Seeking, Not Judging
From my previous post, there were some comments questioning whether all churches are lumped together in this concept of Church System. Here I want to address that issue because it touches upon a fundamental aspect of our walk with God.
God is judge, not us. His Word is judge, not us. Ezekiel 34:20
Even Jesus didn’t judge for Himself. He heard from God and that is what He did. We are to follow His example in all things. John 5:30 “I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me. Further, Paul says he doesn’t even judge himself, only God judges him. 1 Corinthians 4:3-4.
When we ask the question whether this denomination, my church, or this pastor is good or not, it’s God’s judgment not ours.
What do I mean? How do we know what to do?
When it comes to our lives, we don’t judge good or bad. We look to God and His truth and that’s our guide. God judges and we follow His lead, whatever and wherever. Following God’s lead and not our judgments is choosing to eat of the tree of life instead of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The former is letting God be judge and being one with His will and simply walking in it. The latter is putting us as judge of what is good or bad.
To know and follow God’s judgments and ways, we have to set our ill-understanding aside and follow Him daily. Luke 9:23 Therefore, each day we sit with God, we seek the truth, we seek the pure manna from heaven (the instruction/truth of the Holy Spirit grounded in the Bible), we seek to know God so we can follow Him, and we seek His counsel throughout the day. (Seeking entails having a LOVE for the Truth, and putting time to know God as the priority in our day) We seek, ask, and act. We don’t pontificate on what we think is good by our own limited understanding. We seek counsel from the One who knows all.
Therefore, it’s not up to us to judge about this church or not, it’s up to God. To be able to know and hear His leading in this area we have to diligently seek Him. We have to put His words above religious leaders. We can’t read the Bible with our religious leaders opinions as our filters. We read for a desire for truth, realizing we don’t know and we may be misled in our current understanding. As we do, we will come to know God and His will; as He directs. We will be in the state of mind to be watchful for the times we are in. We will be hearing from God so we can walk in His will.
If we haven’t spent time diligently seeking, we will be very susceptible to deception. We won’t be able to follow God’s voice and not the voice of others because we are listening to ourselves. Make sense?
Seeking to know God comes first, so we can follow Him above all else. THEN we’ll be able to know what to do because then we will simply see and follow as Jesus did. It’s not about us deciding good or bad. It’s knowing God and following Him. See the difference? This following comes into play with all aspects of our lives, including this issue of leaving the church system (CS).
If you aren’t diligently seeking, how can your truly follow God’s voice? Again, not seeking is a spiritual death trap, because you remain spiritually blind. So even if you feel I’m wrong about the CS, spend time each day with God seeking to know Him as He is and His truth – this is your life, literally. Amos 5:4
When you seek you gain the spiritual “eyes” to see and the “ears” to hear. Revelation 2:29 As for leaving the CS, I “see” the CS corruption and the spiritual death and decay it breeds. Jeremiah 19:4 “Because they have forsaken Me and made this an alien place, because they have burned incense in it to other gods whom neither they, their fathers, nor the kings of Judah have known, and have filled this place with the blood of the innocents.” It isn’t my judgments, it’s just looking and seeing as God leads. It’s not about comparing churches, saying this one seems pretty good, or this pastor seems like a good man. Those are all our judgments. Instead, it’s seeking God with all our heart, soul, and mind. Then wherever He leads we follow. 1 Chronicles 16:11
The Bible is written to all who profess to be God’s people, which includes many denominations and groups. We all are to be examining our lives by its words. To think they are words for someone else is a grave mistake. Read Jeremiah, Isaiah, the minor prophets and Revelation seeking the instruction of the Holy Spirit and listen to what God has to say. When you look into the Bible with a heart to know truth and not to follow the doctrines of mankind, then you will “see”. Then you will know what to do. You will “see” the CS for what it is, how it destroys souls, and the impeding judgment. You will see the contrast between the system and the true temple of God.
