The Misuse of Matthew 7:1-5

“Do not judge, so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and look, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye!” Matthew 7:1-5

I always find it ironic when people who have no interest in or regard for the Bible use it to deflect judgment directed at them by retaliating with, “The Bible says you shouldn’t judge!” (obviously, if they read the Bible at all, they didn’t get past Matthew 7:1a). 

They almost never say “we shouldn’t judge,” and their self-righteous stance towards judging goes right out the window the minute they themselves want to judge someone—which they do with frequent abandon. 

We live in a highly judgmental age, in spite of the fact that most people claim to not be judgmental, and would vow that being judgmental shows a lack of moral character!

One can’t go on Facebook, talk to a family member on the telephone, watch the news or engage with any media—social or otherwise—without being confronted by, or instigating themselves, a judgmental attitude or discussion. 

Jay E. Adams, in his book, Competent to Counsel, briefly and succinctly delineates what is true judgement, and what is mere opinionated criticism:

“…the Scriptures specifically command believers to make judgments (John 7:24).” The Matthew passage “only condemns illegitimate judging. Christ assumed that Christians would find it necessary to judge others, and in Matthew 7 was therefore specifically directing them how to do so. The passage in question condemns judging in a hasty manner, without evidence. Judging others before straightening up one’s own life is also forbidden. Judging intended to denounce another in order to raise one’s own ego is condemned.”

So Christian or no, I think we all would agree with the above statement. 

And I think we all would also have to be living with our heads in the sand if we said that nobody, including ourselves, ever made judgements, be they objectively logical or self-servingly hostile and shallow. 

One of the most common retorts to being critiqued, be it fairly or otherwise, is, 

“Well, who are you to judge?” 

Everyone knows that that reaction is simply a person’s inability to take constructive criticism, or, if the judgment is unwarranted, shows their lack of maturity to deflect someone else’s petty insecurities. 

To say we never judge, or that we never ought to judge—whether it is regarding an artist, chef, teacher, school board member, politician, etc., is false, plain and simple. 

Anyone who wants to turn “judgment” into a bad word will most likely only condemn its use when it applies negatively—in their view—to them. But they will have no problem shouting their judgments from the rooftop, sending them out to land upon everyone else.

Copyright Barb Harwood

 

I Didn't Know What to Do

 

I was talking the other day with someone regarding regret over how I handled a past lack of perspective—years ago—that I had had on an issue. As I was unpacking my thoughts out loud, I finally just said, 

“I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know what to think.”

How good this felt to finally admit this!

How good to stop beating around the bush and just state what was true: that, at the time, I didn’t know what to do or how to think about the matter at hand. I also didn’t have anyone who could help me navigate my thinking, because everybody around me held very distinct absolutes and opinions on the topic; nobody seemed, like me, to be flummoxed. 

So at the time, I let others run with what they believed, and I tried to stay out of it, with not a lot of success.

I can only describe this as floundering, this not knowing what to do or to think. We all go through it at one time or another (I would hope, as nobody, ever, always has all of the answers). 

But instead of acknowledging to others that we honestly do not know what to do or to think, either out of embarrassment, peer and political pressure, or feeling stupid, we quietly go along with the group and mouth—or imply—stances we aren’t sure we believe. 

How sad that I could not at least admit that I didn’t know where I stood—not to cause others to then doubt their conclusions, but simply to be authentic, with nothing to hide. Some call this sort of transparency being vulnerable, but I call it being pure. And I didn’t have the maturity back then to live this purity and simply assert:

“I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to think.”

Only by God’s grace in winnowing timidity, fear of being criticized, and submission to prideful powers did I finally, a few days ago, gain closure from my past hesitancy in, and weak retreating from, dominating circumstances and people. It came in the verbal confession:

“I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know what to think.” 

Going forward, when encountering similar circumstances and people, I hope I put into practice what I have learned—letting God’s chips fall where they may—and in complete, Godly freedom, void of human duplicity, openly remark: 

“I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to think.” 

