Righteous Judges?

Ran across a great article by Mike Bickle and wanted to pass it along for all of you to read. Let me know if you agree, disagree, and how you think truly catching ahold of the concept of God loving us will truly change the way that we live our lives in every facet, especially in the area of loving others.

John 5:30- I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

Is it possible for Christians to adopt this same mindset when interacting with other Christians? Not just in the way we respond outwardly, but the way we view them in our internal thought processes. Our Sunday School class was talking about "The Restrictions of Christian Liberty" (yeah, funny title, I know) and a man made a statement on how he would respond to someone that did not hold the same interpretations of scripture as he did, his response was to the effect of "I'd pray that God would bring conviction and truth into that persons life and that they would see the light." Wow, how many times do we pray that for our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. How many times have I set myself up as a judge of that person's beliefs and convictions, whether they're laxer than mine, or stricter than mine? The simple truth of the matter is found in John 7:18,24 "He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him...Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment."

What does this mean, righteous judgement? The greek word for righeous is Dikailos and means "that which is just, which is expected by the One who sets the rules and regulations whereby man must live." As we saw in John 5, Christ judged according to His Father, and not according to seeking his own glory. Do you realize how much fame Christ could have received if He had torn down the Pharisiacal system and the levels of control that they held over the community? How much Christ would have gained if he had overthrown the Roman government and the eartly power that they exuded. Instead, in all that Christ taught, he pointed people to His Father, not Himself. If the Son of God exhibited that in his own life, how much more should we, as children of God, saved and redeemed by the power of His blood do the same.

As we look at the standards, convictions and codes that we live by, let us consider Colossians 2:16-23:

16Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:

17Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

18Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

19And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.

20Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

21(Touch not; taste not; handle not;

22Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

23Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body: not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

Verses 20-23 are especially poingant. How many of our walls of division are merely a result of commandments of men and products of our Christian culture. Christ was ridiculed by the Pharisees in Luke 7:23-35 because he did not "fit" in with their religionized view of God. How often do we ridicule those that don't fit into our religion/doctrine/creed/denomination/group? Do we look at Christ as "coming to destroy the law and the prophets" or that He "fulfilled" them through His sacrifice? Are the responses that we demonstrate on a daily bases evidences of Christ ruling on the thrones of our heart, or evidences of the fruits of the flesh as king of our life? I ask these questions, not as someone who's attained, but as one who is seeking and searching. For all of those that are searching along with me, I offer up ese verses from James 4

6But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

7Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

8Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

9Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.

10Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

My prayer for each one of you, and myself, is "That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins." (Colossians 1) (thanks lindz)