I happened to post this on the day that the Josh Duggar news story broke out about him cheating on his wife all the while claiming to be a Christian, etc. Facebook posts were in an uproar about this "disgusting scumbag" and "where are the Christians defending him now?" The responses to the verse I posted became so negative and contradictory to what the Bible says that I had to remove the entire post in hopes of guarding my unsaved friend's eyes from the judgmental attitudes of my fellow christians.
Honestly my heart hurts for the Christians who think they are any better than Josh Duggar when they themselves are committing slander, gossip, and casting judgment upon him. Believe me, I am not saying what he did was ok, it was not! He sinned against God and against his wife. But did he sin against you? NO. Then what makes you think you have the right to judge him? How is blasting his dirty laundry on all of Facebook going to help or encourage anyone?
Fellow Christian, we are called to love one another:
"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35
How will "the people" (the world) know we are His disciples? Answer: If we have love for one another. And not just the people that are easy to love, the ones that hard to love too. Look at Luke 6:32-36: “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 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 is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. (ESV)
Where is our mercy?
Galations 5:1 says, "Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness." (ESV)
Where is our spirit of gentleness?
Ephesians 4:31 says, "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." (ESV)
Where is the kindness, tenderness, and forgiveness?
Fellow Believers, we are called to be different than the world. To have a different reaction than the rest of society. If someone slaps us on the cheek, we are to turn the other. If someone takes our coat, we offer our shirt. (Matthew 5:38-40)
How can we be a light and show the world Christ's love if we are casting stones right along with the rest of the hypocrites and the unsaved?
It's time to step it up. Pick up your Bible and start reading. Read Galations 5:13-6:10
Pray. Ask God for forgiveness for thinking you are better than anyone else, ask Him to soften your prideful heart.
I remember hearing this and it stuck with me: "For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks." That means that what comes out of your mouth reveals what's in your heart. Is your heart filled with love for one another? Or is it filled with hatred, blame, disgust and slander?
Luke 6:44-45 says, 44 for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. 45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." (ESV)
The message today is: love one another without condition, stop judging others because they sin differently than you, stand out and be different the way Christ commands you to, and start living as a true FOLLOWER of Jesus.
I care about you, I want you to walk in the light as He is in the light. Please, put down your stones. Take Christ's example on this one and offer kindness and mercy instead of judgment and slander. Be a Crown in a world of death and decay, and you will walk uprightly in His grace and mercy.
