Summary: <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/westside-christian-fellowship/id386117063">If you want to stay up on the latest audio messages from Westside Christian Fellowship, don’t forget to subscribe to this podcast on iTunes.</a><a style="line-height: 1.5em;" href="%22http://westsidechristianfellowship.org/WP/wp-content/uploads/Audio/11_30_2016_Do_Not_Judge.mp3%20</a"><br><br> </a><a class="twitter-share-button" href="http://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a><a style="line-height: 1.5em;" href="%22http://westsidechristianfellowship.org/WP/wp-content/uploads/Audio/11_30_2016_Do_Not_Judge.mp3%20</a"></a><br><br> Complete Sermon Notes<br> Do Not Judge A Brother<br> JAMES PART EIGHT: 11/30/16<br> <br> <br> 4:11 Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.12 There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?<br> “Speak evil” is not constructive criticism or a loving admonishment – it’s talking about them negatively – putting them down so you’re raised up. Tarnishing their image and hurting their reputation – or lying.<br> <br> “Doesn’t the Bible say ‘judge not’ – who are you to tell people what they can, and cannot do.<br> <br> <br> John 7:24. Here Jesus encourages His followers to “judge with righteous judgment.”<br> <br> <br> This misrepresentation of “judging” is an attempt to conform scripture to support opinions.<br> <br> <br> We tend to pick and choose certain Scriptures as if they were choices on a menu. But we can’t choose those we like and discard the rest.<br> <br> <br> Judging within the context of Matthew 7:1 refers to the type of judgment that a judge would render in a court of law, such as in Romans 14:4, “Who are you to judge another’s servant?” A judge hears the evidence and pronounces a judgment – it has to do with “sentencing” not “discerning”.<br> <br> <br> Romans 14 is judging, or not judging, based on our own convictions: Holidays, Schooling, Food, Lifestyle, Movie clips, or Images (1956 commentary – not even slides from missionaries), TV in the lobby, Religious Pics., Communion, etc.<br> <br> <br> <br> <br> Err on the side of grace.<br> <br> <br> Know the facts – is it necessary to say something?<br> <br> <br> Remove the plank from your eye first.<br> <br> <br> Call others out when they gossip.<br> <br> <br> <br> SUM IT UP – This passage is about Fault-finding<br> In John 7:24, however, Christians are to judge or “call into question” those things that clearly contradict God’s principles. In 1 Corinthians 2:15, the apostle Paul said that those who are spiritual should judge and discern all things.<br> <br> <br> The famous reformer, John Calvin, commenting on this topic, said, “These words of Christ do not contain an absolute prohibition from judging, but are intended to cure a disease—criticism.”<br> <br> <br> <br> Regarding moral issues that destroy lives and dishonor God, we are to judge (“call into question”) behaviors, choices, and lifestyles that lead people in a dangerous direction, especially if these issues are to become social policy and legally sanctioned.<br> _________________________________<br> <br> ON A DIFFERENT NOTE: within the church itself we are to judge – Matthew 18. And Titus 3:10– Warn a divisive person two times, but after that, have nothing to do with them.<br> <br> <br> Believers and Unbelievers are handled differently in this area.<br> <br> <br> BUT we can easily become “wrongfully” judgmental…failure to recognize diverse gifts.<br> ______________________<br> Do Not “Boast” About Tomorrow. Doesn’t say not to talk about or to plan for; it says not to boast.<br>
