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SERMON OUTLINE & SUMMARY |
| Series: Free to Love - How to Leave the Judging to the Judge Part 5: James Weighs In on Judging October 18, 2009 | by Ken Wilson SERMON OUTLINE & SUMMARY We struggle with biblical teaching on judging. Bible seems to ban it in one place, do it in another. Within the same book, or letter even. We struggle because we have a different truth mindset than Bible. Greek Mindset Hebrew Mindset abstract personal precise holistic universal paradoxical Greek mindset wants to understand truth systematically. Hebrew mindset: Why would we need a system if we have a person? In Greek mindset, seek to master truth, get it down pat. In Hebrew mindset we seek to be in a functioning relationship with true God. James powerfully shaped by Sermon on the Mount: In form of "stringing pearls of wisdom" First Pearl: warning against anger: James 1: 19-20 God judges because evil angers him. Can't appreciate evil without sensing God's personal reaction: anger. Our anger, however, is not so reliable. Second Pearl: social bias is judging: James 2: 1-4 Modern church riddled with bias-judging Third Pearl: For humans, judging hinders loving: James 2: 8-12 Pattern is straight out of his brother's most famous sermon: Watch out for anger. Don't judge, lest you be judged. In everything, do to others as you would have them do to you--this is the Bible. "If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself... you are doing right." We want to understand all distinctions--what is judging vs. discerning, appropriate judging vs. inappropriate judging--but Bible not so helpful. Not a biblical concern Jesus: If you're to follow me, I will lead you on the path to radical-self-giving love. This is narrow way, not broad path. And judging, one of main duties of man's righteousness will hinder you on that path. Often we don't love well because our judging gets in the way. We judge people as adulterers, thieves, idolaters, one thing or another. Problem with "love the sinner, hate the sin": nice theory, but we often use it as a dodge. We are all "one thing or another"; adulterers, thieves, gossips. If you have broken any part of law, you are a law-breaker. Speak and act as those who are going to judged by the law that gives freedom. + reference to the "Royal Law," i.e. Messianic King's Law (Mt. 7:12) + "You will be judged by this Law" is a way of saying "Pay attention to this one!" A simple law (idiot proof righteousness?) as it only takes a little imagination: how do I want to be loved? We have to start loving others like that. And judging gets in our way. Fourth Pearl: Speaking against is a form of judging: James 4: 11-12 To slander is to "speak against" another Job 1: 9-11 Example of devil's speaking against Job (a fairly mild criticism of Job) We must read this personally, not abstractly (seeking to distill theory): prayerfully, vulnerably, humbly, non-defensively, listening for the Spirit: James 4: 11-12. "Who are you to judge?" Notice, it's not that your judgment is accurate or inaccurate. It's that there is a judge who is on duty already. "God is a righteous judge; God sits in judgment every day." (Ps. 7:11) Fifth Peal: James 5: 7-9 Numbers as background: people impatient with fulfillment deferred are prone to "grumble against" each other. For complete sermon notes online, visit our sermons page. |
| PRACTICAL TIPS |
 1. Identity a Numbers-esque situation in your life.2. Ask, "Has a key relationship been affected?" 3. Is my grumbling against them a symptom of my beef with God? 4. Mediate on James 5: 7-9 5. Ask for a creative idea to reverse the grumbling effect. 6. Once the idea arrives, do it. 7. How did it go? Assess impact on your heart or on the relationship? |
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION |
 1. Have you ever been bothered by what seems to be a contradiction in Scripture? Which?2. Have you ever taken the Myers-Briggs personality inventory? How do you think your personality influences the way you read and understand Scripture? 3. What's the difference between intelligence and wisdom? Which do we tend to value more, and why? 4. What kind of social biases do you see in the church today? How do we overcome this tendency? 5. What does "love the sinner, hate the sin" mean. How does this work in actual practice? 6. Read Proverbs 1:7; 9:10; and Psalm 111:10. What do these verses mean? Discuss with others at our sermon blog. |
Posts
I think that "hate the sin, love the sinner" is problematic. It implies judging. Is it really possible to hate a person's actions and still love them fully? I don't know that I'm capable of that as a human.
ReplyDeleteI know that I'm really forgiving of my own sin, because I can see it fully contextualized--why I did it, what brought me to this point, how it's justified in so many ways, etc., etc. It's easy to judge other sinners harshly when you don't know their situation intimately.
I was reading the story of Jonah to my kids the other day. That's another one of those weird Biblical stories that can be so strange when you really look at them. It seems like it is all about judging--God's planning to judge the city of Nineveh for its evil deeds, but sends Jonah to warn them first, with the fish-belly detour. But then the weird part is the rest of it--how Nineveh repents, and Jonah is totally ticked off at God. In fact, he says that's why he didn't want to go in the first place--he knew God would show mercy to Nineveh. He camps out above the city (to see if it’s going to get what’s coming to it), and a vine grows to shade him, and then it dies, and he's even more ticked off. And then God lectures him about the whole issue of who gets to pass judgment. Such an interesting, inexplicable story. It’s actually really funny or ironic in many ways.
Good questions,
ReplyDeleteI heard a talk recently where the speaker used the Hebrew vs. Greek mindset with 1Pet. 1:15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
Greek mindset says it is up to me to be holy. To the Hebrew mindset holiness is bestowed by God.
I have been wrestling with God's Grace for several years now, it has transformed my entire outlook on life.
Therefore I see the "sinner" as someone who is the recipient of God's grace rather then someone I need to look at based upon their behavior. Isn't that what we call the gospel?
Yeah the very last line of Jonah feels so abrubt that it really drives home that point you were mentioning Sarah.
ReplyDeleteI love the hebrew mindset, even if i am of a roman mindset cultural background. I'm crazy about the texture, the earthyness, the tangibleness of apparent contradictions revealing deeper truth. It's untamed, uncategorizable, like so much in this world. I love it... but I'll stop going on about that before I rant.
I really appreciated how James' message about patience at the end reminds me of the parable of the tares discussed earlier. James is an incredible challenge to me, and I love it.
Man, social bias in the church today... it feels like there's a lot of that. Maybe its just because we're humans and all our other human biases just sneak along for the ride/walk to church. I wish I could have one meal with every member of the church I went to, just go through a rotation, like once a week or something. Wouldn't that be beautiful?
I always feel so lovingly indebted to people when I am their host or guest. Maybe that's a really tangible way for me to experience the "royal law."
Lastly, I wanted to mention how much I love the verse in James 1 about every good and perfect thing coming down from the Father of lights. That title for God is so striking for me. I know it seems unrelated, but since it's such a broad statement and I love it so much, I wanted to include it. That's the qualified judge, the Father of lights. too bad there are so few people utilizing the blog... i feel like a stalker for commenting on 4 of these sermons.
Greetings from overseas!