A Progression of Perception
As stated in earlier posts, the Distortion of Religion is a progression of perception. As one develops the perception that Christianity is about “religious ritual” (The Distortion of Religion: The Distraction Called Religion) he will soon develop the growth of pride and self-righteousness for adhering to that “ritual” (The Distortion of Religion: The Deception of Self-Righteousness) and will inevitably transcend into the attitude of judgment.
Having the perceptions of “religious ritual” and “Self-righteousness” will inevitably lead to being judgmental. As someone follows the rules and then judges himself as being good according to those rules he will invariably judge others to those rules and to his keeping of those rules.
I must admit that I, myself, have fallen into that attitude before. Just this past month I was talking to a friend and she asked me if I thought myself to be better than others and if I looked down on others. I asked why she would ask, which led to her telling me that someone had told her that I act as if I do. I felt horrible! Here I am writing about “Returning to Biblical Christianity” and “Living the Authentic Christian Life” and I’m living against my own writing! I’ve done my best to live authentically and yet someone still feels as if I’m being a judgmental fake. I wonder, do people feel the same way about you? Do you come across as thinking yourself better than others?
The Destruction
This stage of the Distortion of Religion is the most harmful. I believe it is because this is the stage in which people are turned away from Christianity the most. I don’t even know how many times I or a friend of mine has been told by people we have invited to church that they won’t come because they don’t have a tie or a dress. This alone proves the perception that people are afraid that they will be judged for not wearing the proper church attire. This is a silly illustration, but very true. How far from authentic, Biblical Christianity is that? I think that when we look at the Bible and saw the company with which Jesus surrounded Himself, we will find that those we would cast out are the very ones He called unto Him. Christ did not surround Himself with politicians, or religious leaders. When Christ ministered and fellowshipped with people, He chose to do so with tax-collectors, the blind, the deaf, the dumb, the lame, the leprous, prostitutes, and the demon-possessed. People we would call the very least of these. And Jesus purposed to minister to them.
A Problem of Perspective: Two Fitting Illustrations by Jesus
I find it ironic that we are no better than any of them were it not for the Grace of God. Christ found it equally ironic. In fact He found it so ironic that He illustrated it in two very fitting, very different ways.
The Mote and the Beam
The first illustration that I find is a very humorous way. (if you have my imagination that is. You see I am a visual learner. I learn best by putting a picture to what I need to learn.) Matthew 7 is no exception. Here’s what the passage says:
Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 5Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
Now here’s how I picture it: Jesus is giving the soon-to-be-famous Sermon on the Mount. He comes to this part and pulls out a small bag. In it is sawdust* that he got from his step-dad’s shop. He pulls one of His disciples, pours a bit of it into his hand and tells him to grab a speck and hold it near his eye. He tells them: “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye.” With the disciple holding the small speck of sawdust near his eye, Christ at this point goes to a nearby tree and picks up a large branch that has fallen off the tree, or to a broken down building and grabs an old cross-beam, He holds it up to His own eye and says: “but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye;” (He throws the branch/beam down then says) "and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.” Do you get the picture? Christ wanted to show us very clearly, “HEY! You have too much about yourself to fix. Don’t worry about your brother!” We many times look at the faults in others and blow them out of proportion, when our problems are much more severe.
*(Note when I would read this passage before, I always thought that the word mote meant splinter. But I looked it up and realized it means speck, dust, sawdust. God showed me that what we judge in other people isn’t even a splinter, it’s a speck.)
