Seeking Truth in Today's Troubled World

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. “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?” Matthew 7:1-3

These verses are used by Christians and non-Christians alike to bully witnessing Christian people into silence and quiet submission. When you speak out someone else’s sin, you hear, “Don’t judge me! Don’t you know the Bible says, ‘Do not judge?’ That’s what you are doing now, isn’t it? You are judging! Are you perfect? Hmmm? No! Then who are you to judge me?”

Many non-Christians do not know many verses from the Bible, but they all know that one! They might not be able to tell you chapter and verse, but they know it’s in there.

And then we are told to “let your light shine,” (Matthew 5:16), “speak the truth in love,” (Ephesians 4:15), “go make disciples of all nations,” (Matthew 28:19). “Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” (Colossians 3:12).

Are we to say anything at all? Or just let the example of our holy living do the job? Maybe someone, somewhere five years later will see that we live a holy life and ask us a question about God and then we are to “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3:15)

What is a good witnessing Christian to do?

You try. You do your absolute best according to the will of God. That’s it. Be bold. Be audacious. Be courageous.

Remember this, if someone you are witnessing to or evangelizing to comes to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ during your conversation, it is nothing you did, but what the Holy Spirit did through you. “For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up.” (John 6:44) and again “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6). But God, through His prompting, often leaves it up to us to make the first move. Be bold. Move forward.

When someone throws Matthew 7:1-3 at you, they are doing it because it is an easy out for them. They don’t want to discuss their sin with you and they will flip it right back in your face and tell you not to judge them. You can choose at that point to step back “If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet.” (Matthew 10:14) or you can choose to come back patiently with something else and keep trying to pierce their defenses. “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10:23)

A lot of people are vehemently opposed to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and do not want to hear what you have to say on the subject. And that’s just a simple fact. But then there are those who yearn to hear the Gospel, the Truth, the Good News of Jesus Christ. There are those who thirst for the Truth, His Living Word. And if we shut down completely because we don’t want to risk offending or upsetting someone, then we lose even those who are looking for an answer, a way-out from the misery they are in. We, as a church, need to wake up and shout from the rooftops what Christ has done for us. We need to share His Grace and Mercy with as many people as possible. You never know who is going to be listening.

BE BOLD.

“The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1)

~JH