February 26, 2002
Guilty!
If you really keep the royal law found in scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment! James 2:8-12 (NIV)
How do you plead to the charge of being a lawbreaker? Guilty as charged. There is no other plea. For is you have been guilty of being angry at your brother without just cause you are guilty of murder. If you have looked upon a woman with lust in your heart, even once, you are guilty of adultery. If you have spoken one little white lie, you are guilty. If you have longed for something another has, you are guilty. If you have put anything above God, one time, you are guilty. You say you put nothing above God, yet, where are you on Super Bowl Sunday? What if the “worship service” does not get out at noon like it is supposed to? You say you do not lie, but what about that friend that asked you about the haircut they have or the new outfit and you said it looked great when you truly thought it was hideous? What about that hunk or cheerleader in school that everyone drooled over, including you?
So, we know that we are lawbreakers. That should truly come as no shock to any of us, and yet, to hear that we are guilty is not an easy thing to hear. Churches, you are guilty! You practice witchcraft when you follow only a printed bulletin, without the leading and guiding of the Holy Spirit. You practice witchcraft when you want someone to sing a certain song because it seems to be anointed. You are guilty of discrimination if one person walks into your building and is not welcome with open arms. I hear you say, but they stink, they don’t know how to dress when they come to worship, or many other things. Yet, you are guilty all the same.
I know that I am coming down hard on the churches. I have a reason for this. The Lord says he is not pleased! He says that we have forgotten why we go to church. We do not go to hear a sermon. We do not go to be fed. We do not go to sing songs. We go to worship him! Now if you go to worship the Lord, then what if you don’t get out on time? He is not bound to time. He does not have to end the move of the Spirit just because it is noon. Now, what makes up the churches? Believers. Believers make up the churches. So, if God is not pleased with the churches, he is not pleased with those who claim to be believers. We must learn to follow his precepts. We must learn to walk in his way, not in judgment, but in mercy. Just as he has shown each of us mercy, we must extend this same mercy to others. Just as his blood covers our sin, we must realize his blood covers the sin of those around us, when they have come to Jesus. It does not matter if she used to sell her body. It does not matter if he used to sell drugs. It does not matter what one was before.
By the mercy of Jesus, we are made new. The past is gone. By the mercy of Jesus, we have a future that is not bleak and without hope. By the grace and mercy of Jesus, we have a future in glory. This stands for all believers. Not just those who fit into whatever mold you or I think they should fit into. What do you show to those around you? Do you show mercy? Do you judge? What does your church show to those who come there? Do they show mercy and love or do they judge according to income, schooling, or on the other side of this, what gifts one exhibits or does not exhibit? What of those who do not speak in tongues? Are they looked down on? What of those who do speak in tongues? Are they looked down on? See, we are guilty both ways here. We must learn that the Lord is gifting the people today. We must learn to see the hand of God at work, let go of the stereotypes, the ideas of what worship should be, what songs we should or should not sing, or any other thing that limits God. We must learn to be those whom the Lord says he longs for, those who worship in spirit and in truth.
Father, cleanse each of us this day from that spirit of judging. Lord, in Jesus name let us show the very mercy you have shown to us. Lord, show us when mercy is what is needed and when we need to just step away and let you handle those around us. Lord, in Jesus name, remove from each of us all those preconceived ideas and notions of what worship should be, what a relationship with you should feel like, or the doctrines we have been taught. Lord, in Jesus name empty us of us. Empty us of the values and the doctrines of man. In Jesus name, fill us with the Holy Spirit to the point of overflowing. Lord, let us cease to hinder you, in Jesus name, amen.
All rights reserved: Amy Seelbach
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