Condemnation or Accountability?
I am writing this in response to so much that I have witnessed in the recent weeks, both online and in person....
We as the church, the body of Christ are called to be "imitators of God"
Ephesians 5: 1-14 in the Amplified Bible says:
1THEREFORE BE imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father].
2And walk in love, [esteeming and delighting in one another] as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a [a]slain offering and sacrifice to God [for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance.
3But immorality (sexual vice) and all impurity [[b]of lustful, rich, wasteful living] or greediness must not even be named among you, as is fitting and proper among saints (God's consecrated people).
4Let there be no filthiness (obscenity, indecency) nor foolish and sinful (silly and corrupt) talk, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting or becoming; but instead voice your thankfulness [to God].
5For be sure of this: that no person practicing sexual vice or impurity in thought or in life, or one who is covetous [who has lustful desire for the property of others and is greedy for gain]--for he [in effect] is an idolater--has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6Let no one delude and deceive you with empty excuses and groundless arguments [for these sins], for through these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of rebellion and disobedience.
7So do not associate or be sharers with them.
8For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of Light [lead the lives of those native-born to the Light].
9For the fruit (the effect, the product) of the Light or [c]the Spirit [consists] in every form of kindly goodness, uprightness of heart, and trueness of life.
10And try to learn [in your experience] what is pleasing to the Lord [let your lives be constant proofs of what is most acceptable to Him].
11Take no part in and have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds and enterprises of darkness, but instead [let your lives be so in contrast as to] [d]expose and reprove and convict them.
12For it is a shame even to speak of or mention the things that [such people] practice in secret.
13But when anything is exposed and reproved by the light, it is made visible and clear; and where everything is visible and clear there is light.
14Therefore He says, Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine (make day dawn) upon you and give you light.
If This is what the Word of God says, then why do so many who consider themselves a part of the body of Christ just settle in the filthiness and vile perversion that has tainted so many around us? Why do we as believers shy away from admonishing one another let alone leadership and label it judgment or condemnation when the scriptures also clearly state in 2 Timothy 4:2 "Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. " or maybe perhaps even more so relevant:
Galatians 6:1 "BRETHREN, IF any person is overtaken in misconduct or sin of any sort, you who are spiritual [who are responsive to and controlled by the Spirit] should set him right and restore and reinstate him, without any sense of superiority and with all gentleness, keeping an attentive eye on yourself, lest you should be tempted also."
Let us also remember though that all this is to be done by speaking the Truth in love...
Ephesians 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
There is a few verses in the Bible that so many use as an excuse to not have to hold others accountable lets look at two specifically....
Matthew 7:2 "For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
-If we are judging by the standards of the Word of God, speaking the Truth of the scriptures, and using the Sword of the Spirit as the measuring stick then we should desire for others to hold us to those same standards...if we don't then the issue lies much deeper then feeling judged or condemned...lets read again and continue on to the next couple verses...
"2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?"
-Have you or would you be willing to consider that maybe just maybe the point of this passage isn't so much to say not to take the speck out of your brother's eye but perhaps it is instructing us to make sure the plank is out of our own eye so that we can see clearly to be able to precisely and accurately remove the speck from our brother's eye too?? If we were to all judge ourselves with scripture as the measuring stick, we may be able to see clearly and out of love and a desire for the purity of the body of Christ to "correct, rebuke, and encourage- with great patience and careful instruction" as the Word says to do.....
I pray this encourages and challenges, I pray that it is received with as much grace and love as is in my heart for the church even as I write this. There is more to this walk, journey, relationship with God then just the fuzzy feelings and precious moments that abound in Him. We are also instructed to contend for the faith....may you be blessed and wrapped tight in His love and grace!
Heather Evans
Tags: accountability, church, condemnation, in, judgement, love, standards, the, truth
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by LaKeyah Nicole Harper on -
I agree with Sean.
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Permalink Reply by Tammy_LIBAW on -
@Joy. It wouldn't let me reply at the bottom of yours. This is in reference to the disciples being told to shut up. Amen. As was said earlier, may we always find the courage to do as the Lord has called us to do even at the risk of death.