“Therefore, all who are mature, let’s have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that to you as well; let’s keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.” Philippians 3:15-16 

Copyright Barb Harwood

The New Birth is Not the End

Yesterday I highlighted some quotes by Warren Wiersbe on knowledge. 

The foundation of knowledge, for a Christian, is the never-changing truth of the reality and existence of the Triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and that the Son was born of a virgin, died and rose again to new life, bringing us into new life as well. 

It is upon that foundation that we “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18a).

Here are Wiersbe’s insights on that growth:

“The Christian life must never stand still; if it does, it will go backward. A house left to itself falls apart…The foundation for our Christian life is our ‘most holy faith’ (Jude 20), which is the same as the faith which was once delivered unto the saints’ (Jude 3). There is a sense, of course, in which our faith in Jesus Christ is the basis for our growth, but even that faith depends on what God has revealed to us in His Word. Subjective faith depends on objective revelation of truth.”

“What should be the attitude of the growing Christian…? Jude instructed his readers to exercise discernment and to act on the basis of that discernment.”

“Where there is life, there must be growth. The new birth is not the end; it is the beginning. God gives His children all that they need to live godly lives, but His children must apply themselves and be diligent to use the ‘means of grace’ He has provided. Spiritual growth is not automatic. It requires cooperation with God and the application of spiritual diligence and discipline.”

“Peter listed seven characteristics of the godly life, but we must not think of them as seven beads on a string or even seven stages of development. The word translated add really means ‘to supply generously.’ In other words, we develop one quality as we exercise another quality. These graces relate to each other the way the branch relates to the trunk and the twigs to the branch. Like the ‘fruit of the Spirit’ (Gal. 5:22-23), these qualities grow out of life and out of a vital relationship with Jesus Christ. It is not enough for the Christian to ‘let go and let God,’ as though spiritual growth were God’s work alone. Literally, Peter wrote, ‘Make every effort to bring alongside.’ The Father and the child must work together.” 

“Because we have the divine nature, we can grow spiritually and develop…Christian character. It is through the power of God and the precious promises of God that this growth takes place. The divine ‘genetic structure’ is already there: God wants us to be ‘conformed’ to the image of His Son’ (Rom 8:29). The life within will reproduce that image if we but diligently cooperate with God and use the means He has lavishly given us.”

“And the amazing thing is this: as the image of Christ is reproduced in us, the process does not destroy our own personalities. We still remain uniquely ourselves! 

One of the dangers in the church today is imitation. People have a tendency to become like their pastor, or like a church leader, of perhaps like some ‘famous Christian.’ As they do this, they destroy their own uniqueness while failing to become like Jesus Christ. They lose both ways! Just as each child in a family resembles his parents and yet is different, so each child in God’s family comes more and more to resemble Jesus Christ and yet is different. Parents don’t duplicate themselves, they reproduce themselves; and wise parents permit their children to be themselves. (emphasis in underline mine).

“Some of the most effective Christians I have known are people without dramatic talents and special abilities, or even exciting personalities; yet God has used them in a marvelous way. Why? Because they are becoming more and more like Jesus Christ. They have…character…These beautiful qualities of character do exist ‘within us’ because we possess the divine nature. We must cultivate them so that they increase and produce fruit in and through our lives.

(emphasis in underline mine. Note the word “in,” meaning the fruit that is our character development, not our outward ministry or Christian-speak). 

“…the growing Christian walks with confidence because he knows he is secure in Christ. It is not our profession of faith…it is our progression in the faith that gives us that assurance.”

(underline emphasis mine). 

“Faith leads to growth and growth leads to practical results in life and service.”

“How can we as believers maintain our steadfastness and avoid being among the ‘unstable souls’ who are easily beguiled and led astray? By growing spiritually. ‘But be constantly growing’ is the literal translation (2 Peter 3). We should not grow ‘in spurts,’ but in a constant experience of development.”

“Nobody automatically drifts into spiritual growth and stability, but anybody can drift out of…growth.”