The Pharisee and Publican
The second illustration given by Jesus isn’t as humorous, but is equally true. Jesus is again, teaching His disciples when He realizes there are some who have the attitude of self-righteousness and judgment. (v.1) So he told them a parable:
9And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
This attitude was not foreign or novel to the disciples. They saw it every day with the Pharisees. But the lesson that Jesus taught them was. It was revolutionary. Christ showed them that the man who walked away justified was the Publican – the dirty sinner, not the Pharisee- the (outwardly) clean saint. Have you ever caught yourself saying the Pharisee’s prayer? “God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are.” Or in our vernacular: “Thank God I’m not like them!” I’ll be the first to admit I’m guilty. When that person with tattoos and pericings all over comes into the church and wants to sit by me.. Don’t we get that same thank-God-im-not-like-him attitude? I fear that we are guilty of seeing them as the Pharisee sees them and not as God sees them. I’m reminded of 1 Samuel 16:7
7But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
How are we looking at them? Do we see just the appearance? Jesus shows us that although the Pharisee was clean on the outside he was unrepentant and therefore dirty on the inside. The Publican, however, although dirty on the outside, was repentant and was therefore clean, or as Christ described: Justified. Christ points out and, in essence, says, "He is repentant and wants to be made whole, while you just puff yourself up. He is the one I will forgive, while you will stay in your sin. The one who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Which are you? The prideful judgmental Pharisee or the humble justified Publican?
A Disturbing Modern Example
One of the most famous groups in this present day that not only show judgment but also endorse judgment is the Westboro Baptist Church. They are the epitome of this false perception. Their message is one of hate and eternal damnation. I researched their websites and would not recommend anyone to visit. The attitude and message was so anti-Bible it made me feel sick. The only reason I use them as an example is because the detriment their agenda is having on Christians of all stripes. Picketing at funerals of soldiers, shouting "God hates Fags," "America is doomed," "Obama is the Anti-Christ," and much more is now what people think of when they hear Baptist. As a Baptist I understand that their message is the very antithesis of the message of the Bible. God loves the sinner but hates the sin. I'm pretty sure that John 3:16 still says: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (emphasis added) And 2 Peter 3:9 still says: " The Lord is... not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (emphasis added) Romans 10:13 also still says: "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." The "God hates sinners" message of WBC grieves and disturbs me to the core. And it is wrong!
We may not be as extreme in our judgment, but we can too fall into the same vein of judgment. We must hate the sin, love the sinner. No matter how sinful we think they are. We must view them as Christ does. - Souls in need of a loving Savior.
A Disturbing Modern Example
One of the most famous groups in this present day that not only show judgment but also endorse judgment is the Westboro Baptist Church. They are the epitome of this false perception. Their message is one of hate and eternal damnation. I researched their websites and would not recommend anyone to visit. The attitude and message was so anti-Bible it made me feel sick. The only reason I use them as an example is because the detriment their agenda is having on Christians of all stripes. Picketing at funerals of soldiers, shouting "God hates Fags," "America is doomed," "Obama is the Anti-Christ," and much more is now what people think of when they hear Baptist. As a Baptist I understand that their message is the very antithesis of the message of the Bible. God loves the sinner but hates the sin. I'm pretty sure that John 3:16 still says: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (emphasis added) And 2 Peter 3:9 still says: " The Lord is... not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (emphasis added) Romans 10:13 also still says: "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." The "God hates sinners" message of WBC grieves and disturbs me to the core. And it is wrong!We may not be as extreme in our judgment, but we can too fall into the same vein of judgment. We must hate the sin, love the sinner. No matter how sinful we think they are. We must view them as Christ does. - Souls in need of a loving Savior.
So here’s the challenge: Examine your life. Do you judge others by their appearance, by your list of rights and wrongs, do and don’ts, or your own righteousness. Have you turned others away from Christ because of your judgment? If so I challenge you to see others as Christ sees them. People He loves. People with whom He wants to have a relationship. Love others. -Christ does.
And one last thing. Are you someone who has been the recipient of judgment? Have you left the Church because of someone’s judgmental acts toward you? Have you been a recipient of hate like that given by WBC? If so I hope this post showed you that that is not the heart of Christ or His church. I hope you will turn back to Him Who loves you so much. I know that some hurts are hard to heal, but I also know that Christ is the Great Healer. He loves you and wants to have a real relationship with you. I pray that you will turn back to Him and get back into Church. His people do love you. And you can’t judge Him or His people by one action no matter how hurtful it was. I hope you see the Heart of Christ. He Loves you and wants to have an authentic relationship with you. If you would like to know how to have a relationship with Him message me. I would be thrilled to show you how!
