… Jesus really meant what He said?
Condemn: to declare to be reprehensible, wrong, or evil…to judge unfit for use or consumption.
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus … [Romans 8:1]
What if that were true?
I know—it’s a complex theological statement. But what if it were as simple as “follow Jesus” = “no condemnation”?
What if every follower of Jesus stopped judging others as “reprehensible, wrong, or evil”? Even “those people”—you know, the ones who are, well, “unfit”?
What if
We refused to make—or forward, or approve—snarky political comments?
We didn’t support causes or people that marginalize or diminish any individual or group?
Our Twitter and Facebook posts were conspicuous for their lack of condemnation?
We greeted people and behaviors that offend us with love and acceptance?
We were known for the causes Jesus advanced—peace, agape, hope, mercy, grace?
God’s kingdom mattered more than governments or countries or flags?
We were identified by the things in which we believe instead of the things with which we disagree?
Others saw that we follow Jesus without being angry about it?
We stopped trying to win battles He never asked us to fight?
We took The Great Commission as a standard by which to measure our own actions?
We loved evil into irrelevance (sort of like Jesus did) instead of trying to beat it into submission?
What if
I stopped the most disabling kind of condemnation—the “self” kind?
# # #
The Pharisees confronted Jesus with a woman caught in adultery. When they asked what should be done, He replied,
“If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”
At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
“No one, sir,” she said.
“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” [John 8:7b-11]
What if He was serious?
What’s a “what if” you would add to this list?
This is our contribution to the One Word Blog Carnival hosted by Bridget Chumbley. I hope you’ll visit the carnival and check out the other attractions.
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