Welcome to the blog of Pastor Alton Stone, from Simpsonville, SC. Pastor Stone is a retired Ordained Bishop of The Church of God, Cleveland, Tennessee with over 45 years of pastoral ministry.

Tuesday, April 10, 2018

The Sin of Assumption (Part 6)

The Sin of Assumption (Part 6)

Untrue judgment is wrong. The Bible clearly forbids bearing false witness in Proverbs 19:5. Titus 3:2 exhorts us to, “Slander no one."

We are often accused of “judging” or intolerance when we speak out against sin. Yet opposing sin is not wrong. We must hold aloft the standard of righteousness and that naturally defines unrighteousness and draws the slings and arrows of those who choose sin over godliness. John the Baptist face the of Herodias when he spoke out against her adultery with Herod in Mark 6:18 and 19. She eventually silenced John, but she could not silence the truth.

Isaiah 40:8 "The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever."

In summation of this series of blogs let me remind you of these important points with scripture to identify them:

-Believers are warned against judging others unfairly or unrighteously, but Jesus commends “right judgment”-John 7:24.

We are to be discerning-Colossians 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:21.

-We are to preach the whole counsel of God, including the Bible’s teaching on sin-Acts 20:27; 2 Timothy 4:2.

-We are to gently confront erring brothers or sisters in Christ-Galatians 6:1.

-We are to practice church discipline-Matthew 18:15–17.

-We are to speak the truth in love-Ephesians 4:15.

On one of his European tours, the master magician and locksmith Harry Houdini found himself locked in by his own thinking. After he had been searched and manacled in a Scottish town jail, the old turnkey shut him in a cell and walked away. Houdini quickly freed himself from his shackles and then tackled the cell lock. But despite all his efforts, the lock wouldn't open. Finally, ever more desperate but completely exhausted, he leaned against the door and it swung open so unexpectedly that he nearly fell headlong into the corridor. The turnkey had not locked it.  

Don't become a judge or jury. Administer discipline with compassion and concern. Do your best and let God help you with the rest.

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