In My Judgment

“Hey, nice haircut. You look great,” I said.

“Don't judge me,” replied---no one ever.

Have you ever noticed that people whose use “Don't judge me” like a mantra only say it if you disagree with them? “Rap is the pinnacle of artistic achievement,” and “Rap is nothing but noise,” are both judgments. However, one is an insightful and the other judgmental. Other than a hidden racial bias, what's the difference; both are only opinions?

The rush to judgment doesn't end there. Prime time is loaded with shows that revolve around a panel of judges. American Idol, DWTS, The Voice, Chopped...the list goes on ad nauseum. Did I fail to mention the millions of judges who pay a fee to call in to support their favorites. You've got to be living way up De Nile without a paddle to think Americans are (or should be) non-judgmental.

In my experience as a parent, I snapped at the kids because I was tired, having a bad day or had a headache. But strangely, my upstanding, good looking, and talented children are a direct result of my vast store of parental patience, forbearance, and long-suffering. Yeah, right. When we're wrong it's “Don't judge me, dude.” When we're right it's, “Darn, I'm good.”

The truth is opinions, good and bad, are judgments. The only way to be non-judgmental is to be indifferent. We all need to accept the fact that we make hundreds of judgments every single day—even if it's whether to have Chinese or Italian for dinner. All you out there screaming, “Don't judge me,”join the real world.

 Here's a clue to get you started: not everybody likes you or the things you think and do. Life will be easier if you learn to live with that little nugget of reality at an early age. Let me share with you a verse of scripture my children often heard: “ Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great [is] your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. “

Blessed Man 6

Poor in Spirit

“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” This often quoted phrase is not a prophetic pronouncement of future bliss. It is a statement of present reality. The poor in spirit have the kingdom this every minute. They operate on a different plane; one misunderstood by the rest of the world. Being poor in spirit is the narrow entry way that leads to the door to the kingdom.

To be poor in spirit is not the same thing as spiritual poverty or moral bankruptcy. Spiritually speaking, being poor in spirit is a measure of attitude. On the other hand, spiritual poverty is a lack of resources. The poor in spirit don't lack for spiritual gifts or talents. They simply don't boast of them, nor do they trust in their own abilities. They know that, by their own efforts, they have failed at holiness.

The poor in spirit have a keen awareness of their past sin; their present weakness; and accept their future vulnerability. They rely on God for simple things; things others do everyday of their own accord. They do not see themselves as super Christians, though they might well qualify as one. They see themselves as unworthy recipients of God's grace.

Poorness of spirit is one of those paradoxical virtues common to Christianity. It is akin to losing your life in order to find it. The poor in spirit face criticism and challenges to their personal integrity without feeling the need to defend themselves. This is because the truly see themselves as unprofitable servants doing no more than their duty. They are not delusional. They are able to perform a sober self-evaluation with giving in to self-pity or self-aggrandizement.

The poor in spirit have mastered the scriptural admonishment: “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”

The Pharisees were focused their spirituality on ecclesiastical position. They were obsessed with being seen by others as superior servants of God. In their own eyes they were the epitome of what it meant to be a child of God. There is no place in the kingdom of heaven for such thinking. Jesus said, ”Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter the kingdom of heaven.”

The poor in spirit focus attention on God. He has more than their allegiance; He has their all. They possess nothing on their own; they hold nothing back; and that which they do have is by the grace of God. Such an attitude of selfless simplicity is foreign to modern thought. It is a narrow gate few find. Those who find it are indeed blessed.

Declaring for Faith

 "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness..." Before there existed a United States, there was a radical idea for a new nation. Jefferson captured this notion of a country founded on equality, individual rights and limited government in our Declaration of Independence. As happens to all great texts, the words Jefferson wrote have been twisted, stretched and bent to suit multiple agendas until they've lost all meaning. I believe in the values the Declaration proclaims; not because I'm an American, but because they agree with the principles of scripture. If you will indulge me, I'll tell you why I believe it.

First of all, these truths are self-evident. Any man examining life can know them; indeed will know them, if he but thinks on them. These truths are an appeal for all men to enjoy the fruit of the second commandment of Christ--love your neighbor as yourself. Who among us does not wish for himself life, liberty and happiness? What a godly man wishes for himself, he dare not deny to others. No man is completely free to live until all men are free. Christ had life within Himself and poured it out for all men to share.

In a fever to secure civil, reproductive, and sexual rights we have lost sight of what equality means. All men are not equal. Some are handsome; others ugly. Some are strong; others are weak. Some are tall; others are short. Some men have five talents, another has two and some of us have only one. We are all a unique blend of differences some of which are blessings and others hinderances. While we are not all equal---we were all created equal. The intrinsic worth of each and every soul is the same. As a living soul, the Nobel prize winner is worth no more than the homeless man living under the overpass. Jefferson's vision would also have all men equal before the law. This is not always the case in our legal system, but it is exactly that way before the judgement seat of God. Before God, it is not how much we have, but what we have done with what we have.