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Permalink Reply by Tammy_LIBAW on
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It is much more difficult to share your thoughts on here because people cannot hear the inflection of your voice or your tone or anything. That's why we should always walk away & pray before jumping on the emotion train. I've came back & reread many discussions & walk away with different tones & was so thankful I didn't respond the first time. For anyone who has known me a while - Heather, To Thine OwnSelf, Debbie_LIBAW, we all know this has not always been the case with me. Can I get a rip-roaring amen? And I'm still not always able to hold back the emotions at times, actually it's been a lot lately. I once had a dear friend on this site who we once would go at it HARD back & forth. The Lord led the both of us to walk away for a time. When we both returned, it was like night & day for the both of us. She has meant more to me to this day then I could ever express. The lessons the Lord has shown me through this saint has been phenomenal.
I think we all desire to come to the same place - TRUTH. The Lord just doesn't take us all down the same path to find this truth. But, in the meantime, let's all realize that we all are here for the same purpose - Truth. When we disagree, we can lovingly do so. Nothing wrong with back & forth As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. This can be done in a civil manner. There is so much we can learn from one another if we would just put our pride aside. We're all from different parts of the country & have been brought up differently. For instance, I'm a redneck from NC with a boatload of kids. Sean is a young policeman with 2 babies & a beautiful wife, Carol has lost a son & is going to college to get her degree, Heather is a precious child of the King who is brilliant. There is no reason we can't all come together & learn things from one another - different perspectives of the Word - without walking away kicking our dog. I love you all dearly & nothing has blessed me like this site aside from my relationship with my Savior & my husband (notice I didn't put kids in that sentence).
Let's move forward expanding the Kingdom, Praising the Lord, encouraging as well as drawing one another back when necessary. No weapon forged against us can prosper. Let's stop giving Satan a toehold. Oh, we will disagree again & again. We will never agree on everything. That's one way we grow in Him. What I've learned to do is go to my Word when I disagree with someone to see if I'm wrong. I would rather find I'm wrong all day long then to lead anyone astray or place a stumbling block in anyone's path.
ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS
(I didn't proof this so excuse all the errors)
Luv u all
Tammy
PS. Ask Sean. Him & I use to never get along but we never bit each other's head off either. lol
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Permalink Reply by Tammy_LIBAW on
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I am VERY VERY thankful that you didn't either. We all will face this head-on because greater is He that is in all of us then he that is in the world. We will not be the laughing stock of hell. He has already been defeated & he is even more busier as the Great Day approaches. Let's allow our Savior's great love to come to life inside of us & show a lost a dying world the Hope that they too can share. Luv u 2 pieces.
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Permalink Reply by Sean Terrell on -
Amen Tammy!
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Permalink Reply by Heather_LIBAW on -
Amen ;)
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Permalink Reply by Tammy_LIBAW on
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Permalink Reply by Tammy_LIBAW on
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Joy,
I was desiring to reply to another one but the Lord directed me to you. He led me to 2 Timothy 4 & had me to apply you to these Scriptures. You are being poured out as a drink offering. You have fought the good fight. You have finished the race. You have kept the faith. There is laid up for you the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to you on that Day. Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. You must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words. The Lord stood with you & strengthened you, so that the message might be preached fully through you, and that all the Gentiles might hear. He has delivered you of the mouth of the lion. The Lord will deliver you from every evil work and preserve you for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!
I think at this point, it's going to bounce off a wall that has been built there for whatever reason, maybe a test, but it's a wall of bitterness for whatever reason. As hard as it is, you need to kick the dust off your feet because it is going to cause more harm then good. Walk away knowing that you have done everything that has been instructed for you to do. This is only my opinion. I'm not sure the Lord led me to tell you to walk away. But I do know He led me to the Scripture and it does state that you have finished the race. Well done my good and faithful servant.
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Permalink Reply by Tammy_LIBAW on
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nice
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Permalink Reply by Alain M. Paguntalan on -
I think as a believers we are allow to discipline, encourage, rebuke, and motivated every body with brotherly love! But since we belong in different congregation let there spiritual leaders handle it. That's the reason why God allows divided the church not by personalities but by localities to provide proper follow-up from each other.
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