From Faith, Obediance
That's the difference.
A Christian's heart is revealed by their actions. Of the numerous kinds of "Christians" that I mentioned here, the real test is not in word but in action.
Their actions may reveal that they are not Christians after all because their faith predicates no action whatsoever. Their actions may reveal a selfish Christianity, or a heart that won't submit to authority, or a heart that ministers to no one; a shallow faith. Their actions may reveal a personal choice to work out their faith in their daily lives.
Granted, all of this talk can easily lead to judgement. And to be clear, salvation is by faith alone and not by works. Yet if faith does not result in a changed life, how can it be called faith?
11 comments:
All sounds good. But rather judgmental. I'm always leery of being judgmental of the state of other Christians. Didn't the Bible say "Judge not, lest you be judged"?
Jevant (Originally posted on April 27, 2004.)
Agreed, I said as much in my closing comments. So please answer my question in a way that does not include judgement at all - what's the difference? How do you identify who's a real Christian?
(Originally posted on April 27, 2004.)
You can't. Only God truly knows.
Aleah (Originally posted on April 27, 2004.)
Yes, I knew you were going to say that but I decided not to post a reply for a comment you hadn't made yet.
I say, there are plenty of times that you need to determine whether or not a person is actually a Christian beyond just their words. As a leader of a youth worship team, for example. Or as a social worker at a Christian youth shelter. Leaders and ministry workers do need to make judgement calls at times. What about those times?
(Originally posted on April 27, 2004.)
Besides, what about just the theory of it, outside of judging any particular person? Is there are a proper Biblical standard for testing a person's faith in Christ? How can we test our own faith? Can we not judge ourselves?
(Originally posted on April 27, 2004.)
Respectfully, I again call scripture to mind - judge not, lest you be judged. I never see scriptural basis for examining another's beliefs - apart from divine intervention or direct speaking from God. And if that person is an authority figure, the only people to even possibly consider judging them are the people who are actually in authority over them. For example - a pastor respectfully asking his elders about certain lifestyle choices may be acceptable. But in my mind, it is best to keep this thought in mind. "Only once I have cried for someone, will I choose to confront them on something." I choose to err on the side of acceptance, and will trust God to show everyone when it is the proper time, the state of another's heart.
Jevant (Originally posted on April 28, 2004.)
As you said, respectfully, I will respond as well.
1) Judgement does not necessarily mean condemnation. In my context here, it means making an evaluation. You seem to be mostly arguing against shades of meaning that I have not applied.
2) You seem to be offering that judgement is usually a bad thing, and your examples point this way as well. What if you evaluate how well a person is doing and offer them encouragement to continue?
3) "I choose to err on the side of acceptance." What's that mean, exactly? Accepting everyone's word at face value and believing that they're Christian just because they said so?
Rather, I think you were trying to say that you prefer to love the person regardless of things they could be condemned for. Again, I have not suggested otherwise. I agree fully.
(Originally posted on April 28, 2004.)
Evaluation and judgement are two different things, in my mind. Yes, you can evaluate the work someone has done by what you visually see, such as the response to worship, etc. These things you can physically see going on in the Congregation. I do, however, believe that you cannot judge what you cannot see. For instance, the heart of a person and whether or not they actually believe in God and are, in fact, Christian. This is where, I believe, God intervenes and does his work within a person. But we as humans, have no right or authority, for that matter, to judge another.
Aleah (Originally posted on April 28, 2004.)
Pastor Leonard likes to say, "Judge yourself on your actions, judge others on their motives. We tend to judge ourselves on our motives and others on their actions."
Can we not judge our own hearts? Sure, everyone agrees with that. How do we judge our own hearts? By our actions.
The original point, with my story about Blondini, is that true faith requires action.
(Originally posted on April 28, 2004.)
My point was the same as that in James 2:14 - 26.
(Originally posted on April 28, 2004.)
Ahhh, I see. Makes sense now.
Aleah (Originally posted on April 28, 2004.)
Post a Comment