Endless Prayer

You are probably reading this post for 1 of 2 reasons:

1. You feel you have been judged by someone and want to get some scripture against judging people.
2. You have judged someone and want to justify your actions.

So were you wrongly judged by another? Did you judge someone fairly? These questions and more will be answered in this post. First things first. The scripture you were looking for, or the scripture that was used against you for judging someone.

Matthew 7:1-6:

1. Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. 2. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.

3. And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? 4. How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? 5. Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.

6. Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.

Let us dig through this scripture and examine other scriptures to see the Truth.

First, for those who belong to Christ their is no longer judgement for our sins.

John 3:18:

18. There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.

This verse clearly states that we are no longer in danger of eternal judgment from God if we have our faith placed in Christ. Christ himself says many times in scripture that he did not come to judge the world but to save it.

So is this the full story? Do we not have the responsibility to judge right from wrong? Let me pose the question like this: Do we have the responsibility to put murderers, rapists, thieves, in jail to protect our society? Can their be no law and order? Is every man/woman now free to follow the desires of their own heart? How about the Christian, are we now free to commit any sin we desire free from the consequences?

Lets look at what Paul says in 1 Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 10:23-24:

23. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”^[a]—but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”^[a]—but not everything is beneficial. 24. Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others.

a. all Things are lawful

In this scripture Paul makes it very clear that though we no longer live under the law (we live in Grace) our actions still have an affect on others. As Christians we should be more concerned how our lives affect others than we are with our own desires.

How many who do not know Christ will turn from him because of your actions? How will you actions affect your relationship with God or your attitude toward God? How will your actions affect your Christian brothers and sisters? Though we no longer live under the law our actions still have consequences which are eternal.

I hope at this point you are reflecting on your own life and your own actions. This is the point of Matthew 7:1-6. We often overlook our own shortcomings and point out those of others when what we should be doing is focusing on our own faults and allowing Christ to help us overcome.

So is it wrong to judge? Yes and No. It is wrong to judge others as inferior, less godly, less spiritual, ect. But it is not however wrong to discern (a form or judging) when a brother or sister in Christ is struggling in sin so that we can help them overcome such sin. Lets have a look at scripture that supports this idea.

Galatians 6:1:

1. Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.

We are never to judge critically or with arrogant spirit because this is unrighteous judgment and scripture condemns this type of judgment. We are however responsible for one anothers spiritual lives, we are after all one body with Christ as the head. Let us therefore examine our own lives so that we may better serve God and be better equipt to help our brethren when they fall into and are overcome by sin.

Endless Prayer:

Lord let us not think so highly or ourselves. Let our spirit be humble and let us be critical of our own lives and of our own relationship with you. I ask that you help us to remove the beams from our eyes, not that we would cast bitter judgment, so we help one another remain faithful to your calling. Refine us, mold us, break us, reform us into the image of Christ. Let our lives be lived so that others may call you faithful. Open our eyes to the pain in this world so that we can be used by you as instruments of change.

The first openly gay Episcopal bishop will offer a prayer at the Lincoln Memorial at an inaugural event for President-elect Barack Obama.

The selection of New Hampshire Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson for Sunday’s event follows weeks of criticism from gay-rights groups over Obama’s decision to have the Rev. Rick Warren give the invocation at his Jan. 20 inauguration.

Warren backed the ban on same-sex marriage that passed in his home state of California on the November ballot.

Robinson said last month the choice of Warren was like a slap in the face. In an interview with the Concord Monitor, he said he doesn’t believe Obama invited him in response to the Warren criticism but said his inclusion won’t go unnoticed by the gay and lesbian community.

“It’s important for any minority to see themselves represented in some way,” Robinson told the newspaper for a story in Monday’s editions. “Whether it be a racial minority, an ethnic minority, or in our case, a sexual minority. Just seeing someone like you up front matters.”

Clark Stevens, a spokesman for the inaugural committee, said Robinson was invited because he had offered his advice to Obama during the campaign and because of his church work. When asked whether Robinson was included to calm the Warren complaints, he said Robinson is “an important figure in the religious community. We are excited that he will be involved.”

Robinson, 61, said both Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden will attend the event, and Obama is expected to speak. As for himself, Robinson said he doesn’t yet know what he’ll say, but he knows he won’t use a Bible.

“While that is a holy and sacred text to me, it is not for many Americans,” Robinson said. “I will be careful not to be especially Christian in my prayer. This is a prayer for the whole nation.”

Robinson said his prayer will be reflective of the times.

“I think these are sober and difficult times that we are facing,” he said. “It won’t be a happy, clappy prayer.”

Robinson’s 2003 consecration has divided the church in the United States and abroad. Last month, theological conservatives upset by liberal views of U.S. Episcopalians and Canadian Anglicans formed a rival North American province.

Endless Prayer:

Lord, forgive us for our faults. In the areas of our lives where we struggle with sin give us the strength to overcome. Let us flee from sin and run to you; the savior of our souls. Hide us in the shadow of your grace and quicken our spirits to live just lives. Let us never stray from the truth of your word and let us find our joy in the truth of your scripture. Give us your eyes to see things as you see them and guide our hearts to serve you without hesitation. Lead us from the ways of Sodom & Gomorrah and let us not look back upon our wickedness. May we fix our eyes on you, may our lives be consumed by you. Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna…