Judge Not - The Rough Draft
"Judge Not"
It's not my business, right, or even option to judge another person.
This is a sermon in progress. And, it's coming down to the wire. I've researched, done a good bit of thinking. A lot of the pieces are there, but it still has to be put together.
Perhaps you would like to see some of the ingredients?
The scripture:
Luke 6:35-38 NASB
(35) "But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.
(36) "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
(37) "Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned.
(38) "Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure--pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return."
Six insights I intend to explore with this sermon:
*While we are not prohibited from the judgment of actions, Jesus does not allow us to judge the value and worth of another human being.
*Even with a knowledge of his actions, be careful: I do not know the heart of the other person.
*I do not know the obstacles he has faced in life, nor the damage and injury with which he has dealt. Perhaps mercy would come more easily if I did know.
*Maybe he seems raw in some areas of life. It could very well be that he has climbed quite far to get where he is today. So, give him some slack.
*Don't rush to condemnation. Allow the processes of life, and the work of God, to move forward in the life of the imperfect man who stands before you. Love will help the process. Judgment will inhibit.
*Maybe there are areas of her life that I do not know, but need to know, Matters of warmth, gentleness, kindness, service. In my rush to judgment, it could very well be that I have manufactured for myself a one-dimensional caricature of this person. Perhaps it would be easier to love this person if I see her to be more, and not less.
I see a progression:
Love leads to mercy
Mercy leads to a non-judgmental spirit
Non-judgmental spirit leads to a lack of condemnation of others
All of these qualities produce a person characterized by selflessness and giving - in summary, a person who loves.
I'll "flesh-out" this sermon. Add some illustrations. Try to make it interesting. And, speak from the heart.
So, I'll see you in church, Sunday morning, at 11?
09.28.07 (10:06 pm) [
edit]
posted by:
squirrelzone (
reply)
post date:
09.28.07 (7:21 pm)
This is a great topic Pastor Dave. I can understand that we should not judge a person but what about his actions? (Love the man but hate the sin) If a man is not afraid of what others think aren't we condoning his actions.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
09.28.07 (7:33 pm)
Reply to: squirrelzone
Judge the action, yes.
But, let it be a proper examination of the action.
Is this a matter for which I must confront? Or, should I leave this to God and this man's conscience?
And, with what spirit do I approach this person, if I must express a difference? Do I love him? Have I vacated any personal vendetta?
Also, have I separated the judgment of the behavior from the value of the person? This is an individual made in the image of God. He is more than the person who has committed this action. There is much, much more to him.
It's a complex matter, to love a person and steer clear of judging that person, yet standing true for what is good, right, and decent. If I can make a compelling case with the sermon, I think the subject matter can be of great help to my congregation.
Thanks for the great question. I'm sure I've muddied the matter even more!
posted by:
squirrelzone (
reply)
post date:
09.28.07 (7:37 pm)
Reply to: PastorDave
I do understand what you're saying and yes there are always varibles to any given situation.
posted by:
auntconi (
reply)
post date:
09.28.07 (9:10 pm)
Sunday Morning at 11! ~ it's a date!
posted by:
auntconi (
reply)
post date:
09.28.07 (9:13 pm)
The last Sunday of the month is when we have coffee and cookies for fellowship after the sermon, right?
I'll bring chocolate chip cookies and peanut butter cookies ~ is that all right?
posted by:
fractalmom (
reply)
post date:
09.29.07 (5:32 am)
there is a country song i heard recently (i am an old rock n roller, but the kidlets make me listen to country in the car...)
anyway, for some reason, your proposed sermon reminded me of this song, so i offer here as inspiration...
I was coming to the end of a long long walk
When a man crawled out of a cardboard box
Under the E. Street Bridge
Followed me on to it
I went out halfway across
With that homeless shadow tagging along
So I dug for some change
Wouldn't need it anyway
He took it lookin' just a bit ashamed
He said, You know, I haven't always been this way
I've had my moments, days in the sun
Moments I was second to none
Moments when I knew I did what I thought I couldn't do
Like that plane ride coming home from the war
That summer my son was born
And memories like a coat so warm
A cold wind can't get through
Lookin' at me now you might not know it
But I've had my moments
I stood there tryin' to find my nerve
Wondering if a single soul on Earth
Would care at all
Miss me when I'm gone
That old man just kept hanging around
Lookin' at me, lookin' down
I think he recognized
That look in my eyes
Standing with him there I felt ashamed
I said, You know, I haven't always felt this way
I've had my moments, days in the sun
Moments I was second to none
Moments when I knew I did what I thought I couldn't do
Like the day I walked away from the wine
For a woman who became my wife
And a love that, when it was right,
Could always see me through
Lookin' at me now you might not know it
But I've had my moments
I know somewhere 'round a trashcan fire tonight
That old man tells his story one more time
He says
I've had my moments, days in the sun
Moments I was second to none
Moments when I knew I did what I thought I couldn't do
Like that cool night on the E. Street Bridge
When a young man almost ended it
I was right there, wasn't scared a bit
And I helped to pull him through
Lookin' at me now you might not know it
Oh, lookin' at me now you might not know it
But I've had my moments
posted by:
bawdy (
reply)
post date:
09.29.07 (11:34 am)
It's often easier said than done, especially when it comes to perpetrators of senseless, violent actions.
posted by:
surrogate (
reply)
post date:
09.29.07 (4:15 pm)
fr the umteenth time I just looked at that pic in the upper right corner of your blog where two twentyish people are violently jamming cake into the other's mouth, and I have a hard time not condemning the both of them. What did that cake ever do to them?
posted by:
Bob (
reply)
post date:
09.29.07 (6:21 pm)
I don't think you can ever really get your arms around not being judgmental until you have been hurt terribly badly by your spouse.
posted by:
emerging (
reply)
post date:
09.30.07 (11:51 am)
Grace leads to love. I would've considered myself pretty compassionate and open-minded until fairly recently. In the past year, I've learned a whole lot about what I'm capable of - both good and bad. I've wrestled with unforgiveness quite a bit because some hurts have run so deep in my life. It wasn't until I turned things around and considered all of the things I've done wrong in my life and all I know I've been forgiven for that I was able to let some of the anger and bitterness go. Grace came before the love for me. The gift I know I don't deserve that opens up my heart to hope and joy. When I consider what that gift cost and how much I don't deserve it, I'm a lot more willing to extend compassion and forgiveness to others. They're no better or worse than me - their sin just manifests a little different from mine.
posted by:
kurtmaddox (
reply)
post date:
09.30.07 (9:31 pm)
You're a very good man, PD! I always feel your heartfelt search for the most compassionate posture your doctrines will allow. I appreciate that spirit in you so much.
I enjoyed these thoughts I find the spirit of the Christ mythology in you that I personally believe got buried beneath the veneer of suffocating doctrine somewhere along the line.
Whatever God may be, may He be with you and may you know His blessings. If anyone deserves them, I believe you deserve them!
~Kurt
