Judgment seems to have taken on a negative connotation. So often we hear people –especially those who know very little about the Bible and less about Jesus Christ- chastise Christians by quoting, “ judge not, lest you be judged.” This is taken so much out of the context of what Jesus was talking about and is actually not really what many think he was saying, but nevertheless, it is quoted as this rock-solid proclamation. Hence, many come away with some ideas: 1. That all judgment is bad 2. That Jesus never judged anyone 3. We are never to judge anything or anyone if we are really loving Christians 4. That somehow God will not judge us either, because if we have been good people, and done good works, attended church, been pillars of our own social order or profession, we are entitled to heaven.
There are two things that this thinking allows us to do. It allows us NOT to take the need for salvation seriously and it allows us to believe that no judgment exists by God. This underlying thinking is pervasive in our culture, fortified by current liberated attitudes that are completely disconnected from an understanding of who God is, or what the Bible says, and why Jesus Christ was brought to us. It is often like trying to listen to an illiterate person explain why they enjoyed the novel War and Peace. They may have heard about pieces of it, but their understanding is miniscule, their depth thin. They fall so short because, like so many things, they just do not have time for it. We see it everyday in our society and we also see it every day and more and more in the liberal end of Christianity.
Jude is a serious book, one that I must confess, I really had not read. It is serious because the writer is showing great concern, as many of these letters have, over waning faith and the distortions that came with it in the early church. He talks a lot about the scoffers out there who have no time to believe or care to believe.
How many of us know scoffers? Now, they do not have to be only atheists or agnostics that we encounter, but how many of us know people who have been baptized and confirmed and yet never or rarely attend church? Oh, they celebrate Christmas, and mention Easter but beyond that there is not much. Do you think that any one of these people feel that they will not meet the Lord in Heaven? I know that church attendance is not everything, but faith is the only thing that supports our soul. How do we gain faith and grow in faith if we never or rarely connect to the Lord. Is he a date on the Calendar (December 25th)? Can we really understand a God who has spoken to us through the Bible and more importantly through his son, when we never break open his word? I have witnessed associates dismiss attending a Bible study because they claimed to want to “read the Bible at home.” But, I am not sure that ever happened. Like most of us on a diet, accountability is helpful especially when we have many good intentions, but have trouble realizing them.
More concerning, are individuals who are lost from the Lord, who scoff at his word, and those who are committed to immoral lives, as Jude mentions in 1:8-10. I say committed to immoral lives because we rarely think that people commit to such a thing. But if that is how we live and what is an important part of our life, is that not a commitment? We do not have to go far in our neighborhoods to find such commitment to immorality. Ask any social worker, teacher or any one in law enforcement. Turn on your TV and invest time surfing through many channels that are committed to focusing on the immoral, the seedy, the depraved, the debauched, to greed and the desperate lives of the lost who may never be found.
Yet, there is something more in this book of Jude then just what affects an individual. There is the collective direction of our thinking and of where Christianity is headed. Jude says: These people are…., living only to satisfy their desires…..But you, my dear friends, must remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ said. They told you that in the last times there would be scoffers whose purpose in life is to satisfy their ungodly desires. These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God’s Spirit in them.” Jude 16-19.
When I read this it made me think of our brethren in many main line churches who now advocate for abortion, or at least the right for a woman to have one, who advocate that being homosexual is acceptable, even in the pulpit, that marriage is unnecessary and won’t last anyway, who have determined that Jesus is no longer considered divine, that most of what is in the new testament is not what Christ said (The Jesus Seminar), that no one needs saving and that those who believe that salvation is important are hysterical. There is an intentional desire to make immorality less immoral, or even acceptable. Many have worked hard purposefully to satisfy their ungodly desires and then make it OK to think or act out what they desire. This is being preached in many liberal churches and it is easy to find the discussions that have ensued in denominational conventions by looking it up on the internet. The truth that was once cherished as God’s truth has become circumspect, relative and nearly invisible. I once heard a pastor from one such denomination scoff and laugh at what he saw as the incredibly stupid evangelicals who felt the need to be saved, because he is of the belief that we are saved upon baptism, no matter how we live our lives or how invisible our faith becomes.
