Not Judging

I have surfed across blog sites within the Baptist internet community written by preachers and congregation members spending time telling preachers what their messages should be and congregations how theirs should be run.

When it comes to scripture, Paul’s writings are included more than any other. He declines to judge others and accepts no judgment upon himself from men, knowing our Lord will not only judge all, but will judge by His own standards.

But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. [1 Corinthians 4:3-5 KJV]

Judging fellow Christians is not in the book, but doing all for the Lord is – in the same verses.

Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. [Romans 14:1-8 KJV]

Matthew 7:28 comes to mind.

And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: [Matthew 7:28 KJV]

Are we still astonished at His doctrine, while accepting mankind’s?

But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. [Matthew 15:9 KJV]

In Colossians 3, Paul is quite specific about what our actions should be, to think of Christ as our life and that what we do is for Him. We acknowledge the way we walked was wrong and have put on the ways of God, instilling the word to dwell within us. When we do so, we’re ready to work for God, not for men.

And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; [Colossians 3:23 KJV]

Remember, Christ’s gospel is meant to be simple.

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. [2 Corinthians 11:3 KJV]