MORE ON JUDGING

Heb 11:14 For people who speak thus(who declare that they are strangers and exiles on the earth) make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. ¹⁵ If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. ¹⁶ But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one.

        Verse 16 reminds me that the Way of Christ is not a one-way road; while it is the only way to Father God, repentance works both ways. Often, believers reach a point where they forget how awful was their depravity before their rebirth, and old habits seduce them back into the old life. Here is a true test of the believer's profession; if they can happily live as before, they never truly loved the Lord or belonged to Him. All the Lord's followers who are seduced back into the world will be miserable in their sin, and at some point, when they've arrived at the end of themselves—as did the prodigal son—they will return to their heavenly Father in repentance.         So, one might ask what the above verse from Hebrews has to do with judgmentalism. Believers in Christ Jesus are human, even though Jesus took our sin to the cross. Perhaps the easiest sin-category to which we might return is that of attitude, if indeed we ever truly repented of it.         The believers who have the most difficulty turning back to the Lord from their wicked ways are those whose outward lives appear religiously righteous, when in fact their hearts are filled with envy, greed, contentions, hatred and revenge. And they are the ones most blind to their own sin, and the most likely to draw unwary brethren into their attitudinal sin, as becoming judgmental over such unsavory brethren is the most natural—and fleshly—reaction imaginable.         We must guard against any critical attitude, as that sin is the most easily confused with "righteous indignation." Whenever we feel ourselves slipping into that sin, and we all will, at some time, we need to recognize its ugly fangs concealed by its bright, angelic face. 2 Corinthians 11:14-15 says: And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds. Remember that this "angel of light" often disguises itself as the attitude of self-justification.         Matthew 7:1-5 says it best: "Judge not, that you be not judged. (2) For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. (3) Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? (4) Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye? (5) You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.