Where You're Told You Just Shouldn't Go

It's time to do some more late-night writing. Here are a couple Scriptures that I read today along with other verses I've read the past few days. (It's amazing how God reveals new things to you each time you read His Word)

"¹⁵ To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. ¹⁶ They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.^"   Titus 1:15-16

I've got to say, I have a hard time with these verses...not because of what they say so much, but because of what I've been taught by churches all my life (and didn't understand until I was an adult). We are often taught, as Christians, not to judge others. This comes from the Scripture, Judge not lest ye be judged... But, that Scripture, if you read the entire context, is talking about hypocrisy. It is saying, "Hey, don't judge others when you yourself are doing the same thing (maybe secretly, but still the same!) or you will be judged too...only worse because you were judging them for the exact same things!" Since those are my words and not the Bible's, here is what the Scripture in Matthew actually says:

" ¹ “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. ² For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

   ³ “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? ⁴ How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? ⁵ You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye." Matthew 7:1-5

Now, that being said...the Scripture in Titus is convicting to read anyway (along with other similar ones in other books), but if I know people who match this sad description, and need to be corrected gently to change, what then? We've been taught so much by the out-of-context verse about not judging others, even though Jesus Himself said we would know Him by His fruits, that it's easy not to say anything out of fear we will be accused of being judgmental...  And there are even harder verses that tell us we need to correct them gently, and sometimes even stop associating with them that they will be convicted...this is hard stuff! Especially today, when this kind of thing is SO common!

So here it is....Do you claim to be a Christian? If so, have you read Jesus' teachings, and follow them? There's a lot there... 
See, becoming a "Christian," "getting saved," or becoming a "Christ follower" starts with believing, accepting, cleansing, repenting, and following. 

Believing isn't enough by itself...
"Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. ¹⁹ You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.²⁰ You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?" James 2:18b-20 (read that whole thing, it's good!)
 The Bible is quite clear about that...it also covers good deeds without faith and how useless that is.

There's a point that believing also needs to become accepting... this is the point that most churches call the Sinner's Prayer. It is acknowledging that God is GOD, Jesus is the Son of God, He died for you and to cleanse you of your sins, and rose again, then accepting Him as your Savior, confessing your sins and that you are a sinner who deserves hell, asking for forgiveness and cleansing, and inviting the Holy Spirit to come in and take over.

A lot of people think it ends there, but it doesn't, that is just the beginning of it all. Then comes the repenting part.... The following is Webster's definition of repent: "To turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one's life. 2. a : to feel regret or contrition b : to change one's mind..." You regret and you CHANGE. Turn away from ungodliness and become pure...

"¹ Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ² Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. ³ For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.⁵ Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. ⁶ Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. ⁷ You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. ⁸ But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. ⁹ Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices ¹⁰ and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. ¹¹ Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³ Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴ And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." Colossians 3: 1-14

Finally, follow Christ's example daily, not because you HAVE TO DO IT, but because you are in love with Christ and WANT to do it. "11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. ¹² It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, ¹³ while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, ¹⁴ who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good." Titus 2:11-14

If this is you, then go ahead and call yourself a Christian, saved, or Christ follower. Otherwise, you bring judgement on yourself by claiming to know God, while denying Him by your actions, and make yourself even more guilty by leading others astray in the process. I pray God will open your eyes, ears, mind, and heart.... THERE IS SO MUCH MORE. God IS alive and IS active; He sees you, knows you, and you CANNOT hide from him....not even your deepest secrets and thoughts can be hidden from God. He knows.