Topic(s): Evangelism, Priorities

Things We Think We Need Today

1. A good preacher
2. A nice building in a nice location
3. Acceptability in town
4. Successful men in leadership
5. Nation at peace
6. Freedom of religion
7. Good weather
8. Proper times of the year
9. Good prospects
10. Everything convenient

What the Early Church Had

1. Preachers of mediocre background
2. No buildings at all
3. Run out of town (Acts 4)
4. Humble fishermen, publicans, peasants
5. The harsh rule of the Roman Caesars
6. Mounting opposition to the gospel
7. Unconcerned (Acts 27)
8. Continually (Acts 20; 2 Timothy 4)
9. Corinthians, jailer, Saul
10. No buildings, no baptisteries

“Go . . . and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” —Matthew 28:19–20

Do Not Touch

Topic(s): Humor

Despite the “Do Not Touch” signs, a museum was having no success in keeping patrons from touching—and soiling—priceless furniture and art. But the problem evaporated overnight when a clever museum employee replaced the signs with ones that read: “Caution: Wash Hands After Touching!” (Today in the Word).

“Touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.”—2 Corinthians 6:17

“Grandma used to set her hot baked apple pies on the windowsill to cool —her granddaughters set theirs on the windowsill to thaw.”

Judging: Part 1

Topic(s): Sin

Links to this entire series:

• Judging: Part 1
• Judging: Part 2

“Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?” (James 4:11–12).

This part of James sounds very much like a portion of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. “Who art that judgest another?” inquired James. “Judge not, that ye be judged,” said the Lord.

Judging is one of the most common sins among us, but one that doesn’t receive the attention and rebuke most other sins receive. We must never overlook nor minimize any sin warned against in the Bible.

One can be lost for judging as well as for other transgressions. This is one of those attitudes that will warp our soul and do much harm to the cause. It must be dealt with both in the pulpit and in other media of teaching. Let us ask and answer four questions.

What is judging?

It is not a mere statement of fact; contrariwise, it is

1. jumping to a conclusion;
2. forming a harsh or hasty opinion;
3. censorship;
4. arriving at a decision without weighing the evidence.

Judging deals with one’s motives and intentions, and things that do not appear on the surface. It is not judging to say that a man is intoxicated when the evidence cannot be refuted, but it is judging to go “backstage” in the man’s life and say that he does not intend to be better, or that he is not trying, or to put some other questionable construction upon the man’s thinking.

One is often heard to say, “I’ll bet John Doe would act such and such a way if he were thrown into certain circumstances.” This is judging; it is jumping to a conclusion; it is forming a harsh or hasty opinion. Such a practice is prohibited in the Scriptures.

What causes judgment?

Often it is the out-cropping of an inferiority complex. It is a “cover-up.” To condemn others inflates the critic’s ego. Some study to be hyper-critical. One should remember that when he points his finger of scorn at someone else, three of his fingers point back to him. Then, there are those who judge because of jealousy or envy. Envy seeks to get rid of the object of its envy. This is frequently accomplished by hurting the influence of the one envied. Instead of pulling himself up to another’s level, he reaches up and pulls the other one down to his own level. And some judge through lack of forethought. —George Bailey

• Vision without action is a daydream.
• Action without vision is a nightmare.