The Bible speaks about the impeding judgment on the “house of God” and to leave and fully embrace God as our sanctuary, which is leading to something tremendous… the New Jerusalem, the temple from heaven. Revelation 21:2-3 It’s out with the old and in with the new, just as in the days of Jesus. We are the temple of God. God’s dwelling place is with us, in us. We have the Holy Spirit as a guarantee that we are His, and a taste of things to come. A fuller manifestation of God dwelling within us is upon us. Revelation 21:22 Be careful to not be like the church leaders and members of Jesus’ day, who held on to their traditions and understanding and missed Christ, the truth. The old is passing away, and God is doing a new and tremendous thing … are you ready to embrace it?
Living Light 
March 24, 2011 at 12:33 pm
Rachel,
For what it is worth. I agree wholeheartedly the we are to seek God; you know I do. I know He speaks to us. He speaks to me. When I go into the jails on Tuesday night, I give those guys what the Lord has given me in hopes that it will help them. When I write and post on my blog – when you do the same – we are hoping it will help someone. We are giving others the words that God has given us.
Jesus, in John 17, while talking to God said, ‘I gave them the words that you gave me and they accepted them’. Just as Jesus did it, and we do it, I think there are at least some pastors who do it. I know mine does. And maybe that is the real issue, just making sure the one you are listening to . . . is getting his or her words from God.
I also wholeheartedly agree that it is not enough, even if the one we are listening to is getting his or her words from God, to just listen to them. ‘We’ must get our own words, but it doesn’t negate the benefit of hearing other words that God has given others. Does that make sense? . . . 🙂
March 25, 2011 at 4:01 pm
Hi Mike – thanks for sharing your thoughts … we each need to seek then do and say what we feel led by the Holy Spirit then leave the results up to Him.
I see what you are saying. A person can be speaking what they feel God is teaching them. It can be interesting to hear. But someone can’t know God through another, another can only show us the gate (Christ, the Word), but it is to each one to walk through into the kingdom, an intimate union with God. Otherwise, nothing has changed in that person’s life, really. They are just standing at the gate – saying it’s the way and hearing others talk about it but aren’t entering in. They are kept from the life Christ came to give. So people will speak what is true, but it’s only a soul’s individual search and seeking that does anything for that soul. In the churches, it is too often accepted that somehow we can get what we can’t from another person, a relationship with God. If the churches truly conveyed the message of Christ then the whole focus would be on the seeking – not enabling not seeking. It’s a lot of compromise and lukewarmness that ultimately leads to spiritual decay, even if what the leaders are saying about their experience is true.
March 26, 2011 at 12:37 pm
Rachel,
I don’t have time this morning, but I would enjoy a little dialogue – not debate – here if you are okay with it. I think we might end up at near the same place in our believing and then if there is a point that we differ, we can agree to disagree on that point. The goal is to find as much common ground as possible . . . I think there will be a fair amount.
Mike
March 27, 2011 at 3:43 pm
Hi Mike – I look forward to it. 🙂
March 24, 2011 at 2:14 pm
Powerful message and I totally agree with the seeking after God. I can not judge the CS either as I ponder if I would have begun this journey without it. I think the danger and the evil in the CS is the message that it is about the CS and not about knowing and seeking after Jesus. The CS can plant seeds but if those maturing in their faith do not leave it to seek after God and not the church there in lies the idol worship. I appreciate your heart and totally agree that seeking after Him with all of your heart, your soul, your mind and your strength is the answer and the second is to love our neighbors as ourselves. We can meet neighbors in the CS but the truth is in the growing up and going out…I guess…who am I to judge? Thanks Rachel great stuff!
March 25, 2011 at 4:06 pm
Hi Tom, I think there was a time for the church. You see how it was used to assimilate the Bible. It’s only been in the recent past that the Bible was available to just about everyone. Just as there was a purpose for the Tabernacle in the OT; however with Christ came a new thing. As we approach the end, God is once again doing a new thing. I think we are in the process of that. We have to be open to what He is doing and follow His lead in it. But again, each one must seek to know God one-on-one, for that is the only way they will be able to truly follow.
March 24, 2011 at 5:08 pm
Very well written. Thank you! Your last paragraph is very much in line with the parable in Luke 5 when Jesus was questioned about fasting. If we are inhibited by the old ways/laws then we are not growing in or allowing the intimate/personal relationship with God to penetrate our hearts, minds, and spirits.
