Judging | Bad Days Better

by Josh Monda | Jun 18, 2009 | Uncategorized

Yesterday I started a little blogging series on judging so today I will continue with that series.  As stated yesterday the first thing I notice from Matthew 7:1-6 is that there is a definite command “do not judge” I also stated the greek word for judge used is (krinite) which also means to criticize.

Often times when a person has done what others feel is wrong and fallen the first reaction is to judge that person but judgment often times misses the point.  

When someone has messed up as we all do shouldn’t this be a time for compassion towards that person.  This should be a time of reaching out to the person and making an offer to love on that person and to pull them in even closer, not push them further and further away.  This is a time to speak kind words of them not bite and tear them down with destructive talk.  (Ephesians 4:30-32)

We should take time to show loving compassion for those who have come short why?  Well we realize that we too have come short so many times and in many cases much worse then the one we are judging.

Then why is it that people so often and so quickly move to judging and criticizing?  Not only that why is that so often these are the what we might call “Strong Christians”.  There are several reason why this takes place and let me say as I state these this was me and probably still is to a certain extent.  

1.  When we judge or criticize another person it boosts our self-image.  When we tear someone else down it makes us seem better at least that is how we see it, somehow we are better then that other person.  It inflates our pride, ego, and our own self image.

2.  We enjoy criticism.  Think of all the successful talk shows, movies, and so forth that are based primarily on this issue we love to hear and share bad news and others shortcomings.

3.  When we judge and criticize it makes us feel as if somehow our own life is better than the person that failed.

4.  When we judge and criticize it helps us justify ourselves and all the shortcomings that we have.  We begin to rationalize our own failures because we can point out failures in other people.

5.  Judgment and criticism we think is a sign of strength.  When we criticize someone else we believe it just once again proves our narrow minded beliefs by the other persons failure to live up to that standard.

6.  Judgment and Criticism gives us a chance for hurt and revenge.  We feel that somehow that person that we are judging and being critical of deserves it.  Our reasoning go’s like this “if he hurt me, he deserves to be hurt.”  So we look for ways to hurt them.

I am going to close with reasons why we should not be so fast to judge and criticize.

1.  We never know all of the circumstance and all of the facts.  What happened and why it happened are never really known.  So often there are all kinds of things that have taken place behind the scenes that are not seen by others.  Think about just these relationships Children and parents, wives and husbands, employer and employee, friend and friend, in all these relationships things happen behind closed doors so often.  In addition to that things are seldom remembered and when they are remembered the facts are messed up.  Usually the person that does the talking does not reveal the true fact but many times reveals only the fact that make them look good.  The one that is in a hurry to tell others the problem is the one that seeks self-justification.  The one that desires to be silent is the one who is caring and compassionate.  The spirit of silence is silent because it does not desire hurt for others.

2.  The second reason we should not be so quick to criticize and judge is that all people it does not matter who you are or what your position is come short, all fall, and all fail.  In addition to that we all sin (1 John 1:8, 10).  No one at any time is ever exempt from sin.  When we are quick to bring out the whip of judgment and criticism we have a big problem; we have forgotten that we are also sinners.  It is only when we acknowledge our own condition that we act with care and compassion to those that fall short.  We must realize though they may be failing now we failed before and we will fail again.  Sin is a cycle that is continuous and no one is exempt it started in the beginning when Adam and Eve ate of the tree and it will not end until Jesus returns.  Those that believe in Christ have His righteousness imputed upon them and we are dependent upon that (2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 3:8-16).  We must always be seeking after God’s forgiveness and forgetting those things that are behind us.

I want to make it clear that I am not saying that we have a license to go out and sin all we want neither is our sin just excused.  We are not to continue in sin, not by being quick to judge and criticize nor by doing evil.  We all have weaknesses and shortcomings the person that really knows God is the one who is constantly seeking God.  ”And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

3.  Everything that there is to know about a person is never known.  How then can we judge and criticize?  Think about all the things that mold us into who we are.  Think about our parents what are they like, how were we treated for the 18 years we lived at home.  What did our fathers or mothers teach us?  What kid of friends did we have or do we have?  There are many factors that influence the person that may be failing.  Do we know what it is influencing them?  What kind of genes has this person inherited?  Are the loving, shy, strict, arrogant, strong, fiery?  There is so much that influences the human life that only Go can know a person well enough to judge him.  We can really never know someone well enough to pass judgment on them.