Jude reminds us that there is judgment, that thing that we all want to claim will not happen. He tells us in 1:10-11 “But these people scoff at things they do not understand. Like unthinking animals, they do whatever their instincts tell them, and so they bring about their own destruction. What sorrow awaits them!” Furthermore, he says this: “you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives.” Jude 1:22-23
So what can we say about judgment? Does it exist? Jude makes it clear that there is judgment ahead for all, no matter what a church denomination has approved about a lifestyle that individuals have chosen or the positions that they have taken on God’s word. And for the scoffer or the religious malcontent, there is little hope. Judgment will happen. Accountability to God is inevitable. Yet, here is the thing that so much of the scoffing or liberal, media-driven public does not grasp, those who have Jesus, have life and they have the divine intercessory in our savior, who will stand with us. Not one of us will be able to claim perfection or a sinless life, but all who claim Christ and have surrendered their life to him will see him standing with them before the righteous judgment of the Lord. Jesus will be our protector, our ministering champion, our all in all. There is nothing – absolutely nothing like him. Shame on those who scoff and ridicule his holiness and his power, his grace and his mercy. They have no idea who they are talking about.
Laurie Erdman
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Friday, December 7, 2007
A Good Word
3 John 1:1-15
As I read 3 John, a couple things strike me.
The first is verse 2, "I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit." Wow! When I think about spiritual health, most often I hope to be as healthy spiritually, as I am physically. John hopes the opposite for his friend, Gaius. My first response is, how do I care more about my spiritual health than I do my physical health? Am I putting as much effort into being healthy spiritually? Am I fighting spiritual weakness as intensely as I would try to fight off a cold or heal from an injury? And those are good questions, but I looked at an older version of the NLT, too, which says, "I am praying that all is well with you and that your body is as healthy as I know your soul is." Now that is reassuring, isn't it? As we follow Jesus, trusting Him as our Savior, spiritually we're as healthy as can be, because we have received the righteousness of Christ. Anyone who is in Christ is spiritually strong, because we are made whole in Jesus!
Another thing that strikes me is that this letter is short. Did you notice what little time it took to read? But think of the impact it had on Gaius, the impact it maybe has had on you already, as you find encouragement to continue doing good and to not be distracted or defeated by the bad examples or negative influences around you. John tells Gaius that he is doing a good work for God through his hospitality to these traveling teachers. John is doing the same by writing this letter to his friend, offering words of encouragement. Do you know someone who could use encouragement today? What impact might you (and God through you) have on a person close to you through a kind word at the office, a note sent through the mail or electronically, or a quick phone call? How might God use you and me to strengthen someone in their walk with Jesus? Even more than that, how might a word of encouragement or a small act of kindness from us, be a witness to someone around us that God might use to open a door for the gospel?
Already, I think I've written more than John did. I hope all is well with you today and that you are as healthy in body (and as effective in action) as Christ has made you strong in spirit!
As I read 3 John, a couple things strike me.
The first is verse 2, "I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit." Wow! When I think about spiritual health, most often I hope to be as healthy spiritually, as I am physically. John hopes the opposite for his friend, Gaius. My first response is, how do I care more about my spiritual health than I do my physical health? Am I putting as much effort into being healthy spiritually? Am I fighting spiritual weakness as intensely as I would try to fight off a cold or heal from an injury? And those are good questions, but I looked at an older version of the NLT, too, which says, "I am praying that all is well with you and that your body is as healthy as I know your soul is." Now that is reassuring, isn't it? As we follow Jesus, trusting Him as our Savior, spiritually we're as healthy as can be, because we have received the righteousness of Christ. Anyone who is in Christ is spiritually strong, because we are made whole in Jesus!