Living the Knowledge

The following quotes are those of Warren Wiersbe, from his book, Be Alert. 

I have zeroed in on his keen insights regarding knowledge, and how knowledge isn't really anything if not lived out. 

“The word know or knowledge is used at least thirteen times in this short epistle (2 Peter). The word does not mean a mere intellectual understanding of some truth…It means a living participation in the truth…”

“The word translated knowledge…means ‘full knowledge’ or ‘knowledge that is growing.’ The word used here suggests practical knowledge or discernment. It refers to the ability to handle life successfully…This kind of knowledge does not come automatically. It comes from obedience to the will of God (John 7:17). In the Christian life, you must not separate the heart and the mind, character and knowledge.” 

“Through the Word of God, we discover the truth abut ourselves, our world, and our God. As we face this truth honestly, we experience the liberating power of the Spirit of God. We cease living in a world of fantasy and enter a world of reality, and through the power of God, we are able to fulfill His will, grow in grace, and ‘reign in life by one, Jesus Christ’ (Rom. 5:17).”

“It is not profession of spirituality that marks a true believer but possession of the Spirit of God within (Rom. 8:9).

“The word of God was written to common people, not to theological professors. The writers assumed that common people could read it, understand it, and apply it, led by the same Holy Spirit who inspired it. The humble individual believer can learn about God as he reads and meditates on the Word of God; he does not need the ‘experts’ to show him truth…Teachers and creeds have their place, but they must not usurp the authority of the Word over the conscience of the individual believer.” 

“How easy it is to grow in knowledge but not in grace! All of us know far more of the Bible than we really live…when we combine grace and knowledge, we have a marvelous tool for building our lives…”

“…we are challenged to grow, not just in knowledge of the Bible, as good as that is, but ‘in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.’ It is one thing to ‘know the Bible,’ and quite another thing to know the Son of God…The better we know Christ through the Word, the more we grow in grace; the more we grow in grace, the better we understand the Word of God.”

“God has revealed truth in the person of His Son and in the pages of His Word. He has given us ‘the Spirit of truth’ to teach us and to enable us to know truth (John 14:16-17; 16:13). 

But the truth is not only an objective revelation from the Father, but also a subjective experience in our personal lives….This means that ‘knowing the truth’ is much more than giving assent to a body of doctrines…it means ‘reality’ as opposed to mere appearance…”

“It is much easier to study the truth, or even argue about the truth, than it is to practice it!"

“God gave us the Holy Spirit to teach us and to lead us into new understanding and application of the truth (Joh 16:12-16) and we must constantly grow (2 Peter 3:18)."

A future post will include Wiersbe's thoughts on growth. 

I Am With You Always

I think God takes us through stages, keeps us there for a time, and then nudges us to move on when we’ve learned what it’s been best for us to learn.

How else can we explain the 20/20 vision we so clearly see the world from post-phase?

We never could have gotten to where we are now without first having had the hands-on experience of what came before. 

That is why regrets are so defeating. 

Why regret the past when it is the very thing that opened our eyes to greater insight and understanding? 

Certainly pain exits in our history, and perhaps lingers still. But that hurt is eased by the recognition that it does have its benefits. 

We can always think about the “what if’s” and the “if only the world had different priorities.” 

But what if the “what ifs” have their own tribulations and weaknesses (as we know they do). We imagine them being “at least better” than the actual, but how do we know? 

I believe that train-of-thought is mere wishful thinking that defies the reality that whatever path we chose, it will get bumpy and we won’t like it one bit.

The same goes for the world—“if only it were different.”

That “different” would never be the “perfect” we imagine, because perfect is unattainable (one person’s “perfect” is another person’s less-than or far-from perfect. Aggregate human subjectivity never lets us get our way). 

We do the best in balancing logic, objectivity and subjectivity, along with making compromises and sacrifices that allow for the most growth and personal responsibility, within a stability that prioritizes a clear conscience and peace with God. 

Because it always comes down to that. God, our father,  will always be our meter. When we struggle—and sometimes it feels like forever—He is, when we let Him, continuously providing feedback. 

