“Before thou reprehend another, take heed that thou are not culpable in what thou goest about to reprehend.  He that cleanses a blot with blurred fingers will make a greater blot.  Even the candle-snuffers of the sanctuary were of pure gold.” — Quarles

It is always slightly amusing, as well as somewhat annoying, to see someone spew the words “…Judge not…” on social media followed up with harsh criticism of the person or persons who just incurred their wrath for expressing an opinion contrary to their own.  The amusing part is that they have just demonstrated that they don’t really know what it is that the Holy bible actually says.  Follow up attempts at conversing with them frequently demonstrates lack of any desire to find out and it only agitates their guilty conscience.

We know that sacred things are liable to be abused by profane persons.  It should really come as no surprise, then, when they use and abuse the sacred text to attack us in order to inflict pain and/or attempt to silence us.

In the “Sermon on the Mount”  Jesus admonished His followers that they must judge, that’s right, we are to judge and to do so in a correct fashion.  Curiously enough, though, He first gave the willfully ignorant something on which they could hang their hat if they wished to remain blind to the truth.  Now the one who is severe on others will naturally excite their severity against himself.  Therefore a certain level of tact is called for because the Christian has not been given permission to ignore sin.  Many, if not most, of the problems we are experiencing today is because we find it easier to sit down and be quiet rather than to stand and speak up.

A nation that was based largely on biblical values has turned anti-biblical, with the trend accelerating in recent years because too many who call themselves Christian have failed to stay true to the teachings of The Christ.

“Many Christians have been changing their views on abortion and homosexual behavior regardless of what the Bible teaches. In wanting either to avoid the label of being intolerant or in some cases desiring to steer clear of governmental persecution, Christians are acquiescing.  We believe that much of the giving in is because so many in the church have compromised [their belief in] God’s Word beginning in Genesis, and so now generations in our churches really don’t look to the Bible as the absolute authority of the Word of God.” – Ken Ham, Answers in Genesis

The minister, whose God-given task it is to declare to the people their faults and sins, should closely examine himself, lest, after he has preached to others, he himself should be cast-away.  Likewise, each and every follower of Jesus, who is called The Christ, should seek to be as much like Him as possible.  We must seek purification for it is only when we have wrestled with and overcome our own besetting sins, that have the insight and tact to direct others how to overcome theirs.

When the devil reminds you of your past, simply remind him of his future.

A bad liver cannot be a good counselor or bold reprover; such a person must speak softly for fear of awakening his own guilty conscience and that is why we are called to be holy unto God.  Therefore let each one of us seek to study the Word of God, live the Word of God, be like the Word of God, and boldly proclaim the Word of God.

– Pastor Ward