Another thing that strikes me is that this letter is short. Did you notice what little time it took to read? But think of the impact it had on Gaius, the impact it maybe has had on you already, as you find encouragement to continue doing good and to not be distracted or defeated by the bad examples or negative influences around you. John tells Gaius that he is doing a good work for God through his hospitality to these traveling teachers. John is doing the same by writing this letter to his friend, offering words of encouragement. Do you know someone who could use encouragement today? What impact might you (and God through you) have on a person close to you through a kind word at the office, a note sent through the mail or electronically, or a quick phone call? How might God use you and me to strengthen someone in their walk with Jesus? Even more than that, how might a word of encouragement or a small act of kindness from us, be a witness to someone around us that God might use to open a door for the gospel?
Already, I think I've written more than John did. I hope all is well with you today and that you are as healthy in body (and as effective in action) as Christ has made you strong in spirit!
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Living According to the Truth
How happy I was to meet some of your children and find them living according to the truth,
just as the Father commanded.
2 John: 4
just as the Father commanded.
2 John: 4
In reading this passage from 2 John, I can easily put myself in the mindset of the original recipients. I can imagine few things that would bring me greater joy than to have someone send this report to me regarding the way my children had chosen to live their lives. I pray that one day in the future, one of you will be able to send that message to me.
As parents, we long to see evidence that the seeds of faith that we are sowing are taking root. We pray that the love of Christ that they see evidenced in our lives will one day be seen in theirs. And that the simple faith they profess as young people will be authentic and vibrant when they are older.
However, since many of us live in such a way that the only time we have between structured activities is filled with chores, when will our children learn the things of God? Are we simply "trusting them to the professionals" by assuming their spiritual foundation will come from Sunday School, Confirmation, Youth Group, or the various college ministries? And what of our adult children? Are we still teaching them, or now simply praying that some pastor somewhere might be able to help them to open up their hearts to Jesus?
We are to teach our children when we sit at home and when we walk along the road, when we lie down and when we get up so that one day someone will be able to tell us that they have found them to be living according to the truth. Might this be true of me.
Lord Jesus, little is more precious to us than the spiritual growth of our children and the children of our church. But Lord, do our actions show it? How many are struggling, like I am, to overcome the tyranny of the urgent in order to set time aside to focus on what is eternal? We give our children, our calendars and our misplaced priorities to You. Do a mighty work in us so that the way we spend our time will reflect what we claim to hold most dear. We lift up the children of our church who are grown and gone - may we hear of them that they are living according to the truth. Amen.
As parents, we long to see evidence that the seeds of faith that we are sowing are taking root. We pray that the love of Christ that they see evidenced in our lives will one day be seen in theirs. And that the simple faith they profess as young people will be authentic and vibrant when they are older.
However, since many of us live in such a way that the only time we have between structured activities is filled with chores, when will our children learn the things of God? Are we simply "trusting them to the professionals" by assuming their spiritual foundation will come from Sunday School, Confirmation, Youth Group, or the various college ministries? And what of our adult children? Are we still teaching them, or now simply praying that some pastor somewhere might be able to help them to open up their hearts to Jesus?
We are to teach our children when we sit at home and when we walk along the road, when we lie down and when we get up so that one day someone will be able to tell us that they have found them to be living according to the truth. Might this be true of me.
