“Judge not that you be not judged”. Really?

I’ve seen and heard people in all walks of life — rich, poor, educated, uneduated — use this very popular and probably the most misinterpreted scripture verse.  The magic verse is in Matthew 7:1 – “Judge not that you be not judged“.

 Let me elaborate.

The Bible should be read in “batch of texts”, not a stand alone quote then twist its meaning to suit your need. Each verse has what we call “context” and it should be understood based on the given context. So, to understand what we’re going to talk about, please read Matthew 7 before we proceed, it will be wonderful. 

Now, for the context. 

Jesus was preaching the popular “Sermon on the Mount”. And it looks like this particular portion of the sermon is directed towards the Pharisees (Jesus said “You hypocrite!” (v. 7), a language he often used specifically for the Pharisees). These guys are those who “judge” their fellowmen for their own benefit. They place additional rules not necessarily based on the Scriptures and create burdens for those who follow. In other words, they “judge” with no real good intention. 

Is Jesus really saying “Do not judge?” Or is he saying, do not judge because “…the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.” (v. 2)

Jesus is saying, if you judge, make sure you use the same standards of judgement, not your opinion, not your extra rules. Because if you are judged, you will also be judged according to the same standards. This is supported by another verse. Jesus said:

“Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” (John 7:24)

Here, he is saying, you can judge if your judgment is “righteous”, or godly. A godly judgment uses God’s word as the standard and not the popular cultural worldview:

- if you don’t pay your taxes, the Bible is clear: that’s cheating. No matter what the culture says about the way the taxes are paid and used, you need to pay your taxes.

- if you took stuff that’s not yours, the Bible is clear: that’s stealing. No matter what the circumstances are, your child maybe sick or hungry, but you cannot use that to justify your action if the Bible is our judge.

- if you have relationship with a married person, the Bible is clear: that’s adultery.  No matter what the circumstance is, the Bible says, any relationship outside marriage is adultery. 

- if you hate someone, the Bible is clear: that’s murder. Yes, Jesus said this!

Here’s my point: if a “judgment” is passed for the purpose of correction in love and concern and the basis used is the Bible and not on your personal opinion, feelings or bias, “passing judgment” is exactly what is needed. If the Bible is clear, is it wrong to “judge” sin as sin?

Most of the time, those who misuse this popular phrase uses it to justify their wrongdoing. They hide by pushing back the focus to the one that’s trying to lovingly help them.

The problem isn’t even with the judging. The problem lies on the reaction towards judgment. If the judgment is done in love and is Biblical, there will be two reactions: humble repentance OR arrogant disregard. Most who says “Do not judge…” belongs to the latter.

As I often say, quote Ophra instead, but don’t quote the Bible and misuse it.

Life beyond the “Good life”

Ricky Carandang will make you all think today:

I imagine today after Jun and Violet Lozada are arraigned for perjury, Jun will go back to his cell in Manila, while Violet returns to their quarters in La Salle Greenhills where she, Jun and their kids have been living for more than a year under the watchful eye of the nuns and the senate sergeant-at-arms.

I imagine at some point in the day both of them asking themselves as they must have asked themselves countless times over the past year, “Is this all worth it?” I imagine Violet asking herself what an uncertain future willl bring for her and her children.

I also imagine that later today, Mike Defensor and his wife and kids will touch down at the San Francisco International airport, check into their hotel and begin an enjoyable vacation. Also today, Ben Abalos will be holding court at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club, enjoying a Ben’s Burjer while waiting for the rain to let up enough so he can enjoy a round of golf.

Romy Neri will go to work at SSS and have a quiet day, while Mike Arroyo will do whatever it is he wants to do.

At some point in the day I imagine they’d have some quiet time in the lull between activity to contemplate.

I imagine Defensor, Abalos, Neri,and Arroyo stopping momentarily during the day and thinking, “Life is good, isn’t it?”

Yes it is, guys. Aren’t you glad you’re in power?

