____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ July 22, 2001 ____________________________________________________ In the Steps of the Savior "Judge Not That Ye Be Not Judged" by Harry Osborne Consistency is a very rare commodity. The tendency for a man to condemn in others what he practices himself is a well known fact. Listen for a little while to the candidates in this political season and you will no doubt hear it done. However, politicians are not the only ones guilty of such action. A study of the Gospels makes clear the fact that such hypocrisy was wide spread in the time of Jesus. His frequent condemnation of the Pharisees for their dual standards are well known to any Bible student (Matthew 23; Luke 11:46f; Mark 7; etc.). In the earthly life of our Savior, He always exemplified the same standard He used to judge others. Even in the lives of some who profess identification with Christ, there is sometimes a failure exhibited in daily living the same standard used to judge others. Simply stated, the problem is that some live by one rule, but judge others by a more stringent rule than that imposed upon themselves. The Bible speaks of such a practice and clearly condemns it. Notice this warning given by the apostle Paul in Romans 2:1-3: "Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?" It is hypocritical for us to condemn the wrong done by another when we are doing the same thing. Pointing our finger at another's wrong will not excuse us from God's judgment of our own wrong actions. Jesus had much the same thing to say about this in Matthew 7:3-5 when He said these words: "And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, `Let me remove the speck out of your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother's eye." The picture Jesus brings to our mind with this teaching is one in which each of us can readily see the absurdity. None of us want a doctor with a 2 X 4 coming out of his eye to try removing a stye from our own eye. We would tell him to get his own eye problem fixed first. In the same way, if we are going to show the wrong in another's actions, we must first correct our own. This is the point Jesus makes in the previous two verses as well when he says, "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the same measure you use, it will be measured back to you" (Matthew 7:1-2). Jesus is not saying that we should absolutely not judge by showing others about their wrongs. He is saying that we must avoid hypocritical judgment of others by condemning them while we are just as guilty, if not more so. In the same chapter, Jesus commands us to judge some to be false prophets by examining their lives (vs. 15-20). Such would not be possible if all judging is wrong. It does the truth no small amount of harm when people with foul mouths and ungodly conduct take it upon themselves to instruct their fellow citizens about morality. The point they make may be true, but it is stated in word while deed instructs in the opposite direction. Such actions make it appear that people who stand for Bible values are just a bunch of hypocrites. Typically, it is just such a person used by the entertainment and media industry to depict one claiming to be a "Christian." The same may be seen when those who profess to preach the gospel fail to pay their debts or acquire funds through illegal schemes. Sadly, the failure to live by the same standard used in judging others is not a hypocrisy reserved to those outside the body of Christ. In recent years, it has become popular to condemn preachers who condemn the teaching of specific error and the practice of sinful conduct. Is it not hypocritical to condemn the condemner if condemning is wrong? Or, how about those who gather in a lounge or office to gossip about those engage in gossip? Should not those who condemn one for failing to talk privately with the brother who teaches public error live by the rule they are imposing and talk privately with the one so charged? Or does that rule only work one way? If one writes an article for a publicly distributed bulletin wherein he castigates those who spread teaching done over the Internet, is there not an evident hypocrisy at work? It would be good for all of us to take a close look at ourselves to see if we are being consistent in living the same standard we use in our judgment of others. When we contrast the actions of Paul and Peter in Galatians 2:11-14, we see the difference between right and wrong judging. Peter acted through hypocrisy on this occasion and stood condemned. Paul rightly rebuked him for such hypocrisy. Paul could effectively do this because he was not acting with the same hypocrisy as was Peter. Other cases in the New Testament show the same thing. We must oppose evil in the actions of others (1 Corinthians 5:1-13). We must oppose the error taught by others and even name the false teacher (2 Timothy 2:16-18). However, we must be careful not to judge them while we are guilty of the same thing. This demands that we be constantly involved in self-examination (2 Corinthians 13:5). It demands that each "be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15). This we can do if we let our lives be guided and corrected each day by God's message of truth. -- Via The Watchman Magazine, October 2000 ___________________________________________ Paul's Prescription for Peace (Phil 4:4-7) by Wayne S. Walker We read in the newspaper about the wars going on all over the globe and we pray for peace in this world. We see on the television news about all the fighting that occurs between the political parties in Washington and we wish for peace in our society. When we experience squabbles and arguments among relatives, we would like for there to be peace in our families. And when there are fusses and feuds in a local congregation, we try to work for peace in the church. All these things are good and necessary, but there is something that is more important, and that is having peace with God and consequently in our own hearts. "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:6-7). In these verses, we have Paul's prescription for peace. First, there is a negative. "Be anxious for nothing." Medical experts tell us that stress produced by anxiety is one of the greatest mental health problems in our nation. People worry about losing their jobs, their investments, and their health. These are all legitimate concerns, but there is a difference between concern that produces the proper preparation and provision on the one hand, and anxiety or worry on the other. It often may be a fine line, but Christians need to stay on the side of not being anxious. Jesus had a lot to say about anxiety. "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on....Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble" (Matt. 6:25-34). Certainly what Jesus says is not always easy to do, especially in times of crisis, but it is what He commands His disciples to do. The opposite of anxiety or worry is contentment. Paul learned how to be content (Phil. 4:11-13). He also encouraged others to be content (1 Tim. 6:6-8). But how can we learn to be content? We need to remember that God has promised, "...'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' So we may boldly say: `The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"' (Heb. 13:5-6). Civilla Durfee Martin reminded us that we should "Be not dismayed, whate'er betide, God will take care of you." Second, there is a positive. "But in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God." Notice the contrast in this verse. "Be anxious IN NOTHING, but IN EVERYTHING by prayer and supplication...." Paul is saying that God's antidote to worry is prayer. "Oh, what peace we often forfeit, Oh, what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry Everything to God in prayer." While there are technical differences between prayer and supplication, the two are obviously related (1 Tim. 2:1). But Paul adds the phrase, "With thanksgiving." It has been my experience that too many of our prayers (this seems true of our public prayers so I assume that it is likely true of our private prayers as well) begin with a cursory word of "thanks for all the blessings both physical and spiritual," and then launch in to "give us this; please do that; let us have something else." It is true that one purpose of prayer is to make our requests known, but we need to express more thanks. Remember the ten lepers (Lk. 17:11-19)? "In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thess. 5:18). At the same time, we certainly can let our requests be made known to God. "Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved" (Psa. 55:22). And the reason why we cast all our cares on Him is "for He cares for you" (1 Pet. 5:7). Thus, we need to cleanse our minds from all anxiety and put our trust completely in the Lord to provide for us. Third, then, there is the result: "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." The peace that comes from being in a right relationship with God so that we can be anxious for nothing but cast all our cares on Him is not a peace of this world. Rather, it comes only from God through Christ. Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you..." (Jn. 14:27). This peace surpasses understanding. Like the love of Christ, it "passes knowledge" (Eph. 3:19). This does not mean that we cannot understand it period, that it is something better felt than told. In fact, Paul says that we may "know the love of Christ which passes knowledge." Likewise, this peace surpasses mere human understanding and knowledge, and can be known only by those who have the understanding and knowledge of Christ. And this peace will guard or keep our minds. God wants to keep His people safe in His peace. "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You" (Isa. 26:3). Yet, a condition is stated. For God to keep us in perfect peace, our minds must be stayed on Him. The peace of God will keep our hearts only as we keep ourselves in His perfect peace by striving to maintain a right relationship with Him based on His word. Edward H. Bickersteth wrote, "Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin? The blood of Jesus whispers peace within." Indeed, one of the reasons that Jesus came was to make peace (Eph. 2:13-18). Are you looking for peace in your soul? When we follow Paul's prescription, "Be anxious in nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God," we can have the result--"And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." -- Via The Expository Files, July 2001 ___________________________________________ News & Notes Mary Jane Frost, Peggy Frame's mother (and wife of Gene Frost, a preacher in Louisville), is scheduled for breast-cancer surgery July 27. Let us continue praying that all will go well. Clarence Johnson recently sent notice that David Watts -- who had been a gospel preacher and, several years ago, held a meeting at Exton -- died July 10 of a heart attack. He was only 56 years old. His wife is a sister of Sandra Diamond. Let us be praying for his family and friends. Free Bible courses are available upon request. If you live in our area and need a ride to the services, please feel free to let us know. One of us would be glad to provide you with transportation. If you are interested in having "home studies" on Bible topics in your home with a couple of us from church, we would be happy to arrange this. ________________________________________ Avondale CHURCH OF CHRIST 1606 Glen Willow Rd., Avondale, PA 19311 (For postal service: P.O. Box 421) (610) 268-2088 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 11:00 A.M. Worship 6:00 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:00 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (610) 925-3567 e-mail: tedwards@onemain.com web site: http://www.mypage.onemain.com/tedwards/avondale ________________________________________