2 Corinthians 10:12 "12 We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they show their ignorance."
We live in a world full of judgment in which people look at others and determine their spirituality by their own standard, especially according to the culture. When someone does this they are walking in pride and jealousy.
Often "pew people" are more inclined to make judgments about others based on the false teaching that comes out of the pulpit rather than their own judgments that came from prayer, Bible study and leading of the Holy Spirit.
When the decision to judge another person is based on cultural practices instead of God's Word, there will have many wrong judgments. Sadly, there are many people who think unbiblical things are from the Bible, making the decision to believe as they please without researching and praying, they continue their wrong beliefs. Their advocates are many while the advocates for authentic Bible believers are few.
It fascinates me that someone will judge those as mean spirited who hold marriage in high regard according to the word of God, while completely comfortable with divorce and remarriage. Now the culture has gone one step further and is accepting and even embracing the "shack up" status of many church goers.
Those who speak against this sin are being treated as though they are saying something wrong. They are labeled "mean spirited" or "judgmental." Notice those who label true Bible believers, have no problem judging wrongly those who speak truth.
Yes, God said it and I believe it, that is, we will be targets for abuse when we speak the truth from the Bible. Those who love their sin and acceptance of the world standard will always be vitriolic when a truth tellers speaks boldly.
Proverbs 28:1
"The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion."
You will find yourself alone a lot if you dare to speak what God speaks from His Word.
Acts 28:31
"Proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance."
Ephesians 3:12
"In whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him."
Hebrews 13:6
"So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”
Why would God tell us not to worry about what man does to us? That answer is simple, we will be persecuted in various ways for standing for Christ. Others will exclude us, mock us, lie against us and even rage when they don't like what we say and do, even if the choice is for our own life.
Mockers hate that we make our own decisions apart from their pack. When we don't do what they do, go where they go and say what they say, they will work to gossip to ruin our reputation as well as poke at us hoping to create a reaction. Even the subtle pokes are designed to get us to respond in kind affording the one poking that they have something to hold against us, even if its just a reaction to their pokes.
In our country the persecution does not come in obvious forms, it is subtle and very covert, even in the form of jokes for plausible deniability.
Here is what God says about it:
James 1:2-8
Profiting from Trials
"2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."
Matthew 5:10-12 "…10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
12 Rejoice and celebrate, because great is your reward in heaven; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.…"
Here is the gist of the matter; when you are persecuted for Christ, because you desire to do everything according to truth, there is a special blessing at the end of this life, as well as the blessing of the close walk with Christ. So continue as the Holy Spirit leads, never shrinking from truth telling because of what man may think or do.
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