I’m glad we can only live a maximum 100 years, 60 years on the average. I’m glad what we have now is not permanent. I’m glad that our life here is just a rehearsal of the real life for all eternity. I’m glad that the way we live our life now determines our eternal destination. I’m glad that life maybe unfair in this side of eternity, but God is the ultimate judge that will give justice for all. We do not know when, but heck I’m sure it will come. Aren’t you glad this is just temporary?
That goes the same for everyone: Jun Lozada, Neri, Abalos, Defensor and Arroyo. And for all of us.

To my Adventist friends: An alternative view to 1st Qtr. 2009 Sabbath School Lesson

I received an email from Dirk Anderson, former owner of EllenWhite.org. Adventists are talking about Ellen White this quarter through the Sabbath School Lesson Quarterly. He presents a website that gives an alternative perspective on this issue. For the purpose of balance study, I strongly suggest that you consider his letter below:

A few weeks ago someone alerted me about the SDA Sabbath School Quarterly. I read it and was very disappointed to see that so little has changed at SDA corporate headquarters.

I have a GREAT concern that Adventists are going to study this one-sided and biased quarterly, and based upon that “partial” information, will make a decision about Ellen White that could lead to years of pain and heartache. PLEASE HELP ME GET OUT THE TRUE STORY ABOUT ELLEN WHITE!

I have prepared an “alternative viewpoint” to the Quarterly, which SDAs can study, and even print out and take with them to Sabbath School to insure a lively discussion.

Please get the message out, on your web sites, in blogs, via e-mail, or however else. As always, I appreciate any feedback and suggestions. You are the best group of folks in the world and I appreciate you!

Here is the link to the material:
http://www.nonsda.org/egw/ssq2009/toc.htm

Thank-you and God bless you!

Brother Anderson

“Theology for Dummies”

Grace Place goes topical in our grace groups (small group weekly meetings). The topic I’m leading with my group is about “grace”.  The way it was promoted during our Celebration Sunday yesterday was odd –  “Learn ‘theology’ without the confusion“.

After the service, one of my enrollees approached me, and with the short discussion with her, I gathered 2 things that most people think when they hear the word “theology”:

1. It’s boring — “Kuya, sigurado kang exciting to ha. Baka naman magsisi ako?”, and

2. It’s hard to understand – “Isinasama ko nga si ___ (friend’s name) kaso di pa raw sya ready sa hard stuff”.

I can’t blame her for thinking that way. In fact, it’s pretty normal to think that way about theology. Now a days, when people talk about theology, they actually  mean “I want to confuse you”. Seriously, theology has become so confusing that it becomes boring for most people.

Theology simply means a study about God. Anything about God — his character, his love, his holiness. In my case, I want to discuss about His grace. I tried to explain that the reality is, everything that we talk about in church has an underlying theological concept. This Sunday, our lead pastor talked about the importance of having a loving and caring small community. The theological concept behind that is “Fellowship”. He didn’t mention that term, but who cares as long as the concept is presented and understood well! Last year, one of the most interesting and much appreciated message series was “TXT”. It talks about the Bible. The attenders learned and understood it’s concepts — little that they know that Kuya Prudy is talking about the theological concept called “Sola Scriptura”.

So, theology can be understood and can even be fun!

“Ah, parang Theology for Dummies?”, she commented.

Great term! I like that. :D

I was able to read one of those “For Dummies” books and I was really amazed on how the author explained a complex topic in such a way that it become simple and interesting. He uses simple terms, graphics, even comedy in presenting the hard facts. The book didn’t water down the obviously hard-topic-to-explain. It simply explained it in such a way that it could be understood.

Theology needs not be confusing. It can be understood. It can be exciting. I guess it all depends on how it is be presented. And, yes, understanding God’s grace can be  challenging than the usual “inspirational topics”, but sure it can penetrate the heart, it’s life changing. And even Johann, my 4 year old kid, can understand it. It’s just a matter of presenting it in an exciting, non-boring, and understandable way.

So, Tuesdays 7:30 at Kopiroti, The Columns will rock! Believe me. :D

“Hindi na po ako Adventist”

* For my non-Filipino readers, the title means “I’m not an Adventist anymore”.