4.  Judging others usurps God’s authority.  When someone is critical and judges of another they are saying they have the right and are worthy to be the judge over other lives.  They are in essence claiming the right to be God, which is absolutely ridiculous.  Yet I believe most people including myself have laid claim to the right at one time or another, and some claim the right o exercise a judgmental critical spirit all the time. 

Lets not forget what the Scripture says “Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master [God] he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.” (brackets added by me) (Romans 14:4, James 4:11-12)

Tomorrow I will look at verse 2 and how it is made very clear that we will be judged with the same judgement or criticism we use and we will be judged with the same measurement.

Let me also make it clear that this series is not talking about specific occasions when value judgments must be made, nor is it speaking of the careful discrimination that has to be made at times, finally it is not speaking of the moral judgment that we at times have to make either.  It is speaking of the harsh judgmental, and often critical spirit that has invaded our churches and our lives at times.

Heaven | Bad Days Better

by Josh Monda | Jun 18, 2009 | Uncategorized

Last-night I was a busy person.  I headed to Deleware to meet with some friends, then off to Philadlelphia Biblical University, then to Lehigh Baptist Church, then back to Deleware then finally home.  I had an awesome night except for in my way home there right in the middle of 176 these guys decided they wanted to race.  So as I am going about 70 there are two cars stopped next to each other man I thought I was going to hit someone.  What does that have to do with God fighting our battles right.

Well while I was at Lehigh Baptist Church this verse was read.  

 He may have a great army, but they are merely men. We have the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles for us!” Hezekiah’s words greatly encouraged the people. 2 Chronicles 32:8 (NLT)

I have not been able to shake that verse from me head.  I have had a lot of questions come my way and a whole lot of thought.  I have listened to alot of truth, half truths, and downright lies, over the past few weeks.  There are times that I have wanted to tell people to stick it.  There are probably times where I have told people to stick it in no uncertain terms.  There are many times that I just want to go to battle but this verse says “we have the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles for us.”  I dont need to fight the battles God will fight them for me.  I don’t need to defend things that people think might be wrong or are uncertain of.

I often think of the days when we will get to heaven.  Praise the Lord that there will be no “you said this” and “I heard this”.  There will not be anyone complaining because they had there feelings hurt or because something did not go their way.  There will not be people fighting and arguing about this or that.  There will be no meetings to figure things out because none of it will matter.  I know in my life I have thought about things that were not right or have thought I was not treated right but in the end when I stand before God it will not matter.  I long for that day.  Until then God will keep on fighting.

 

 

 

Fault Finding | Bad Days Better

by Josh Monda | Jun 18, 2009 | Uncategorized

I recently had a conversation with someone and they asked me what I though was the most popular verse among young people right now?  My reply was I would think it would be Matthew 7:1 “Judge not, that ye be judged.”  His response was your right.  So I began to wonder why that was and I felt that most people may take this verse out of context.  By the way the Greek word here for judge here is (krinete) which means to criticize, condemn, judge, censor, etc.  It is interesting that it means to criticize.  It is speaking of fault finding; being picky.

Here is Matthew 7:1-6

 1“Do not judge so that you will not be judged. 2 For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.  3 Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?  4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye?  5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.  6 Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

So I thought maybe I would spend the next few days just doing some work with these verses.  So today will be more of an introduction then tomorrow I will get more into detail I think.

When I read these verse one of the first things that I notice is the we are told right from the start “do not judge”.  This is a command do not judge.  (v. 1)

Secondly it is made very clear that we will be judged with the same judgement or criticism we use and we will be judged with the same measurement (v. 2)

The thirdly think I have noticed is that the person doing the judging spends time looking for faults in others but spends very little time looking at themselves (v. 3)

The fourth thing I notice is that the person doing the judging is deceived about themselves (v. 4)

The fifth thing we notice is that the person doing the judging is really a hypocrite the text even calls them a hypocrite because of their failure to look at their own sin first (v. 5)

The sixth and final thing I notice is that this person is undeserving of the gospel (reality we all are) but this person tramples it under their feet and tears people apart (v.6)

Christ is not holding back when talking about those who are judgmental and critical.  So over the next few days I will take at least one of the above points at a time and break it down.

