Thoughts of a righteous man

[TonyB]

Thoughts of a righteous man

That title got your attention did it not?
"I am a Christian and I sit in righteous judgment of the world."

How many of us know that type of Christian? The self-righteous, pious judgmental type. These people make my skin crawl. It saddens me that they are out there hurting people in the name of my Lord. They should take that book (Bible) they are hitting people with and actually read the thing.
Ali and I had a conversation the other day and she brought up a good point. She said that they are like ex-smokers. You know the type. The ones that are on a crusade to rid the world of the evil cigarette. They try to get you to see the wrong in you having a smoke and criticize you for the choices you make in your life. Heaven help you if you should light up next to one of these people.
Unfortunately there are those type of Christians out there. Those in their Sunday best, looking down their noses at you for wearing your jeans and t-shirt to church. I personally feel that they feel so low about themselves that they have to knock you down to make themselves feel better. What a sad place to live. But, that is not what Jesus wanted for us. They are just flat out wrong.
Now, you may read this and think that I am against Christianity. Certainly not! I am a very devout man. If you have any doubts, just ask my wife or my close friends. I love the Lord with all my heart and soul; and it is because I love Him that I am inspired to share this with you.
Let us look at Jesus, for in Him lies the answer.
I'm going to paraphrase some so bear with me, but you will get my point.
Jesus said that he did not come into the world for the righteous, but for the sinner. Hey... That is me! The Bible says that "all fall short of the Glory of God". Me again!! Jesus also said "What need have the healthy of a physician?" Still me... I'm one sick puppy!
Jesus came for me.... us... The sick, the tired, the weak and broken; the beaten up, abused tattered masses. Jesus is a huge fan of the under dog!
Jesus tells the story of the lost sheep.
Matthew 18:10
Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? And if he should find it, assuredly I say to you he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
There is a lot going on in these verses. First of all, we are instructed not to be judgmental or despise anyone. It also tells me that Jesus came into this world for me, because I was lost and separated from Him. And Jesus now rejoices to welcome me into the fold.
A little more on the judgment, as that is the tone of what I'm talking about.
Lets look at Matthew 7. I'm sure almost all of you will know this "Judge not lest ye be judged" But it goes much deeper than that...
Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brothers eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, "Let me remove the speck from your eye.; and look, a plank is in your own eye. Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brothers eye."
Jesus called them hypocrites! And I would say that I agree. Their measure will be dealt back to them.
So, you may ask me "Brother, how are we supposed to act?"
And to you I will say this, "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. My brothers and sisters meet the world with love and grace. That same love and grace that was given you through our Lord Jesus Christ. Let the light of our Lord shine through you and do not sit in judgment of your brethren. For in doing so, you condemn yourself."
This is my Lords invitation to all of you...
Matthew 11:28
"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest in your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

Thanks for the time...

[Ken777]

I really enjoyed your post and it resinates a great deal with me. My thought is that those who look down on "us"--- whether it be the jeans and t-shirt or a history of drug and alcohol abuse-- or whatever the issue-- have either never known or have forgotten about grace.

God's grace is so remarkable. It is a constant reminder to me that no matter where I have been or what I have done, His grace is still there for me. He loves me unconditionally. Who am I to judge anyone?

Knowing God's grace has changed my life and changed how I look at anyone else.

Ken

[Katecan]

Jesus was compassionate and loving to ALL. To love him with all our hearts and souls, he will use us to carry out his works till he returns.

Thank you for the beautiful post Tony.

[Lily]

When we go door to door to share the gospel of Christ across our city I would have to say that in most cases ppl who live in "nice" homes have no time for us. They do not want to hear the good news, they are busy and close their doors. When we ask them the 2 diagnositic questions, 1) Have you come to the place in your life where you know for certain if you were to die today would you go to heaven? YES they say. 2) what would you say if you did die, and why God should let you into his heaven? their answers are always "works based that refer to themselves, I am a good person, I try hard and my best, I love much......" then they rarely want to hear about the free gift of salvation.

Now, when we go to apartment complexes, it is those who have little money or worldly possessions, that want to hear....they invite us in their homes, they pray to receive Christ, they don't have the nice clothes and "stuff" to fill their lives.....

God has chosen the foolish things to confound the wise.....not many noble, not many wise......etc.... 1 Cor. 1:27

I think there will be a lot of ppl just like me in heaven..... I cannot wait!

[best]

Originally Posted by TonyB

Thoughts of a righteous man

That title got your attention did it not?
"I am a Christian and I sit in righteous judgment of the world."

How many of us know that type of Christian? The self-righteous, pious judgmental type. These people make my skin crawl.

My skin would crawl when I would see others who are doing the same things I did at a point in time. Till I started to remove the beam from my own eye, I was no different. Maybe not as intense but the same none the less.

What I also found I was doing when I stopped wearing a suit on Sunday mornings... people who knew me, knew my heart and in jeans with biker tee shirt and leathers as I ride in on my bike... They were able to see that the heart makes the man...not the clothes. I later found out that two who wear suits and would like others to do so were bike riders in their past.
Some wear a suit out of tradition. Some wear a suit out of respect towards God. How others dress doesn't bother me. What concerns me more would be how I act through the week. Is my Sunday morning actions the same as my Monday morning actions? Do I treat family with the same respect and love I would give others on a Sunday morning?
I can see where by example others have changed. I hope that my example was a positive one that showed them a loving way...rather then a negative one that had them say..Yuck, I don't ever want to act like that.
Only by the Lord's love that fills my heart do you see any good come out of me. Not of my own strength but by HIs grace and love that has touched and changed my life. To God goes ALL the glory.

I shall stand righteous before God because of Christ.
I hope to never be found self-righteous before others.

[TonyB]

Well said Best.

[utopia]

as i understand it, for me that what energy u put out, u get back....Judge not lest ye be judged... for me the concept of sin isnt about being "bad" but just things that are not going to make my life peaceful or happy...God loves me so sent JC to say, hey, this isnt good for you my beloved....judging others for me is linked to feeling separate from others, thinking there has to be those worse than me and that my self worth depends on standing on top of others...judgin for me cuts off the idea that I am connected to God and his children through Him, with Him and because of Him...and being separate from the "kingdom" of God (Him and his people, bascially everything in one big energy field) is a definition of Hell. ..cant say i feel much but compassion for someone who is living in Hell...i know from my past that judging others doesnt feel spirtitually good, its all ego... this helps me to Live and Let Live....helps me to look at people who I judge and remember they have a soul, that they are loved by God...look back to me...I resonated with what I heard at Mass the other night, the priest said that Church is a hospital for sinners and not a palace for saints.

I believe that from what I read in the Bible that Jesus came for the sinners, for the sick, for the lost and the broken. He came. The position has been filled. Thankyou and bless you. Love y'all.