Welcome back to our investigation into this thing called Praise Breaks.
Previously, we've been looking into "judging" and what the scripture says regarding it.
Let's wrap this up.
Since we should be judging, why should we only be judging those in the church?
The main reason why we aren't supposed to judge those who are not in the body of Christ is because they are already condemned.
John 3:16-18
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
So when someone outside of the church says that we are judging them, we should tell them that we aren't. What we are doing is letting them know about their current spiritual state.
We aren't condemning them at all, but letting them know that they're already condemned.
Jesus sums up for us the issue with judging...
Matthew 23:23-32
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier mattersof the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.
Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.
You see, the issue was never that people were judging. We are called to judge ourselves and one another. We are called to point out the sins of our brothers and sisters so that they can recognise it and repent before the Lord.
The issue was that it was being done hypocritically. There was no love. There was no mercy. There was no care. There was no longer any desire to see a person restored to God living as how God commanded them to live.
That was the issue. And that is what we need to be doing.
Galatians 6:1-2
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Notice that it doesn't say to not judge and leave the person to deal with the fault by themselves (if they even realise that they have been overtaken in a fault).
We are supposed to be about helping one another to walk according to the words of Christ, not leaving each other to do what we feel is right in our own eyes... especially if the bible tells us a different way.
There are those of us who seek to minister to those within the body of Christ who need help, as that is what we want for ourselves if we are going away from the steps ordered for us by God.
Are there things we can't judge?
Yes, there are. Although we are told to judge, we are also told that there are certain things that we can't judge.
Colossians 2:16-17
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
Romans 14
Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike.Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it.
He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. Let not then your good be evil spoken of: For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thingwhereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
We can see that there are definitely things that we have no right to judge. But even in these scriptures we can see that there are things that we can and should judge.
This is seen in Romans 4:20 – For meat destroy not the work of God.
You see, the issue behind whether we should judge or not is what does it do to the work of God in the life/lives of a Christian or body of believers.
Is what is being done, hindering or helping the work of God? Or does it have neither positive nor negative effect?
Is it good for a believer to pray looking up to the heavens or with their eyes closed? Should a believer read one or two chapters a day? These are things that we can’t and shouldn’t judge each other on.
This is why we're investigating Praise Breaks instead of Praise Dance. Praise Dance is the "frantic" dancing that we see in the videos that is supposed to be praising God. Can we judge that? Is it praising God? I don't know. The bible does say that we can praise God in the dance. So maybe it is. But regardless, it doesn't seem like we can judge it anyway. After all, does dancing destroy the work of God?
Of course not. But Praise Breaks? That is another thing altogether.
I hope this puts "judging" to rest.
To tell others not to judge in something that the bible allows us to judge is a sign of immaturity. If you're immature, then fine. But if a more mature person tells you that we should judge it, then you shouldn't forbid them.
If you believe that you are mature and you don't want to judge, then say you don't want to judge. Nobody is stopping you from withholding judgement if you choose to. But if others have a genuine concern and want to look to the scriptures in order to make a judgement, you shouldn't stop them.
But remember, with the same judgement you judge others, you will be judged. So if you decide that you don't want to look to the word of God to see if the path being walked has been ordered by God, don't expect anybody else to make the decision to come and correct you from walking in a path that is not ordered by God.
Join us next time as we move unto the next issue that we should tackle before we delve into Praise Breaks... the purpose of the Church.
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