"This person is NOT of God because they do NOT ..."

I watched a meeting on TV where someone walked up on the raised platform.

The preacher said loudly,

"This man is not of God."

Two people came quickly and escorted the man away.

Nothing more was said about it.

The man didn't act strangely nor say anything.

"Where was this person taken?" I thought.

"How did the preacher know that this man wasn't sent from the Lord?"

BLIND MAN HEALED

The Lord Jesus Christ healed someone who was born blind.

This miracle is recorded in the New Testament. John 9:1-7

Unfortunately for Jesus, He did this John 9:13-14 on a Sabbath Day, the day of rest for Jews. Exodus 20:8-11

So, this gave some religious leaders a reason to say,

"This man is not from God, for He does not keep the Sabbath." John 9:16

But others said,

"How can a sinful man perform such signs?"

And there was division among them. John 9:16

A religious leader from that same group came to Jesus earlier and said,

"Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher Who has come from God.

For no one could perform the signs You are doing if God were not with him." John 3:1-2

JUDGE RIGHTEOUSLY

It's easy to evaluate others by how they LOOK, even though we should know that this is wrong.

Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in.

If you lavish attention on the man in fine clothes and say,

"Here is a seat of honor," but say to the poor man, "You must stand" or "Sit at my feet,"

have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? James 2:2-4

It's also common to judge others by HOW they talk, which is also wrong.

For some say, "His [Paul's] letters are weighty and forceful, but his physical presence is unimpressive, and his speaking is of no account." 2 Corinthians 10:10

WHAT are believers to share?

The gospel. Mark 16:15; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

The word. Acts 20:20-21, 26-27; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 4:2

Believers are to speak the oracles [words] of God. 1 Peter 4:11

As long as it's communicated in love, Ephesians 4:15 how they say or write it shouldn't matter because it can be a matter of personal style, culture, or their audience. 1 Corinthians 9:19-22

Are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ supposed to judge with righteous judgment?

Jesus said,

"Stop judging by outward appearances, and start judging justly." John 7:24

We're NOT to judge in a human way. 1 Samuel 16:7; 2 Corinthians 5:16

Jesus said,

"Do not judge, or you will be judged.

For with the same judgment you pronounce, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Matthew 7:1-2

This would be PERSONAL judging that puts down others.

"Why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but fail to notice the beam in your own eye?" Matthew 7:3

We want to be imitators of God the Father, don't we? Ephesians 5:1

He Hebrews 12:23 and the Son judge John 5:22 each person's works, without showing favoritism. Acts 10:34; Romans 2:5-6; James 3:17

We're to judge NOT by appearance or speech, nor with personal bias or revenge, Romans 12:19 but with official judgment of the Lord.

Although I [Paul] am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, and I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present. 1 Corinthians 5:3

What business of mine [Paul] is it to judge those outside the church? Are you [believers] not to judge those inside?

God will judge those outside.

Expel the wicked man from among you. 1 Corinthians 5:12-13

Paul also judged officially and righteously that some had left faith and a good conscience and blasphemed the Lord, which was wrong. 1 Timothy 1:19-20

Paul also judged officially and righteously that some were in error because they taught that the resurrection had already occurred, which it hadn't. 2 Timothy 2:16-18

Paul judged officially and righteously by WHAT they said (or wrote) because he noticed the bad fruit. Matthew 7:15-20; 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15

John judged officially and righteously that some were in the spirit of error (or deception) 1 John 4:6 because they had left the apostles' fellowship. Acts 2:42; 1 John 2:18-19

FOOLISH THINGS of this WORLD

Some may look different.

They may speak in ways that we don't.

They may appear foolish.

Brothers [and sisters], consider the time of your calling: Not many of you were wise by human standards;

not many were powerful; not many were of noble birth.

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise;

God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are,

so that no one may boast in His presence. 1 Corinthians 1:26-29

Do we believe that some things should NOT be done on a holy day? Matthew 12:1-2

Jesus said that He was Lord of the Sabbath Day Mark 2:27-28 and that it was right to do well on this Day, which included healing. Matthew 12:9-13; Luke 13:15-16; John 5:5-9

Paul wrote that someone may consider certain days as special, while another may view each day the same. Romans 14:5

WE MIGHT BE WRONG

If someone does or says something out of the ordinary, even approaching a ministry platform at a time we don't expect, what should we do, if anything?

"Hi. How can the Lord help you today?" Matthew 20:30-34

This could have been said to that one whom the preacher instead proclaimed that this man was NOT of God.

Suggestion:

Let's remember some Scriptures and do them. Matthew 7:24-25; James 1:22

In everything, then, do to others as you would have them do to you.

For this is the essence of the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 7:12

Love is patient, love is kind.

It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs.

Love takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices in the truth.

It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Seek to excel to build up and do all in a proper and orderly way. 1 Corinthians 14:12, 26, 40

Do not extinguish the Spirit.

Do not treat prophecies with contempt, but test all things.

Hold fast [secure] to what is good. 1 Thessalonians 5:19-21

We want to welcome strangers 1 Corinthians 14:23-25 because they could be angels of the Lord. Hebrews 13:2

Or if they're not holy angels, Mark 8:38 they could be someone the Father has chosen to bring His word in the proper time. Proverbs 15:23; Acts 13:15; 17:1-3

We can evaluate from the biblical standard Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:11; 1 Peter 1:10-11; 2 Peter 1:20-21 because all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16

KNOWLEDGE PUFFS UP, but LOVE BUILDS UP 1 Corinthians 8:1

As we listen to others or read their writings, let's seek to restore if someone is in error. Galatians 6:1-2; James 5:19-20

Why?

The Lord is able to help them understand Acts 18:24-26; 19:1-7 Philippians 3:15 and make them stand. Romans 14:4

Your thoughts?

R. Jason