JUDGMENTAL JUNK
(All my sermons use illustrations are found on www.sermoncentral.com and all scripture is NIV unless otherwise noted)
This Sermon is preceded by a small puppet skit entitled “Mr. Teacherdude” and the scripture 2 COR 5:16-17 which says: So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
I repeat that scripture and then PRAYER
It is easy for all of us to get into a place where we judge each other, we ALL do it! Some of us don’t mean to, some of us DO mean to, but at some time we ALL judge others. The Bible is very clear on judging others and still we do it. I know I have.
The people that fixed my van as I made the trip across the country one time. A small rock had bounced up and hit the fan belt pulley and bent it so that the fan belt would not stay on. They were a rough looking crowd that just wanted to help, I was very judgmental, but faced with no choice I followed this biker to a garage up in the mountains and he and his buddies did surgery on my van, taking the pulley off, bending it back right, finding me a new belt and sending us on our way. When I asked them what I owed, they said, “Aw, just buy us a case of beer.” I handed them 20 bucks, and told them I would pray for them, but I must admit I was judgmental. The Bible tells us clearly that we have no business judging those outside the brotherhood of the church. 1 Cor 5:12-13 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you."
We have no business judging those that are outside the church body, those that have not accepted Jesus as Lord of their lives, had their sins forgiven in the waters of baptism. The Bible says we are to judge those inside the church, BUT, Jesus told us HOW we are to judge those inside the church. A scripture passage that even those outside the church are familiar with. Matthew 7, the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tell us this:
Matt 7:1-5 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 "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? 4 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? 5 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.
This passage is one where I see Jesus telling us that we should be somewhat tolerant of each other. We must understand that we are ALL sinners in need of a Savior. None of us can stand in judgment of another when there is sin in our lives. I must admit, the people I am most intolerant of, are those that are intolerant of others. Those that judge what other people should be DOING or should not BE doing are the ones that I in turn judge as being wrong. AND yet I know I am judgmental as well, I see people that need to lose weight, and I IS ONE OF THEM.
Maybe it starts with the fact that we COMPARE ourselves to each other in so many ways. Many of us would like to be thinner, or taller. Some people see themselves as old alley cats, other as Persians. Some people think they are the prize poodle, but really they are more like a mangy mutt. How many of us are truly happy with the way we are? When I was a kid, I thought surely I was adopted and one day my REAL parents would come and rescue me from those crazy people who said they were my family. NOW, that I am a parent of many, many teenagers, I am sure they are hoping for such a rescue. How many times have I caught myself saying “anything would be better than this,” only to later think I was WRONG.
The truth is, if we need to compare ourselves to anyone, it should be Christ.
I. SEEING PEOPLE THROUGH THE EYES OF JESUS
Today we looked at a scripture that says, we should NO LONGER regard anyone from a worldly point of view - we need to see people through the eyes of Jesus. Paul actually tells the church at Corinth that once Jesus was looked at through the eyes of the world, as a mere man. Jesus was looked at by what they saw on the outside and they got it all wrong, because of this they no longer look at any Christian by what they see on the outside, but by what is inside.
Folks I can tell you the one thing that makes Christianity different from all other religions in the world. At a comparative religions conference, the wise and the scholarly were in a spirited debate about what is unique about Christianity. Someone suggested what set Christianity apart from other religions was the concept of incarnation, the idea that God took human form in Jesus. But someone quickly said, “Well, actually, other faiths believe that God appears in human form.” Another suggestion was offered: what about resurrection? The belief that death is not the final word. That the tomb was found empty. Someone slowly shook his head. Other religions have accounts of people returning from the dead.
Then, as the story is told, C.S. Lewis walked into the room, tweed jacket, pipe, arm full of papers, a little early for his presentation. He sat down and took in the conversation, which had by now evolved into a fierce debate. Finally during a lull, he spoke saying, “what’s all this rumpus about?” Everyone turned in his direction. Trying to explain themselves they said, “We’re debating what’s unique about Christianity.” “Oh, that’s easy,” answered Lewis. “It’s grace.” The room fell silent.
Lewis continued that Christianity uniquely claims God’s love comes free of charge, no strings attached. No other religion makes that claim. After a moment someone commented that Lewis had a point, Buddhists, for example, follow an eight-fold path to enlightenment. It’s not a free ride. Hindus believe in karma, that your actions continually affect the way the world will treat you; that there is nothing that comes to you not set in motion by your actions. Someone else observed the Jewish code of the law implies God has requirements for people to be acceptable to him and in Islam God is a God of Judgement not a God of love. You live to appease him At the end of the discussion everyone concluded Lewis had a point. Only Christianity dares to proclaim God’s love is unconditional. An unconditional love that we call grace.
