Remember that Jesus told us that we will know them by their fruits. So as Christians, we are called to be "fruit inspectors." What we are not is "root inspectors."
_________________Sandra Miller
"the reason why the church is in this state", and "if the church would do this or that or the other".
If fruit cannot be separated from the root, then we should not be found judging the fruit either; if there be ANY doubt that Christ be the root then we dare not be caught criticizing or judging any fruit, lest we be found even to fight against God. God bless you,
_________________Lisa
It seems judging others is such a huge controversy in Christians, it's a constant battle I find even in my own family. I know that some of my family members are unsaved because of the fruit in their lives, I asked some of the Christians in my family if they would join me in prayer and fasting for the unsaved members and what I got from them was an article from a Francis Frangipane to fast from judging. I read the article and 90% of it was biblically correct but there was a part that I did not agree with. He said" If you know you are a sinner and there are areas wrong in your life, yet you strive to be merciful, God promises He will respond to you as you have responded to others". Not one mention of the cross of Christ and repentance. His comment seems more like buddism to me, all about self.I look at Jesus as my example and if Jesus was pointing to the sinners sin isn't that judging? If we preach the gospel to the unsaved isn't that judging? Come on now if you are pointing your finger at me for righteous judgment then aren't you judging me? I really think us Christians should be reading our bibles more and prayerfully asking God for wisdom and how to have righteous judgment. Isn't the work of the Holy Spirit to convict of sin and righteousness and judgment? This is how I pray for the unsaved and Christ said you will know them by their fruits.If you read Matt.7:1 Jesus is talking about hypocritical judgment, if you read to verse 6 you will see if we do not have that gross sin in our own life then we can clearly judge the brother/sister about that sin to keep the church pure. Matt.23 Jesus judges and condemns the scribes and Pharisees. We need preachers like Paul W. and Ravenhill, church discipline is lost today but we can judge ourselves and work out our Salvation with fear and trembling.Continue to pray and fast for the unsaved and don't compromise the word of God, keep the full armor on there will be opposition even in the church.
If fruit cannot be separated from the root, then we should not be found judging the fruit either; if there be ANY doubt that Christ be the root then we dare not be caught criticizing or judging any fruit, lest we be found even to fight against God.
In Jesus saying, "I AM the vine" we come to realize something very important: EVEN THE LEAVES ARE CAPABLE OF BEARING ROOTS. (this is the normal capacity of life in a vine.)Everything from root to stem to branch to shoot to fruit, and even the leaves contain the very life of Jesus while we remain (aka:abide) in Him. (something about, "in Him dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily," seems to fit in right here.)By the world's standards, maturity is measured by a person's ability to function in independence, and they call it liberation. Being one of God's children, maturity is all about such childlike assurance that we totally rely on Him in everything. In Him we abide -(remain)- with complete trust fixed on our Great God and Saviour.It's not about striving or struggling for anything. It is instead complete confidence in Him. We can cast all cares on Him because He takes care of us.It is trusting Him as our only source of power for service;NOT: "what can i do for God today?"It is hearing any of God's truth proclaimed knowing our own implication in God's plan; NOT:"How can i apply this to my life."It is an overflowing joy in our full and complete salvation;NOT: "I wonder when will be the next time i will sense His presence and power."It's about submersion in The Living Water;NOT: sipping from the well that never runs dry.It is resting confident that HE subdues everything wrong inside, all sin;NOT: "well, i'll just struggle with this til' i have victory."Only abiding in Jesus, though it remains beyond comprehension, we begin to percieve a smidgeon of His love for sinner and saint alike. His encompassing fullness, to me, seems like a boundless peaceful sea washing the world's shores with deliverance, wholeness, and manifested power to keep us abiding in Him.Jesus said not only that He is the only: (path)-Way, Truth and Life; but, he also said, "You shall know the Truth and the Truth shall set you free.Herein lies the Truth in liberation: John 14:23.Sincerely,gActs 20:32PASSIONWithin my mind's eye...Flickering from the past...Come images that terrify and calmA paradox in meNail pierced hands they run with blood:A splitting brow forced by the thorns.His face is writhing with the pain; yet, it's comforting to me.He chose to give it all.Jesus endured the pain.Paying a debt I owed,and created a paradox in me.Nail pierced hands they run with blood:A splitting brow forced by the thorns.His face is writhing with the pain;yet, it's comforting to me.And in my heart I know that You're the only OneWho could have came and died: A Sacrifice,As your God's only Son.Nail pierced hands they run with blood:A splitting brow forced by the thorns.His face is writhing with the pain; yet, it's comforting to me.Nail pierced hands they run with blood:A splitting brow forced by the thorns.His face is writhing with the pain; yet, it's comforting to me.~KUTLESS
Hey thanks for your post. I have a wife, im a young married, for two years.I have attended a very liberal church you could say for a few years, i felt as though it was very business orientated, and it seemed so many people just didnt have that weight of knowing christ, i struggled with wether or not i was being judgmental, i prayed and wept for almost two years. Certain leaders who i was very respectful to, but in my discernment(i hope biblical) i sensed that they were very worldly and didn't really walk in light of Christs Gospel. I beleived that there religion was dead, but my wife highly praises the people as Godly when I truly dont see it.So as i was discouraged, i met a guy who came in amongst the church who was very extreme, i believe all that he believes, and he says the church is not christian. At times he seems so very harsh and unloving, but he says that its all apostate. i wonder where to draw the line as i cant walk in agreement with the church but my wife is highly involved, its agonising to sit and listen at times
Whenever God calls me away from it all, to JUST BE, a sense of majesty fills the air. Communing with God in these times, often more than once daily, His presence becomes more extreme about and in me moreso than ever experienced in any meeting, conference, worship service, assembly, whatever.It's not just the more liberal that are 'apostate'. Most who claim to believe do not, yet they think they know all the answer. No matter where i be found with believers, often there is a sense of grief that most will ever understand. Still, you will not catch me broadcasting one bit of it. Love covers a multitude of sins. It is not those who are seeking after God that are the enemy, no matter how wrong we may think their methods be.If this guy is not spending alot of time in prayer and calling others to the same with him about the issue hez jabbering about, he is nothing more than a set of those chattering teeth.Where to draw the line?Bravely running away is not an option considering your wife's predialections.Tell you what, you tell him that you will be praying daily for God to move in the church, and ask him to join you. Don't just say it. Do it. (you'll see just how concerned this fellow is.)...and at the same time...With alot of continuous focus on Jesus and what he says in the first three Gospels and the five books that John penned you will see clear direction as to your course.This guy has your attention on others besides Whom you have sworn allegiance to.(Do you want that vibrancy back that you had when He first called you out? You just read the way back.God Bless you in this ...and your report of determinations are anticipated.PM me here with a message.i commit to praying about all this.(Two are better than one, yet a three-fold chord is hard to break<--somewhere in Eccl. ...and hoping this other fellow is for real)Agape,gA waitingY ourR eply
Ollie,How has your wife responded when you share your concerns?Others,I was not implying that fruits can be separated from the roots. My thoughts were centered on Paul's words: For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. (I Corinthians 2:11)On some level the connection between the fruit and the root is pretty obvious but there are other times when we can only speculate as to what a person's motives may be. Where it gets dangerous is when we make a correct discernment about someone's motives a time or two and then we begin to think that all of our speculations on such subjects are correct (or imparted by the Holy Spirit).A plan in the heart of a man is like deep water, But a man of understanding draws it out. (Proverbs 20:5)People are very complex and much time and care must be taken to understand a human soul.I hope this helps clarify my original thought.Yours in Him,Matthew
_________________Matthew