Speaker 1: 0:02

Hello and welcome to Walk the Walk. Today's episode is, but I'm Just Calling it Like I See it, god, today we're talking about something that creeps in quietly, it hides behind discernment, it dresses itself up as concern, but deep down it's judgment. Let's talk about it. God, can I be honest? Sometimes I look at people, their choices, their lifestyle, the way they talk about you, but don't live like it, and I just I just shake my head. Now, I'm not trying to be hateful, I just don't understand how can they call themselves Christians and act like that. And what do you call yourself, child, a Christian? And have you always acted like me? No, but it's different. I'm trying. Well, so are they, some of them. Some are lost, some are new to grace, some are hurting, some are hiding. See, you see the action, I see the heart. But, lord, isn't it okay to call it out when it's wrong?

Speaker 1: 1:19

There's a difference between judging and guiding, between condemning and caring. Judging says look at them. Love says there I go. But for the grace of God, judging separates, love restores. But it's hard not to feel like that. Well, at least I'm doing better than them.

Speaker 1: 1:44

When your focus is on someone else's flaws, you stop growing yourself. I didn't call you to compare, I called you to be compassionate. You're not the judge, you're the witness. So what do I do? When I see someone clearly messing up, you pray for them, you model me, and if I lead you to speak, do it in truth, but do it wrapped in mercy, because that's how I spoke to you. You're right, lord. I've been quick with my opinions and slow with my compassion, and I don't want to be like that. Then love first, correct gently and, when in doubt, lead with grace.

Speaker 1: 2:37

You know, a couple of days ago there was a huge thing on the internet where a couple was busted, I guess, if you will, for the camera was put on them and they ended up having an affair. You probably know exactly what I'm talking about. Well, the internet exploded and I thought to myself good grief if that was a Jesus thing, like if we would explode the internet talking about Jesus boy, that would be awesome. But this was people who seemed to know everything about this couple. They saw for 30 seconds on their computer screen or on their TV and made such judging statements. Now, I'm not condoning anything by any means. I did not know the people, I did not know who they were married to, or if they were married, and what their family like. People were making judgments about how the woman looked compared to how the wife looked, which would have made her a better wife, and blah, blah, blah.

Speaker 1: 3:44

And I finally got so sick and tired of all of their comments that I finally said we have no idea. We have no idea what's really going on in the lives of these people. Not that anything that they were doing was correct, but it wasn't for us to make decisions for them. And if we listen to today's message where it says love first and correct, gently lead with grace. Don't jump in and make decisions when you don't even know I'm going to guess millions of people saw this video, millions. I cannot for one minute think that there are millions of people who were throwing the stones and deserved to throw them.

Speaker 1: 4:34

We all know that story. When Jesus said he who you know can come up here and stand here before me and say I've never done anything like that or I'm not a sinner. None of them Everybody, like I said were judges. But God says you're not the judge, you're the witness. So we need to be really careful about how we judge others, and I'm not even talking about this kind of situation. We judge people by how they look, how poor they are, how rich they are. We make such judgments and you know what People are making the same things about us, so you might have felt the same as I did. Maybe you've caught yourself pointing fingers while forgetting the mirror. Let's lay that down together. Let's be people who correct in love and not from pride. Let's walk the walk and not just talk. Until then, keep walking.