"First Reform Thyself"
Posted: Monday, December 14, 2009
by Deborah Hall-Branch
Fruit of the Spirit Ministry
The annoyed silver gray haired gentleman dressed in a black red trimmed robe banged his gavel one time to get everyone's attention. With firmness in his voice staring over the wire framed glasses, he said, "You've been found guilty Mr. Critic of rashly judging others without any grounds leaving many hurt, maimed, distraught. Because of your cruel, callous self-righteous judgments some have even given up on their dreams." "Now what do you have to say for yourself?" Staring around at all those he'd been accused of wounding, swallowed hard. Void of any remorse the obnoxious man snickered to himself replying, "Judge, honestly. I'm not as bad as these others. How can you compare little white lies, stealing, or even cheating on my wife to fornication, malice, hatred?" "This case against me just isn't fair."
How strange it is that one can be in a miserable condition and not be aware of it. God's command does not mean we're to close our eyes to the wrong character of others, but rather it warns us about having a critical, fault-finding attitude while forgetting our own short comings. We must solely depend on charity to teach us that if we find any one in a weakness we're to help them through it showing all gentleness and goodness instead of falsely judging. Apart from Christ we are nothing nor can we understand what our dependence in Him should be. His way is for us to accept responsibility for ourselves knowing that the beam and splinter will always come out equal.
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Top-level comments on this article: (10 total)Apart from Christ we are absolutely NOT nothing, the statement that we are nothing without Christ is a very critical and damaging statement to a child or adult experiencing a belief crisus and goes against the message in your own story about critisism. Your views are not everyones views and people beliefs change sometimes stronger sometimes weaker as they go through life. What this world desperately needs is more intelligent thought, compassion, understanding, tolerance, and if possible before all else love for our fellow human beings and our environment. What the world can definately do without is any form or flavour of mindless dogma.So I say again we are NOT nothing without Christ, some might be more with Christ it's true, but some might also be less than they could be by misunderstanding the role of Christ in their lives. Please lets not let blind dogma unbalance our judgement and reasoning.Thank you for your comment Stephen. I'm not one who will ever debate over the Word of God. But, isn't it most wonderful that we all do have different views. My main concern is that mine remain focus on Him and not become legalistic. It's always been about LOVE, and sharing our very own personal experiences such as HE did all throughout those magnificent sixty-six books. You'll be surprise how many people do value someone else's story. Merry Christmas.
Our righteousness is as filthy rags... thanks for writing this peice which draws the reader in and makde a very definite point! MarijoGod Bless You Marijo. You're more than welcome. And, thank you for leaving a comment.
Very well-written. We should not judge others for what they are and what they do.Thank you. He who win souls must remain wise.
Deborah, beautiful article, and I could tell it came from your heart. I like your judge/defendant analogy. Thank you for the inspiration.Your Welcome. Just knowing it brought inspiration to someone is a blessing alone.
We are so often more aware of the motes in others' eyes than the logs in our own, it's true. Thought provoking article, and well set up.Colin, I love how you put it, "motes and logs." Thank you so much for your comment.
G-d doesn't test us beyond our ability to succeed. The real trick from being tested, is understanding what the real lesson was. Nice article, thanks.RichNo, God doesn't test us beyond our ability to succeed, and I'm glad of that because I'd failed a long time ago. The real lesson of my story, "repentance" from a willing heart. The defendant in my story, came to a great understanding of what the real lesson was he learned in a matter of minutes. That's why repentance came so easily. Doesn't take God long to soften a prepared heart. Thanks for your comment.
You're saying that we are not to judge relegates us to be passive viewers but we are not here to merely watch and view, we are here to judge,as well.Thanks for your comment Anonymous. Passive or not, we, Christians are to only judge those inside the household of faith.
As Christians, we are not to judge those outside the faith, but we are meant to judge those who say they are believers. Yet Christians will use that scripture, "Judge not that ye be not judged, to justify their own wrong-doings.Praise God! Thanks for grabbing the heart beat of my article. For us as Christians that's where judging must remain, inside the faith, for those "who say" they are believers.
Reading again for Reader's Club and still think this is a top notch piece! MarijoHappy Holidays to you! Thank you so much Marijo. Although I enjoy writing articles immensely, being right in the middle of publishing deadlines for my next book don't give me much opportunity. Nevertheless, this one I felt had to be written.
I am again reading a Christianity-tinted (or tilted?) words forming an article. Nevertheless the point "God is Listening. First Reform Thyself" is well taken. I agree with Deborah on false judging others. That said how many of us are ready to generously accept our faults?Point well accepted. Thank you for your comment. Isn't it wonderful that we've been given such a gracious gift as in writing whether it's "tinted" or "tilted?" Merry Christmas.
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