[Ohio-Communities-of-Faith] Brenda Walshed of ocean

Sat Apr 3 19:17:58 UTC 2021

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Why Christians Leave
One of the most common reasons people leave the church is because of judgment. Instead of receiving the love and acceptance they are seeking from their church family, they’re met with harsh criticism, and are judged on how they look, the way they walk or talk, what they wear, or who they associate with. It is pure arrogance to place our own personal preferences and convictions on the same side as the Bible, and then start judging others who don’t meet our expectations. God created all of His children uniquely different, and no one should be expected to act or think like we do or be ostracized for not sharing our opinions. Just because someone does things differently or thinks differently than we do doesn’t always make it sinful or wrong. When we condemn others, we are basically saying that God’s judgment is not good enough. But the Bible makes it very clear about whose job it is to judge. 1 Corinthians 4:4 says, “It is the Lord who judges me.” And in Matthew 7:1 we’re told, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” Keep reading and the second verse also gives a warning: “For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” When we fall into Satan’s trap of comparing and condemning people, we succumb to the sin of self-righteousness, believing that we are better than others. There’s only one way to escape the devil’s snare, and that is to allow Jesus to come into our hearts and fill us with His love–and to give us a hatred for our own sins, more than we hate the sins of others. TEXT: Romans 2:1-3, James 4:11-12, John 8:7, John 3:17

Bible Texts:
Romans 2:1-3 NKJV - Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? 

James 4:11-12 NKJV - 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. There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another? 

John 8:7 NKJV - So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first." 

John 3:17 NKJV - "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."

© Brenda Walsh Ministries www.brendawalsh.com

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