Called | Bad Days Better

by Josh Monda | Jun 18, 2009 | Uncategorized

Sep 02

Posted by Josh

I have always felt that God has called me to be a Youth Pastor in addition I have always been against those that merely use Youth Ministry to aspire to something better meaning a Sr. Pastor role.  But what if you feel maybe God is calling you to a Sr. Pastor role.  This has entered into my thinking and something I never thought I would think about is dominating my thought process.  I really have never desired to be a Sr. Pastor.  I guess all of the headaches that come with it I would like to avoid.  However there are just as many headaches within Youth Ministry.  I however have always liked dealing with teens and have not necessarily liked dealing with many adults.  However I have to ask myself has God been preparing me for this, preparing me for something different, even something I never dreamed I would do.

I have always said to my wife if I was going to be a Sr. Pastor I don’t want to do it in a small town.  I have just felt the potential for growth is so low.  However over the last few weeks I have begun to see that there are many smaller towns that either do not have a good church or they have a church without a Pastor.  Many people here in MO are forced to drive several miles if they live in a small town in order to find a good church.  In addition I have had several people recently ask me if I would consider being a Sr. Pastor.  I just struggle with decision.  Am I ready?

Sometimes God calls us to do things that we never though were possible.  Sometimes God wants us to think outside of ourselves and to focus on Him.  I am not saying I am call to be a Sr. Pastor but I decided today I should at least be open to the idea.  If you are reading this I would ask that you pray fro direction in my life.

Life, My Thoughts, Spiritual Application

Aug 07

Posted by Josh

I recently was talking with a pastor and this question was asked of me.  We had talked for quite awhile and he then stopped me and asked me so why do you still want to be a Youth Pastor.  The answer for me was actually simple.  Here was my response.  ”Because God called me to be a Youth Pastor.” 

In my years of being a Youth Pastor I have seen many use youth ministry as a stepping stone into something bigger.  Often times they may have what they feel is a good reason for this.  However, does God call us to use one ministry as a mere stepping stone into another.  Why do we seem so often to want to climb the career ladder in church?  Always wanting to move to the bigger or “better” church.  

I must confess youth ministry is often difficult.  It is hard to juggle everything that we must do in addition in having to deal with church life.  However I believe God allows us to go through things to only make us stronger and more moldable in his hands.

Life, My Thoughts, Spiritual Application

Baby | Bad Days Better

by Josh Monda | Jun 18, 2009 | Uncategorized

May 19

Posted by Josh

It was 4am when the phone rang.  As I picked it up my wife was on the other end and she told me her water broke.  Our first child was a fast labor so I woke up my daughter and we headed off to the hospital.  And about 2 hours later Micah John Monda was born.  he was born at 6:17 am and my was at 33 weeks 3 days.  Micah weighed in at 4lbs. 9 1/2 ounce and was 17 1/4 inches long.  My daughter has prayed, and prayed, and prayed for this moment.  Her faith was always so strong believing God would give her a brother or sister.  It took  wife and I over 6 years to have this child and God poured out his blessing on us.

 Its interesting to see how God has brought blessing, after blessing into our lives.  I have been blown away.  Well I could right alot more but to be honest I need some rest and tomorrow I have alot of work to do.  Here is a picture.

Life, My Thoughts

May 18

Posted by Josh

I am really tired.  It has all hit me at once. I guess between dealing with my resignation, traveling back and forth to the hospital multiple times, gearing up to move, deciding whether to wait or jump back into ministry, it is just wearing me down.  

Friday my wife will be induced and will give birth to our son Micah John Monda.  Her pregnancy will be at 34 weeks so he will have to spend some time in the NICU.  In addition to that my mother will be here on that same day with one of my friends, and my niece and nephew.  So while my wife is in labor I have to somehow get my mom to the hospital, and I have to pick up the moving truck that day.  In addition to that Saturday it will be time to pack so we have to get the truck loaded and off to Missouri.  Then I have to decide whether to drive to Missouri and fly back to get my wife or do I stay here.  These are decision are weighing heavy on me and so is everything else.  Sorry for the rant.  Pray for strength right now I feel I have little but when we are weak He is strong.

Life, My Thoughts