Christians boldly proclaim that grace really has precious little to do with us, our inner resolve, or our lack of inner resolve. Rather, grace is all about God and God freely giving to us the gifts of forgiveness, mercy, and love.
How dare we judge those that are not in Christ, and how careful we need to be when regarding those that have been made a NEW, or “born again.” They are subjects of God’s amazing Grace, and unconditional love that God expects us to show one another.
The Bible is full of real and imperfect people. Noah was a drunk; Abraham was too old and a liar; Sarah laughed at God’s promises; Isaac was a daydreamer; Jacob was a liar; Leah was ugly. Joseph was abused; Moses had a stuttering problem and a short fuse; Miriam was a gossip; Gideon was afraid; Samson had long hair and was a womanizer; Jeremiah and Timothy were too young. Naomi was a widow; Job went bankrupt; David started off too young, then his armor didn’t fit, then he had an affair; Solomon was too rich. Elijah was burned-out and suicidal; Isaiah preached naked; Jeremiah was depressed; Jonah ran from God; Amos’ only training was in the school of fig-tree pruning; Hosea’s wife was a prostitute. John the Baptist ate bugs; Martha worried about everything; the Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once; Peter denied Christ; the disciples fell asleep while praying; Thomas doubted; Zaccheus was too small; John Mark was rejected by Paul; Paul himself was too religious, plus, he was a murderer, as were Moses and David. And of course, Lazarus was dead!
We who are God’s children must be careful to examine ourselves before we take to judging God’s people. Jesus gave us this wonderful example as he was challenged by a woman that was caught in sin, a woman that had committed adultery and the Pharisees asked Jesus, The Law of Moses says we should stone her, what do you say? John 8:7-11 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" 11 "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."
II. LITTLE THINGS DO GREAT DAMAGE
So many times I hear about judgments passed on other people that make no sense at all. People looking for little things that might make them feel better about themselves if they can make it seem as if someone else is wrong. Petty, small-minded, accusations that serve no other purpose then to make the accuser feel better about themselves. These things ruin servants and destroy churches.
Chuck Swindoll tells a humorous but rather sobering tale of the other side of the coin, the flip side that reveals the dark side of judgement or, more aptly put, critical thinking out of control. He says, “Several months ago I was conversing with a man I greatly admire. He is a Christian leader in a position that carries with it heavy and extensive responsibility. He said he was grieved on behalf of a missionary family he and his wife had known for years. the legalism they had encountered again and again on the mission field from fellow missionaries was so petty, so unbelievably small-minded, they had returned to the states and no longer planned to remain career missionaries. He said it was over a jar of peanut butter. I thought he was joking, to which he responded, ‘No, it’s no joke at all.’ I could hardly believe the story.
The particular place they were sent to serve the Lord did not have access to peanut butter. This particular family happened to enjoy peanut butter a great deal. Rather creatively, they made arrangements with some of their friends in the States to send them peanut butter every now and then so they could enjoy it with their meals. The problem is they didn’t know until they started receiving their supply of peanut butter that the other missionaries considered it a mark of spirituality that you NOT have peanut butter with your meals. I suppose the line went something like this: ‘We believe since we can’t get peanut butter here, we should give it up for the cause of Christ,’ or some such nonsense. A basis of spirituality was ‘bearing the cross’ of living without peanut butter.
The young family didn’t buy into that line of thinking. Their family kept getting regular shipments of peanut butter. They didn’t flaunt it, they just enjoyed it in the privacy of their own home. Pressure began to intensify. You would expect adult missionaries to be big enough to let others eat what they pleased, right? Wrong. The legalism was so petty, the pressure got so intense and the exclusive treatment so unfair, it finished them off spiritually. They finally had enough. Unable to continue against the mounting pressure, they packed it in and were soon homeward bound, disillusioned and probably a bit cynical. What we have here is a classic modern-day example of a group of squint-eyed legalist spying out and attacking another’s liberty. Not even missionaries are exempt.”
I served in a church where a man refused to support a missionary because they could only get white grape juice for communion, he said he would not support a missionary who did not serve purple grape juice, it isn’t what God intended.
Petty in-differences are only brought to light because this makes some feel better about the sin that is in their own lives. People look for the smallest things to create division in the church and make themselves better, but Jesus warned that in the manner we judge we too will be judged. Paul tell us in Romans:14:10-13 You have no right to criticize your brother or look down on him. Remember, each of us will stand personally before the Judgment Seat of God. 11 For it is written, "As I live," says the Lord, "every knee shall bow to me and every tongue confess to God." 12 Yes, each of us will give an account of himself to God. 13 So don't criticize each other anymore. Try instead to live in such a way that you will never make your brother stumble by letting him see you doing something he thinks is wrong.
