A sad story

A couple of years ago, I had a friend who was engaged to marry a Baptist. My friend was still a person of a different belief then. Although my friend wanted to know Jesus more already, she was reluctant to do so because of, well, circumstances. Her fiancé, upon seeing a procession of religious faithfuls after a certain popular idol commented, “Tsk-tsk, kani gyud mga Pinoy lagi ba. Kaklaro na gibutang sa biblia na dili lagi, mosamba gyud!” My friend also overheard her prospective mother-in-law tell her son, “Nak, kadaghan sa simbahan, nganong kana man gyud siya?” The worst? Her fiancé telling her, “Tuo na lagi kay malason gyud ang atong negosyo ba!” My friend, knowing I’m a Protestant, asked, “Why would I change my belief if I would just become judgmental?” I was stumped.

Rick Joyner in his book “The Quest” tells us that the most common trap Christians usually fall for is self-righteousness. Because we read our bibles, consistently attend bible studies and Sunday Services, and host prayer meetings, we think that we are more righteous than other persons who don’t do all those things. Yes, we even think that we are better than our own churchmates. Sad. Very, very sad.

“Father, forgive them for they do not know what they’re doing.” If you think that the phrase Jesus uttered only applies to others, you are self-righteous brethren.

Truth and grace. That’s what Jesus was, is, talking about. The truth is all have sinned and fell short of the Glory of God. That includes YOU! No matter how spotless you think your life is, its not. Simply because you are human- tainted with the sin of Adam. There is nothing you can do about it.

But grace is the message of the cross itself. It is given not because you worked for it but because you needed it. Jesus spread His arms on the cross not only for you brethren but for that same person you are judging.

Ryan, do not ever forget that if not for His mercy, if not for His grace, you would be on a fast-track to hell. Because you did not work for grace, you don’t have any right to withhold it from others.

“Let him who has no sin cast the first stone.” Ryan, the moment you picked the stone is the exact moment you forfeited your right to throw it. The other person may be a sinner but you are judgmental and in the eyes of the Lord, both are the same. The other person may even be better off because if he asks for forgiveness from Jesus, he will be given grace. You on the other hand will get a rebuke. “[Y]ou wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow servant as I had mercy on you?” (Matthew 18:32-33)

Ryan, always remember- TRUTH and GRACE. The truth is all have sinned and should be stoned like the woman of Matthew 8. But grace is, “…neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.”

Capsule: Do not judge because you will also be judged.