"Speck Inspectors? Or Plank Pullers!"

Chris opened his message by playing a clip from the movie "The Shack". Mackenzie, the main character, was shown a chair where he could judge others by their actions. The point of the clip was to emphasize that the antithesis of love is often judgement. Chris explained that judgement is a heart posture that allocates worth to one's self at the cost of others. Jesus' Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7:1-6 details the fact that there are two types of judgement. An honest assessment, discernment, or disagreement God-like prosecution or condemnation over one's inner self Chris also mentioned that when we participate in sin we become more like the sinners we accuse and less like God. Matthew 7:3-5 states: "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." The speck in this verse refers to the faults and shortcomings of others and the plank refers to our own faults and issues. Paul exemplifies this attitude in his letter to Timothy in 1 Timothy 1:15: "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst." Removing the judge-mentalism in our lives allows us to see clearly enough to meet and help out others that are struggling. Chris concluded his message by stating that you can't judge someone and save them at the same time, and that often times relationships need to be firmly founded before advice and counsel can be given from one to another.