III. GOSSIP IS GARBAGE
Perhaps the greatest judgmental junk of all is GOSSIP. So many people engage in this form of judgment, not knowing all the facts, not discussing things with the one that is being spoken of, BUT talking behind the backs of other Christians.
GOSSIP breaks down relationships, it divides churches and takes down innocent Christians. Making up, or spreading false reports is strictly forbidden by God, and people who tell others things they have heard, without knowing all the facts are guilty of GOSSIP. Gossip, slander, and false witnessing undermines families, strains the unity of a church and it makes chaos of a justice system. Destructive gossip still causes problems in the church today. Ex 23:1 "Do not spread false reports. Do not help a wicked man by being a malicious witness.
Harriet, the church gossip and self-appointed supervisor of the church’s morals, kept sticking her nose into other people’s business.
Several residents were unappreciative of her activities, but feared her enough to maintain their silence. She made a mistake, however, when she accused George, a new member, of being an alcoholic after she saw his pickup truck parked all afternoon in front of the town’s only bar. She commented to George and others that everyone seeing it there would know that he was an alcoholic. George, a man of few words, stared at her for a moment and then just walked away. He said nothing. Later that evening, George quietly parked his pickup in front of Harriet’s house and left it there all night... In the manner you judge, you too will be judged!!!
Even if you do not initiate a lie, you become responsible if you pass it along. Don’t circulate Gossip, STOP IT.
Gossip wastes valuable time, time that can be used to build God’s kingdom instead of tearing it down. 2 Thess 3:11 We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies.
Busybodies need to find something to occupy their time, they need to stand in judgement and waste time spreading the Gospel message as the Bible tells us we need to do. Gossip is not a friend of the church, My name is Gossip. I have no respect for justice. I maim without killing. I break hearts and ruin lives. I am cunning and malicious and gather strength with age. The more I am quoted, the more I am believed. I flourish at every level of society. My victims are helpless. They cannot protect themselves against me because I have no face. To track me down is impossible. The harder you try, the more elusive I become. I am nobodies friend. Once I tarnish a reputation, it is never the same. I topple governments, wreck marriages, and ruin careers -- cause sleepless nights, heartaches, and indigestion. I spawn suspicion and generate grief. I make innocent people cry in their pillows. Even my name hisses… I make headlines and headaches. Before you repeat a story, ask yourself, Is it true? Is it fair? Is it necessary? If not – shut up!
Gossip is more harmful and lasting than physical wounds.
( use of a physical illustration in where I explain that the VCR on the table next to me is just like any other VCR . . . . I saw this illustration used at chapel when attending Johnson Bible College . . The preacher says, (pointing to the VCR) “ this is your church, and this is your church on Gossip” and then proceeds to smash the VCR, “any questions?”
I want to close by sharing the Devil’s Beatitudes with you.
1. Blessed are those who are too tired, too busy, too distracted to spend even an hour once a week with their fellow Christians – they are my best workers.
2. Blessed are those Christians who wait to be asked and expect to be thanked -- I can use them.
3. Blessed are the touchy who stop going to church –for they are my missionaries.
4. Blessed are the trouble makers – for they shall be called my children.
5. Blessed are the complainers –for their complaints are music to my ears.
6. Blessed are those who keep a list of the preachers mistakes -- for they get nothing out of his sermons.
7. Blessed is the church member who expects to be invited to his own church – for he is a part of the problem instead of the solution.
8. Blessed are those who gossip -- for they shall cause strife and divisions that please me.
9. Blessed are those who are easily offended -- for they will soon get angry and quit. 10. Blessed are those who do not give an offering to carry on God’s work – for in stealing from God you steal for me.
11. Blessed is he who professes to love God but hates his brother and sister -- for he shall be with me forever.
12. Blessed are you who, when you hear this, think the preacher is talking about someone other than you– for I’ve got you right where I want you.
Judgmental junk, there is no room for it in God’s church, we must see others through the eyes of Jesus, understand that little things do great damage, and stay away FROM GOSSIP.
Are you here this morning and you don’t know Jesus? Jesus died for our sins, He rose again on the third day to give us victory over sin. Have you accepted Him in the water of baptism and gained the forgiveness of your sin and the gift of the Holy Spirit? This morning as the ladies come forward we will be singing our invitation song, # 62 in your hymnal “Just As I Am”. I invite anyone that needs Jesus to come forward. Accept Him as Lord of your life and be born again, a new creation where the old is gone, the new has come.
Perhaps you have given your life to Christ but you feel compelled to come back to Him, you have wandered away for a period of time, you are guilty of causing problems in your church. Perhaps you have visited with us for quite some time and you have never become a member. If you are a immersed believer in Jesus Christ and you are looking for a home church we welcome you with open arms, please come forward during this time of invitation. I ask everyone to stand as we sing this morning.
INVITATION