March 25, 2011 at 3:51 pm
Hi Anonymous, thanks for your thoughts… it’s all about a relationship for that is love … that was the purpose of Christ – to think anything else is to miss the point.
March 26, 2011 at 4:37 pm
Isaiah 17: 7-8
7 In that day a man will look to his Maker, And his eyes will have respect for the Holy One of Israel
8 He will not look to the altars, The work of his hands; He will not respect what his fingers have made, Nor the wooden images nor the incense altars.
March 27, 2011 at 3:45 pm
Hi W – great verse. That says it well.
March 30, 2011 at 1:43 am
I’d like to guide our readers back to Mathew 5
God is pure and our prayer ought to be to grow purer. Jesus Christ is our righteousness and our prayer ought to be to daily hunger and thirst after righteousness.
2 and he (Jesus) opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
The Beatitudes
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Is. 61.2
5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Ps. 37.11
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Is. 55.1, 2
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Ps. 24.4, 5
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: 1 Pet. 3.14 for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 1 Pet. 4.14
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets 2 Chr. 36.16 · Acts 7.52 which were before you.
May God Triune continue t bless you all!
March 30, 2011 at 5:58 pm
Hi Josef, thank you for posting these.
May 22, 2011 at 6:35 pm
It’s been a while but I haven’t forgot that I owe you a comment. I’m getting to where I enjoy dialogue more than just commenting.
I think our common ground is that we believe each person should learn from God personally. That is the goal. But until they do and hopefully in order that they might learn to do so, we and others encourage them with the words we get from God.
In John 17, Jesus says, in His conversation with God, that He has given the disciples the words that God had given Him and they believed them. That is the same hope I and am sure you have when you share with others.
The other thought I had, and the one I originally wanted to mention, is Acts 20 where Paul calls the leaders of the church of Ephesus and encourages them to be shepherds of the church of God.
And then in his letter to the Ephesians is the passage that I really like. God has given these gifts to His church in order that it might be built up. Hopefully to the point that it is no longer tossed back and forth with every wind of teaching that comes along – hopefully to the point that people begin learning for themselves what the truth is . . . just like you and I have done.
Anyway, that is the comment I wanted to make back when; just now getting the time.
May 23, 2011 at 8:37 pm
Hi Mike – glad to hear from you … I’ve been looking forward to it 🙂
I agree on our common ground. This is point of Christ’s sacrifice – to make a way for us to come back to our God who loves us more than we fully understand- to have the oneness with Him thus a very close relationship.
In my understanding, there is a clear distinction between the true body of believers and the man-made church system which people can be a part of, which is made up of wheat and tares, which was growing corrupt even during the time when the Bible was written. When you closely read the Word you see this distinction. The system of local church buildings and all that goes with that was used to carry the truth out to the nations, but God knew of its growing corruption and that one day it would fall under judgment along with the rest of the world – judgment starts in the house of God.
Further, as you dive into the Word OT and NT, you see that there is much spoken of the fall of this system (shepherds, prophets, priests, the gatherings, etc.) in line with end times. This judgment and fall is in accordance with the manifestation of the new temple Revelation 21-22 that is being built that has nothing to do with a man-made system. The new temple is simply the true believers, the Bride of Christ, – there is no actual temple, building, system etc. Christ is in us, He is the fulfillment of the perfect teacher, guide, counselor, shepherd. As that Bride is reading herself to meet the Bridegroom, the old “system” is no longer relevant.
It is similar to when Christ came in the flesh. When He came there was a religious system, structure in place, that was orginally set up by God – though it became corrupt the the doctrines of mere people. Needless to say at His coming, resurrection and outpouring of the Holy Spirit, a new “system” took it’s place. But as we saw, that system also was headed for corruption. We are now in transition once again. To hold onto the old system isn’t to follow where Christ, the Word, is leading, in my opinion. I feel the end is very close upon us, this is why this transition is taking place; the Bride is being prepared for her Bridegroom – to be the everlasting temple of God.
I’ll try to keep these thoughts brief.