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  Nathanael (Kozmo)

  1 year ago

  Ok so I was thinking a lot about what Micah said. Basically how we don't want people to get this idea that we are all about universalism, and just turning a blind eye towards corruption. Because that is the opposite spectrum of judgment, to just be completely tolerant. And that could be what people think we are about if they see Matthew 7:1 on our mirrors. But I feel like we have to have 2 responses. Cause on the one hand we are called to keep each other accountable, and by each other I mean other Christians, other followers of Jesus. But I don't believe, or at least I don't think that we are called to judge those outside the church. So when we make a statement about how we shouldn't judge like what Jesus said in Matthew 7, we are making that statement about judging those outside the church. So here is the question, how do we clearly explain that we want to keep each other accountable, basically judge each other in a way, and still convey that we don't want to judge those outside the church?
  
  I think our role as Christians is first and foremost, to love others. So I think the Matthew 7 passage is fitting in the context that this is what we are saying to those that we are getting in the way of, when there is in fact someone to get in the way of. But as a statement about who we are, it doesn't really fulfill the message we are trying to get out. I think more simply our message is about love, and how Jesus loved.
  
  Devin and I talked about the story in John 8 with the women caught in adultery. First and foremost Jesus showed that he loved and valued her, and then that he forgave her, and then he told her to sin no more. I think what was most pressing on Jesus' heart that day was not to point out her sin, but to show her that he still loved her no matter what. And so that is what Christians should be about, not pointing out sin, but showing people that God still loves them no matter what.
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