Judgment Is In and Forgivenes Is Out!

First of all, it's important to understand that the church is me, whoever me may be as a follower of Jesus Christ. This sense of church is all-inclusive as we seek THE TRUTH and continually judge, by the Holy Spirit, our limited version of truth. However, this all-inclusiveness does not include the non-believer. They are the lost; the non-discerning; lovers of the world or of themselves. This is their choice and God alone is the judge of that. As believers, we are set apart from the world as an example of how God's love transforms heart, mind, and lifestyle. Taking up the cross of Jesus Christ means that I don't hold the world to a higher standard; Rather, I hold myself to a higher standard regardless of what the world says or does to me. Yes, there will be ridicule, accusations, misunderstandings, anger, violence, and mockery. These are inevitable for the follower of Christ. This is no joke and was exemplified by the life and passion of our Lord and savior.

Secondly, this standard we are all called to as followers of Christ starts and ends in the church. It doesn't start in the church and point outward to the world. It doesn't pharisaically say, "now look at our righteousness and cower in your sinfulness". It doesn't force itself on those who think they have the answers to living. On the contrary, the church is called to hold each other, in the body, to this higher standard. The world will see the fruit of forgiveness, loving and judgmental Truth, and righteousness because it will be evident in us as we truly unify. As the scripture says, "they will know we are Christians by our love". You don't have to tell someone that a lifestyle is wrong. The lifestyle itself will find them out. God's law lives in the consequences of what we choose individually. Therefore, God alone judges through the natural order of things. We are either slaves to the natural order of God or slaves to death by living against that natural order.

Finally, the church is the lifeboat not the patrol boat. Human judgment never accomplishes anything and actually thwarts the mercy and grace of a loving God. Once the church recognizes that judgment starts and ends in the church, others will see the unity of the body of Christ and will want to be a part of it. Judgment, then, is within the body while forgiveness and love flow out of the body. This is the only way the world will ever come to recognize and crave the Christian lifestyle espoused by the church.