How to Quit Playing God

Sermon Series

How to Face Our Future! – Part 12

"How to Quit Playing God"

Pastor Jerry

James 4:11-12

 

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Back in my college days I read a book written by Eric Burn called Games People Play. A couple of years later when I was in Bethany Theological Seminary in Chicago, another book came out, Games Christians Play. It was an interesting book that dealt with games Christians play in the name of the Lord. I want us to look at the deadliest game you as a Christian can ever play --the game of playing God.   James says that the way we play God is by judging people. Anytime I judge you, anytime you judge me, we're playing God. It's only God's responsibility to judge people. I want us to look at (I) Why we judge other people, (II) Why we shouldn't judge, (III) When is it wrong to judge other people, (IV) and, How do we break the habit of judging other people. You will be happier in your life if you learn how to deal with this issue. I. WHY DO WE LIKE TO JUDGE OTHERS? Paul says in Romans 2:3 that one of the reasons we tend to judge other people is to excuse our own faults. You think by pointing out how somebody else has fallen, then you don't look so bad. There is another reason, he says, that we tend to judge other people and that's because it appeals to our pride.  Proverbs 26:22 (GN) "Gossip is so tasty. How we love to swallow it." There is a natural innate ability of gossip or slander to capture our curiosity. It's a self- righteous attitude of putting other people down. Everybody has this problem. II. WHY SHOULD I NOT JUDGE OTHERS James gives us three reasons why we shouldn't judge other people.

1. It's unchristian

"Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law…." We shouldn't judge one another because we're all part of the same family. We're brothers and sisters. Notice it says, "…do not slander". The word "slander" and the word "devil" are the same word. The word "devil" means slander. The devil's number one activity is going around and putting people down.We are most like the devil when we slander.

2. It's unloving

We shouldn't judge others because it's unloving. James says, "Whenever I judge you, I'm breaking the Law." What law is it I'm breaking? James 2:8 …breaking the Royal Law -- the law of love -- "Love your neighbor as yourself."  To judge is unchristian and unloving.

3. It's unjustified

"There's only one lawgiver and one judge." The word "lawgiver" is referring to God. Only God has the right to judge. One of the greatest weaknesses in people is we tend to generalize people by just one mistake. If they make one mistake we write off their whole personality. III. WHEN IS IT WRONG TO JUDGE OTHERS? There are seven places in Scripture where it says it is wrong to judge.

1. Romans 2:1-3 "You therefore have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else. For at whatever point you judge others you're condemning yourself for you who pass judgment do the same thing…do you think you'll escape God's judgment?" The time when it's wrong to judge other people is when I'm practicing the same sin.

2. Matthew 7:3-5 "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? …You hypocrite! First take the plank out of your own eye and then you can see clearly to remove the speck in your brother's eye." Jesus is talking here in His famous Sermon on the Mount. He's saying it's wrong to judge when it blinds me to my own faults.

3. John 7:24 gives us the third time in scripture when it's wrong to judge other people. "Jesus says, `Stop judging by mere appearance and (instead) make a right judgment.'" It's wrong to judge others when you draw conclusions based on outward appearance.

4. John 7:51 "Nicodemus who had gone to Jesus earlier and …asked (talking to the Sanhedrin) `Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he is doing?'" That's a rhetorical question. The obvious answer is "NO!" It's wrong to judge when you condemn somebody before you hear the facts.

5. Colossians 2:16 "Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat, drink, or regard to religious festivals, … or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the thing to come. Reality, however, is found in Christ." Paul is saying it is wrong to judge people, their spirituality, on the basis of externals, religious observances.

6. James 4:11 "Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it." It's wrong to judge when it causes you to speak evil about another Christian. Anything that causes me to speak evil about another Christian, maybe which could ruin their reputation is wrong. We are to hate wrong but we're to love people even when they are doing wrong.

7. I Corinthians 4:5 "Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time. Wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts." What is Paul talking here is about motives. He is saying we have no right to judge other people's motives and question why they do what they do.

The Bible says that someday when the Lord comes back, "he will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's heart." One day it's all going to be brought to light. IV. HOW DO YOU BREAK THE HABIT OF JUDGING OTHERS

1. Remember that I'll be judged by the same standards that I use to judge other people.

If you want something to help you be a little more considerate, look at Matthew 7:1-2 "Do not judge others, so that God will not judge you, for God will judge you in the same way you judge others, and he will apply to you the same rules you apply to others." The same measure we mete out is the same measure we get back.

2. Remember that each of us is accountable to God.

"Every one of us, then, will have to give an account of himself to God. So then, let us stop judging one another." (Romans 14:12-13). You're not accountable to me in the ultimate sense of every area of your life. I don't have to report to you. But one day we're all going to stand before God and then God is going to know our motives. How's God going to judge? He's going to judge honestly, fairly, truthfully.

3. Remember how much God has been merciful to me.

James 2:13 "Mercy triumphs over judgment." There is a principle greater than criticism. It's the principle of forgiveness. The principle of mercy. Jesus said, "Blessed are the merciful." Matthew 18 is the story of the unforgiving servant. The Bible says we're to be merciful because God has given us so much mercy. That’s the way God is! None of us get what we deserve. If we did we wouldn't be here. It's all by God's grace. We take advantage of God's grace. We forget how good it is. When you first become a Christian you understand how much you're forgiven. It's the most thrilling experience and you're really grateful for it. It’s like the song we opened the service with: I’m gonna climb a mountain, Im gonna shout about it, I found a friend in Jesus! If God's been gracious with us we need to be gracious with others. The most forgiving person is the most forgiven person. Once you've fallen, made mistakes, realized it and faced up to it, you're a lot more understanding, more sympathetic, open and forgiving, kind and loving with other people. I invite you to come this morning “Just as you are!” If you are broken as you come here today, come to be mended; if you are wounded, come to be healed; if you are desperate, come to be rescued; if you are empty, come to be filled; if you are guilty, come to be pardoned. Come, just as you are, to be welcomed into the loving arms of Jesus!