Holy Together in the Gospel - Keeping the Church Holy | March 17, 2024

I recall having a conversation with a person outside of the faith who wanted to encourage the church to be tolerant by quoting Jesus’ words, “Judge not, that you be not judged!” Of course, those words ripped from their context do not tell the whole story. What Jesus said in Matthew 7:1 is missing from what Jesus goes on to say in Matthew 7:2, “For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.” Jesus then talks about getting the log out of our own eyes causing us to not see our own sin, when we look at the speck of dust in our brother’s eyes. Jesus is not saying there should not be any judging. Just that you should expect to be judged on the same things you are judging others. This Sunday from 1 Corinthians 5, we are going to learn when to judge and not judge others and in fact, who to judge and not judge. I think it will be very helpful going forward as we live in this paradoxical world where at one moment we are judged while at the same time people are calling for tolerance. May we never tolerate sin in our own lives and yet have grace for those outside the faith.