Lord Jesus, little is more precious to us than the spiritual growth of our children and the children of our church. But Lord, do our actions show it? How many are struggling, like I am, to overcome the tyranny of the urgent in order to set time aside to focus on what is eternal? We give our children, our calendars and our misplaced priorities to You. Do a mighty work in us so that the way we spend our time will reflect what we claim to hold most dear. We lift up the children of our church who are grown and gone - may we hear of them that they are living according to the truth. Amen.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Read verse 1 again…and then again. In place of reading the word – everyone, put your name there and read it again! Love and obey God – they go together rather well, don’t they? Defeat or victory…for me, for you, for us? Friends, we as Christians are in a battle against this world’s sin and wrong. In verse 6 we read about his baptism and his death (the water and the blood). God Himself has put His approval on His Son, Jesus, our Savior. Whoever has the Son has life! Hymn: O Come to my heart, Lord Jesus, there is room in my heart for Thee. The purpose of John’s letter is that we may know we have eternal life. I like the reminder that our gospel of salvation is not a hope so thing. V. 15 – Prayer requests. The value of having others share in our prayer requests. V. 16 – Frankly, this is a little difficult to understand fully by some of us. V. 18 – If I make it a practice to sin that must mean _________________. V. 20 – Living in fellowship with God the Father, and His Son! That’s great! V. 21 – Always reserve first place in your life for the Lord.
Donald E. Pardun
Monday, December 3, 2007
Real Love
I John 3:7-24
I can hear in my mind an old 80's radio tune. The band lead achingly croons, "I wanna know what love is!" As I recall, though they topped the charts, Foreigner and their song never quite answered the question.
Our Daily Life reading today answers the question. This is the other John 3:16, I John 3:16: "We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us."
The claim inferred by the converse is also quite clear: if Jesus doesn't give His life, and if I don't grasp the gift of that, I will never truly know what real love is.
But, because Jesus has given His life for us, we can understand love. We live on the receiving end of real love, and that changes us. It moves us to faith (see v. 23). And, it moves us to live sacrificially, living with great concern for others, willing to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters (v.17). This changes how we view our wealth, how we view people in need, how we act and spend and live compassionately. Jesus' real love does all of that in us. It does not allow us live by cheap words, but by expensive actions that accompany words. His love in us makes us confident when we stand before God (v.19).
And, then follows this verse I have long loved (v.20), "Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings" . (The NIV says it this way, "whenever our hearts condemn us... God is greater than our hearts".) Because of the love of Jesus, because of His sacrifice that declares His love and shows me what true love is: even when I feel unlovable, He proves me wrong. Real love does change us, but real love also knows there will be plenty days we won't feel changed. On those days, Jesus' real love sets our heart at rest.
-PPaul
I can hear in my mind an old 80's radio tune. The band lead achingly croons, "I wanna know what love is!" As I recall, though they topped the charts, Foreigner and their song never quite answered the question.
Our Daily Life reading today answers the question. This is the other John 3:16, I John 3:16: "We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us."
The claim inferred by the converse is also quite clear: if Jesus doesn't give His life, and if I don't grasp the gift of that, I will never truly know what real love is.
But, because Jesus has given His life for us, we can understand love. We live on the receiving end of real love, and that changes us. It moves us to faith (see v. 23). And, it moves us to live sacrificially, living with great concern for others, willing to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters (v.17). This changes how we view our wealth, how we view people in need, how we act and spend and live compassionately. Jesus' real love does all of that in us. It does not allow us live by cheap words, but by expensive actions that accompany words. His love in us makes us confident when we stand before God (v.19).
And, then follows this verse I have long loved (v.20), "Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings" . (The NIV says it this way, "whenever our hearts condemn us... God is greater than our hearts".) Because of the love of Jesus, because of His sacrifice that declares His love and shows me what true love is: even when I feel unlovable, He proves me wrong. Real love does change us, but real love also knows there will be plenty days we won't feel changed. On those days, Jesus' real love sets our heart at rest.
-PPaul
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Hope, Help, and Direction
1 John 2:18—3:6
3:3—What is our hope? Our hope is that Jesus is coming again. When this happens, we will see him as he really is and then we will become like him.
In the mean time, getting through each day is a challenge! I need to seek God’s powerful anointing of the Holy Spirit to sustain me. To help me deal with the materialism of Christmas, the false importance of career over family, and the numbing effect that being busy produces.
Today, I seek spiritual stability through the Word of God, combined with the indwelling Spirit, God’s word provides direction I need.
Steve Louden
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