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.

32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:

33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?

34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

Modern version:  The bankers and brokers did take in an abundant amount of money from the poor and working folks who trusted them, and then did squander it away on vacations and second houses and mistresses.  Then they cried out to the government saying, "Bail us out, for we are to big to fail!" and the government did hear their cries, and yea, even did rob the very people who had already been robbed, and did give abundantly to the bankers and brokers.

Then did the poor and working folk cry out, "Please, let us have some measure of aid in healthcare, and some bit of food per month, that we who have had so much took might yet get by."  But the bankers and brokers and any who were better off did harden their hearts and say, "No, for that is socialism, and theft, for the taking of money from one man for the benefit of another is wrong."

And the Lord seeing all that - well, what do YOU think He'll do?