As beings of, we have rights which God has given us and no one may rightfully take away. The first of these is a right to life. Where have we heard that phrase before? This does not mean murders don't exist. It means murders trample upon the rights of God and their fellow man to deny both that which they take for themselves. If you would live; let live.

God created man and set him free to live according to dictates of his own heart. That man failed at this does not deny to all the right to live at liberty. Every man must be free to live as he chooses. This is no less true because we disagree with his choices. However, freedom to live as we choose is not the same thing as freedom to live without consequences. There are ways that seem right to men, but the end of them is eternal death. This is why Christians feel obligated to warn others away from the pitfalls of sin. It's not judgement; it's advice--and usually from one who has been there, done that.

Hand in hand with liberty goes the pursuit of happiness. We are free to try to be happy. We are not guaranteed success, but we are promised an opportunity to try. The important thing to note is that happiness is not tied to things or the circumstances of life. Happiness is within us and we are free to look for it. Men must find a way to be happy. Paul said that in every circumstance he faced he was able to find the means to be both content and inspired to do better. I think this is what real happiness is all about.

 There are those who deny our country was founded on Christian principles. They do greatly err not knowing the scriptures, neither the power of God.

Taking Sides

Wherever two or three people are gathered together, there is likely to be division. It is in our nature to choose up sides. For a great many of us, the side we choose is called "right" and all the other choices are called "wrong." Now, there are those who say that they don't judge and they don't take sides. There are also those who say that every choice is "right". But, if you listen carefully to some of the other things these people say, it's clear they too have chosen a side and are as harsh on those who disagree with them as is any one else.

I am a Christian. I have reviewed the evidence presented to me of Jesus' divinity and I choose Christ. I say that with no sense of accomplishment because before I chose Him; He chose me. Before He said, "go ye into all the world," He said, "Come unto Me." The call to salvation rests squarely on Christ; it is a personal invitation to be on His side and no other. Jesus didn't call me to a building with a certain name above the door. He called me to Himself; to a place where he that is not against us is on our part and he that does not gather with us scatters abroad. It was a call to take sides. Christians may disagree on how particular things should be accomplished, but there should be no doubt whose side we are on.

There are those who say it doesn't matter what path we take; all roads lead to God. In a sense, I have to agree. Every man, woman and child will one day be gathered together to stand before God. The books will be opened and we shall give an account of every idle word we have spoken. From these words we will be judged; not as to guilt or innocence, the sides have already been chosen. We will be judged as to how we played the game.

"Who is on the Lord's side, let him come to me."    

Blessed Man 5

      "And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of waters, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season, his leaf also shall not wither, and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."

     Through meditation on the word of God, the blessed man taps a source of life and renewal outside himself. Like a tree growing on the river bank his roots grow deep into life giving water. The nearer the river the tree grows; the more reliable and plentiful is his supply. The seed that was planted has only a spark of life and will not grow to maturity unless it reaches the water of life. Fed from the river the seed becomes a tree and when it reaches a full age, the tree is a conduit of life; transforming life within the seed and the water into that which others need. This is also true of the blessed man. He receives the word of God by contact with the Divine and transforms it into living faith; fruit to feed others. 

    Jesus taught His disciples that the surest way to know a man is to look at the fruit he produces. The blessed man produces spiritual fruit. These are not good works per se, but spiritual traits that manifest themselves in all a man does and says. Paul says the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.

     The blessed man knows some things about fruit. First of all, fruit comes in seasons. The tree branches are not constantly drooping with ripe fruit. There is a time and a season for every thing, and that includes spiritual fruit. Moreover, fruit does not appear on the branch fully formed and ripe. It begins as a tiny bud and grows in stages into mature fruit. Finally, when all is said and done, some trees are just more productive than others. This does not diminish the quality of the fruit a tree produces--the very fact that it produces is proof enough its roots are in the right place.

     Like the tree, the blessed man does not live in a vacuum. He lives in the real day to day world of rain and sunshine. Until Jesus comes again, men will live by the sweat of their brow. Life is a struggle against the ravishes of sin that have scarred our life and our planet. Droughts, disease, wind and cold will come. Their effects will show in the branches, leaves and fruit. The blessed man is not always riding the high places of heaven or sitting on top of the world. However, he is always fed by the water of life so that even in drought he rejoices in God.

      Which brings me to what it means to prosper. God is not opposed to wealth; neither is poverty a ticket to sainthood. Just as His people come in all shapes, sizes and colors, so they also vary in economic and social standing. Paul said, "...I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." It is a sad truth that some do not know how to suffer need and hold their salvation intact. Others do not know how to abound and stay grounded. There is no treasure greater than one's soul. Paul was saying that he could weather any condition because of the strength he drew from being rooted in Christ. To be rooted and grounded in Christ is in, and of itself, true prosperity.