I think, as I ponder the years behind me, it is the hearing of His feedback and guidance, directly from Him—in undisturbed quiet—that has been what has moved me forward. 

And by undisturbed quiet I don’t even mean reading the Bible. 

I mean an inner accompaniment of God who is simply always right here, inside of me, in constancy and ever-present top-of-mindness. 

He is the imbued thought that carries me, separate from anyone or anything else, cut-off from corporate church, outward societal and familial expectations, and politics. 

He alone is the thinking that carries me.

Copyright Barb Harwood

Peace With God Before Peace With Self

 

We will have peace with ourselves, and then with others, when we first find peace with God in regard to how He has made us. 

copyright Barb Harwood

It's Always Been the Music

As I folded laundry to Spotify tonight, a peppy Club Mix came on, a bouncy flight of joy that forced my foot to tapping, my entire body soon ad-libbing into a slight sway-bounce-sway as I put the last of the towels and socks away.

I marveled at the happiness and childlike sense of pure fun the song imbued.

It occurred to me how dissension, disgruntlement, and being disturbed and pre-occupied with self-imposed burdens seemed oddly juxtaposed to tunes such as this dancing in the air.  

And then flickers of my own past conflicts crossed my line of sight: of impatience with my own children when they were small; misunderstandings and mean-spiritedness among family; the inability to remain true to one's self and to God; the faults of false pretense and worrying about what others think, all ran through my mind as sad, unnecessary truths in contrast to this delightfully playful music now filling my space. 

I thought, "How could there ever be dissension when music, be it of angels or electronica, is so able to quickly, and graciously I might add, swallow it up and prevent it even happening in the first place?"

The song ended, leaving my mind and inner being in smiling good-cheer. 

And that's when I realized that my wellbeing has almost always coincided with the listening to music.

It’s always been the music: 

The music that eased me awake, as a senior in high school, at five a.m., accompanied by the green glow of the eight-track in my bedroom, and enabled me to rise out of sleep and force myself out the door to catch the bus by ten minutes to seven in the cold January morning. All so that I could enter a high school building I didn’t want to enter, in order to spend the day with other students who only made me nervous and self-conscious.

Music that enlivened my free-spiritedness throughout my twenties, revealing a vista of new artists and dream-like live concerts. 

Music that soothed as I rocked my babies, and evolved into toddler singsongs on cassette tape that we chimed in with everywhere we went, and that made us laugh.

Music that stepped in along with sobriety, replacing the stadium-rock too heavily associated with having much-too-much of a good time.

Music that traveled loyally with me as I drove, alone, or late at night down the highway with the people I love the most sound asleep around me, as we journeyed home from an adventure or family holiday gathering.

Music that healed the wounds and heartview, so that today, I can once again listen to the old music I once had to swear off—its negative associations now faded; it’s melodies now familiar friends just as fun as they were before, but posing no threat whatsoever.

Music that is now a library of life on a planet called Spotify. Like being handed the grandest of pearls, the entering into the never-ending rabbit hole of tempos, beats, lyrics, and voices is priceless. Now all my existence is ministered to, enlivened and accompanied by portals of mood and meaning, fun and silliness—songs for every pulse beating on any given day—sad or glad, crazy-electronic-dance lively, or out-of-sorts-pensive. 

Music. 

I understand now that quality of life depends on it.

The times I’ve failed most as a person, I realize, is because I took myself and my surroundings too seriously, brought about when I turned off or tuned out the music. 

But, of course, music has an answer for that regret in its ever-present always-ness that, when it sees me coming, greets me with, “Are we ready? Let’s do this,” as if I’d never stepped away, as if I’d never put myself first in thinking that problems and daily obligations are too serious for songs and new album releases. 

Music will always wait and be, for the loyal, and for the prodigal too.

I pick up my headphones, slip them on, and in a wash of instrumental alchemy, enter Eden—the way the world, my world anyway, was meant to be; can be; might be, or simply, contentedly, just is. 

Copyright Barb Harwood