Collide - Playing God

2018-10-16

Collide - Playing God This Bible teaching from Founded In Truth Fellowship delves into a crucial and often misunderstood passage of scripture: Matthew 7:1-5, where Yeshua (Jesus) instructs his followers, "Judge not, that you be not judged." The speaker, likely Matthew Vander Els, emphasizes that this seemingly straightforward command has profound implications for our lives as believers and our representation of God's kingdom to the world. The teaching begins by acknowledging the whirlwind of life and the...

This Bible teaching from Founded In Truth Fellowship delves into a crucial and often misunderstood passage of scripture: Matthew 7:1-5, where Yeshua (Jesus) instructs his followers, "Judge not, that you be not judged." The speaker, likely Matthew Vander Els, emphasizes that this seemingly straightforward command has profound implications for our lives as believers and our representation of God's kingdom to the world.

The teaching begins by acknowledging the whirlwind of life and the importance of gathering together as a community of believers in Yeshua. This fellowship is described as more than just a gathering; it's a rehearsal of eternity, a time to proclaim service to King Yeshua and anticipate the full manifestation of God's glorious Kingdom. The "Collide" series, of which this teaching is a part, focuses on the Sermon on the Mount, considered the most powerful sermon in history, delivered by the rabbi from Nazareth. This sermon, the speaker notes, teaches how God's people, the new covenant people, keep the Torah not just outwardly but inwardly, from their hearts.

The core of the teaching centers on the warning against judgment found in Matthew chapter 7. The speaker points out that this verse is often taken out of context, especially in an age that champions tolerance to the extent of accepting all moral compasses and labeling good as evil. While acknowledging the plain assertion "don't judge," the speaker contends that the emphasis of this passage is much deeper and weightier, revolving around the issue of hypocrisy.

The tendency to judge others, even in seemingly harmless ways like people-watching, is explored. The speaker shares an anecdote about a humorous experience on a small airplane to illustrate how easily we make judgments about others. This leads to the more serious point that sometimes we judge others with a sense of superiority, comparing their circumstances and decisions to our own and feeling ourselves to be better, perhaps even attributing their struggles to a lack of qualities we believe we possess, such as finishing college, working harder, making sacrifices, or being a better Christian.

The danger lies in the fact that when we read the Bible, we encounter God's perspective on humanity and sin. While the biblical authors intentionally included this divine viewpoint, the problem arises when we, as fallible humans, forget that this is God's perspective and not our own to impose on others. Furthermore, we can fall into the trap of thinking that God shares our judgmental views of others. Mark Allan Powell, an author and professor, is mentioned, whose book What Do They Hear? highlights a trend where dedicated Bible readers can start to identify more with God in the biblical narrative, leading to a temptation to think like God and judge others. This is a significant warning because those most familiar with scripture are also the most tempted to become judges, despite repeated biblical warnings against it.

Yeshua consistently accused the religious, not the outsiders, of hypocrisy and condemnation. It is easy to look down on others with arrogance and pride, justifying these feelings by implicitly assuming a divine-like authority. This is what it means to "play God" - to usurp God's role as the ultimate judge of good and evil and the human heart.

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Application for Everyday Life

Practice self-reflection: Regularly examine your own thoughts, words, and actions for hypocrisy before criticizing others.
Prioritize personal growth: Focus on addressing your own sins and shortcomings ("the log") before pointing out the flaws of others ("the speck").
Extend grace and mercy: Remember that you are also a sinner in need of God's grace, and extend that same grace to others.
Discern with love: When addressing sin in someone else's life, do so with love and a desire for restoration, not condemnation.
Represent God's heart: Be mindful that your actions and judgments reflect on God and His kingdom to the unbelieving world.
Seek humility: Recognize that you do not possess God's perfect judgment and avoid assuming a posture of superiority.
Focus on salvation, not condemnation: Emulate Yeshua's mission to save, inviting others into a relationship with God through love and forgiveness.
Be wary of self-justification: Avoid manipulating scripture or your understanding of God to validate your judgmental attitudes.
Engage in community: Lean on fellow believers for support, accountability, and prayer in your journey of self-examination and growth.
Live out the future kingdom now: Strive to embody the love, peace, and forgiveness of God's coming kingdom in your daily interactions.