Lately, I’ve been asked frequently whether I’m still an Adventist or not. Maybe because I’ve been reconnecting with my old college friends these days. And, coming from 3 generations of Adventists and studied in an Adventist university, it’s not surprising that about 95% of my acquaintances are Adventists.

So, this small piece is an attempt to explain my answer to this question. For some reasons, I can’t explain in 2 to 3 sentences. So, allow me to use this domain for a few more paragraphs. Pardon me, my non-Adventist readers, you may not be able to relate to this.

So, the common question, “Adventist ka pa ba?” (Are you still an Adventist?) The quick answer is, “Hindi na” (Not anymore). Unfortunately, though, there are some misinterpretations to this answer :

1. So, Reform ka na? – “Reform” pertains to a group or groups of Adventist off-shoots, both liberal or conservative in belief system. Some of these off shoots give emphasis to vegetarianism or Ellen White writings. Some are simply against the General Conference. Some off-shoots I know are the “Davidians” and “Reformed Adventist Movement”.

I never joined any “reformed Adventist movements”.

2. Bakit ka nag backslide? – (Why did you back slide?) This question actually asks what caused me to “quit the Adventist faith”. In my experience (as I have asked this question myself to “former” Adventists), the common expected cause include, a) job related (because there is a Sabbath schedule and the Adventist chose job over Sabbath) and b) spouse related (“She married a non-Adventist, nahatak na sya ng hindi kapanampalataya“)

I wouldn’t say I backslid. I have never abandoned my faith in Jesus. I may have abandoned some Adventist doctrines, but never my relationship with Jesus. I can call it, on the other hand, forward-slide :D More of this later.

3. Sunday ka na pala ngayon! – (So you now belong to Sunday!). I’ve recently received this comment from a college friend who invited me to her wedding. Unfortunately, it fell on a Sunday so I politely begged off because of my responsibility to my church. In which she commented this. If you’ve been with the Adventist faith for a long time, you’re acquainted with the unending battle between Sabbath (Saturday) and Sunday. Adventists explain that since Saturday is the correct day of worship, worshiping on Sunday is, as Ellen White says, the “mark of the beast”. So there’s really a tension between these two days.

It’s really hard to explain in a paragraph why I joined a church that worships on Sundays and has stopped worshipping on Saturdays. I have written quite a lot about this subject 7 years ago. But the quick explanation is this: I’ve never joined “another camp” of Sunday worshippers. I don’t worship the day. I worship the creator of the day – Jesus. Bale wala sa akin kung anong araw ka sumasamba. The important thing is you are worshiping the right God any day you want (for instance, Christians, including Adventists, in the middle east worship on Fridays).

4. Kumakain ka na ng baboy ngayon? (Do you now eat pork?) Eating pork for Adventists are a big deal. It’s like the thing that separates the wheat from the weeds. :D

Opo, minsan po nakakakain na ako ng baboy. May baboy sa hotdog, sa cornbeef (yes!), sa chicharon, at sa paborito nating hamburgers. Yung mga processed meat, ok sa akin. For some reasons, psychologically I think, I still cannot eat foods with visible pork in it like liempo or lechon. And I don’t eat pork intentionally. I eat only if I’m presented with it. I still choose not to eat pork NOT for religious purposes but for health reasons.

So, ano ka na ngayon?

I’m a Bible-believing follower of Jesus Christ.

I believe I’m a sinner forgiven by Jesus through his work on the cross. I was saved not because I am good or I joined a religion or said a prayer or did some acts of kindness. It is only by this grace, this love that I don’t deserve that I am saved.

I now serve Jesus through a body of believer in a non-denominational, evangelical church called Grace Place.

What do you think of Adventists?

Make no mistake about it. I love Adventists. I love the Adventist church. Most of my friends are Adventists. Most of my family members are still Adventists. I love them and I have never seen them differently even after I “jumped ship”.

I left the Adventist church not for some disagreement with a member or with the organization. It is purely doctrinal. There are some Adventist doctrines that I now cannot support. And the only logical step is to leave and go where I can best serve God.

So there. That’s the explanation. Whew!