I never understood why people who’d done tons of dirt and/or who lived an iniquitous lifestyle before supposedly turning to Jesus Christ were so judgmental and harsh towards those who’d never done anything close to what they did within their lifetime.
And when you reach the limit in tolerating their hypocrisy and tell them the truth about themselves, they’re quick to respond with, “We all fall short of the glory of God”. These words are often used by them to undermine and to downplay the individual who confronts them on their own misdeeds and behaviors. Their traits of manipulation and deviousness conveniently resume instantly, yet they claim to be a born-again Christian.
They make irrational or petty comments about others based on preconceived ideas and notions even when they don’t know one all too well.
There actions definitely have more to show about them than they do anyone else. Sometimes it is derived from their own guilt that surface to haunt them and sometimes it is just a matter of jealousy, or both. Another person’s character may be a reminder to the opposite of what they once were and wish they could have been like from the beginning of their life journey, and they may feel inadequate or even resentful toward that person.
I know, I’ve been through it before with a relative who had just met me for the first time, however, she considered me the “judgmental one” because my spirit did not take to her, and it did not take to her rightfully so.
One of the gifts I was born with was the gift of discernment. I was always able to sense things about people that other people could not sense.
About nineteen years ago, this relative expressed to me that yes, the bible stated that there are seven gifts given out. So, she didn’t deny my gifts as her grandmother had also been born with the gift of extrasensory perception. Nevertheless, she also stated that one could have a gift without being saved. I was intuitive enough to know that she was snidely hinting around at me and insinuating that I was not saved.
During the time I had spent with her I had caught her in lies, intentional gossip, and a plan to do dirt towards me.
The Lord, of course, delivered me out of the circumstance safely and perfectly unharmed, but now I was even wiser to those wolves who walk around in sheep clothing. I had experienced people like this relative before yet not to this extent of sickness.
This relative even said to me that she tried to figure out how I had made it through particular hardships during my childhood still intact. She boggled me because if she was truly a Christian there would not have been anything to figure out. As a believer, to me, the situation was obvious. It was God. When us believers walk through fire we don’t get burned. Our Lord protects and shields us faithfully.
She was always talking about wishing someone would get saved and about who wasn’t saved. My question was who and what made her the authority on who was saved and what it actually meant to be saved?
This relative told me a person who died went straight to hell because they weren’t saved. I asked her how she knew they weren’t saved. She told me because of all the dancing that they use to do. She claimed if one had a gift that they weren’t exclusively using to glorify God than they were not saved. This person who she spoke of wasn’t a stripper or into any pornography or anything of that nature, and she was still young (in her early twenties).
This person sung and danced for audiences just as certain gospels singers and musicians do, they just weren’t singing gospel music or in the genre. Even some gospel entertainers are not all what they appear to be, neither are many active members of the congregations.
Jesus said himself, “Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock“. -Matthew 7:21-24
Anyway, my point is, I was christened at a Catholic church when I was four months old. I also verbally accepted and received Jesus Christ as my Lord and savior when I was still a child or during my preteen years over thirty years ago. God was always with me and has always kept me and had did some very amazing things for me even when I had gotten angry at him and doubted his goodness for a period of time due to my particular trials in life. The purity within my spirit never left.
God is omniscient and only he knows who is a true believer and who is not. No one else can ultimately make that decision so those in particular need not to make subjective judgments in regard to who is and who is not a saved Christian based on their perception of one’s performance in life.
There are indeed sincere Christians who do exercise, carry out, and accomplish righteousness more effectively than certain others but God knows one’s heart and genuine efforts and he meets his people where they are and aides them with his Holy Spirit. There are different stages of transformation depending on each individual as everyone is unique. To whatever degree where one is at God is working things out for their own good and preparing a wonderful place for them.
True believers in God/Jesus Christ do not let the regrets or mistakes of their past negatively influence their conduct toward others who haven’t been down their same road. Yes, none of us are perfect, though one shouldn’t try to beat down other people on account of not being able to handle their own insecurities. It’s not about where one has been but where one is going as they are a new creation within God/Jesus. Forget the past as it is all forgiven through our savior and move on positively learning correctly and building each other and growing each other with our fellow sisters and brothers in Christ.
In all honesty, a lot of so called Christians are not really saved and were never truly Christians to begin with. ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. Revelation 3:15-16
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds. 2 Corinthians 11:13-15
Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! 2 Corinthians 13:5
Having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 2 Timothy 3:5
For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. Ephesians 5:12
Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out. Proverbs 10:9
When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. Proverbs 16:7
I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. Romans 16:17-18
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Matthew 5:11
So they watched him and sent spies, who pretended to be sincere, that they might catch him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor. So they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and show no partiality, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or not?” But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, “Show me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?” They said, “Caesar’s.” …
-Luke 20:20-24
