Who Made You Judge and Jury? What the Bible Really Says About Judging

It seems like Christendom is always buzzing over one hot topic or another.  Should the adulterous gospel singer return after a six-month hiatus? Should the mega pastor date the mega star?  Does singing the blues make you unholy?  On and on the arguments rage and we get so caught up on judging those in the Kingdom, that we lose focus on the ones outside of it.

The problem is that we live in a hypocritical culture.  We all practice judging, but we have the nerve to make judgment seem like a bad thing.  We are told that we shouldn’t judge, but hello…we make judgment calls every single day of our lives.  If we didn’t, then how could we walk the path that Christ has called us to follow? 

We judge who we want to be friends with and who we don’t. We judge what music we listen to and what we don’t.  We judge things every day because of the simple fact that it doesn’t matter who you are… exposing yourself to some things will take you away from Christ, while exposing yourself to others will draw you closer.  We make our judgments based on where they take us in relationship to our desires and goals.

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Shifting Focus from Greed to Gratitude: Remember what the Holidays are Truly About

I am a little confused as to what Thanksgiving is really about.  I know it is supposed to be about fellowshipping with family and friends, while being thankful to God for His many blessings.  But, I think many of us have clearly lost touch with its true meaning and significance.

Rather than being about gratitude, I think Thanksgiving has become the perfect excuse for throwing away all restraint and indulging in our appetites.  Every day this week, I’ve either participated in or overheard someone discussing or fretting over the Thanksgiving dinner menu.  However, I haven’t heard one person share what they are grateful for and how they can share it with others.  Believe me, I would not dare throw stones, because I am guilty of the same.  I doubt you could find a woman who finds more pleasure in a plate of her Mama’s homemade stuffing than me.

Oddly enough, during a season where our thoughts should be more focused on the intangible blessings of life, Thanksgiving has become the justification for eating until we need the relief that comes in a jar of rainbow colored antacids.  While we may laugh about our behavior around the dinner table, the truth is that greed is no laughing matter.  In fact, scripture tells us that our greed can lead us to “curse and spurn God” (Ps 10:3) and we are to guard ourselves against greed in any and every form that it presents itself (Luke 12:15).

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How to Move from Existing to Living: Help Is Within Your Reach

 

A bi-weekly coaching column by Encouragement CoachTM Felicia Scott

QUESTION:

Dear Coach Scott,

This is my scream for help!  I want to live. I've existed my entire life but desire to live.  I encounter obstacles after obstacles and go into survival mode through situations believing that my time will come—that after this is over, it will be my time but it never happens.  I desire to live with all my heart.  I am a 45 year old single mother of one and I desire to live.  I just don't know how to reach past the oppression to the opportunities as each time I run into overwhelming obstacles!

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