Comments on: The Christian Moralist

By: Fisherman4christ

Fisherman4christ — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 03:20:46 +0000

Moralist� Judging Others� Criticism: The moralist� In the eyes of Scripture a moralist is a person who lives a moral and clean life, but he judges others because they do not live as he thinks they should�
He is moral, upright, just, good, decent, and honorable�
The moralist has strong values, standards, and principles� He is well disciplined and able to control his life�
He lives just as everyone thinks he should… He knows right from wrong and he lives it… He knows how to behave and he does it� In the eyes of society he is just what a person should be� He is a good neighbor, an excellent worker and provider, and an ideal citizen� But note three things�
1. The moralist judges others� The word “judge” (krino) means to criticize, to find fault, to condemn� This is the terrible flaw of the moralist�
Note: Any person becomes a moralist when he sets himself up as a judge of others� Any time we judge another person, we are declaring that we…

� Are living by some rule that another person is not living by�
� Are more moral than someone else�
� Are better than someone else�
� Are superior to someone else�
� Are more righteous than someone else�
� Are more acceptable to God than someone else�
Judging others says, “I am right, and he is not; I succeed, but he fails.” Therefore…
� “Look at me, but ignore him�”
� “Draw near to me, but shun him�”
� �Esteem me, but put him down…”
� “Approve me, but condemn him�”
� “Be my friend, but withdraw from him…”

Very simply, judging others raises self and lowers others, exalts self and degrades others; and in the eyes of God this is wrong�

It is sin� It is being full of self-righteousness, pride, and arrogance�

It sets self up as a moralist, and it makes a person judgmental and critical�

The moralist is inexcusable, and he condemns himself because he does the very same things� He fails just as the man whom he judges fails�

In God's eyes, sin is a matter of the heart and mind, not just an act�

The thought and desire makes a person just as guilty as the act itself�

God knows that many would carry out their thoughts if they had the courage or opportunity�

God knows the heart, the mind, and the thoughts�

Sin, whether thoughts in the mind or acts in public, comes short of God's glory�

All stand guilty before God; therefore, the moralist, the person who judges, is as guilty as the one judged�

It is for this reason that we are not to judge, criticize, and find fault with others…

R.N. Graves, Sr DD

By: Fisherman4christ

Fisherman4christ — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 02:20:00 +0000

Moralistu2014 Judging Othersu2014 Criticism: The moralistu2026 In the eyes of Scripture a moralist is a person who lives a moral and clean life, but he judges others because they do not live as he thinks they shouldu2026 rn He is moral, upright, just, good, decent, and honorableu2026 rnThe moralist has strong values, standards, and principlesu2026 He is well disciplined and able to control his lifeu2026 rnHe lives just as everyone thinks he should… He knows right from wrong and he lives it… He knows how to behave and he does itu2026 In the eyes of society he is just what a person should beu2026 He is a good neighbor, an excellent worker and provider, and an ideal citizenu2026 But note three thingsu2026rn1.tThe moralist judges othersu2026 The word “judge” (krino) means to criticize, to find fault, to condemnu2026 This is the terrible flaw of the moralistu2026 rnNote: Any person becomes a moralist when he sets himself up as a judge of othersu2026 Any time we judge another person, we are declaring that we…rnrnu00b7tAre living by some rule that another person is not living byu2026rnu00b7tAre more moral than someone elseu2026rnu00b7tAre better than someone elseu2026rnu00b7tAre superior to someone elseu2026rnu00b7tAre more righteous than someone elseu2026rnu00b7tAre more acceptable to God than someone elseu2026rnJudging others says, “I am right, and he is not; I succeed, but he fails.” Therefore…rnu00b7t”Look at me, but ignore himu2026″rnu00b7t”Draw near to me, but shun himu2026″rnu00b7tu201cEsteem me, but put him down…”rnu00b7t”Approve me, but condemn himu2026″rnu00b7t”Be my friend, but withdraw from him…”rnrnVery simply, judging others raises self and lowers others, exalts self and degrades others; and in the eyes of God this is wrongu2026 rnrnIt is sinu2026 It is being full of self-righteousness, pride, and arroganceu2026 rnrnIt sets self up as a moralist, and it makes a person judgmental and criticalu2026rnrnThe moralist is inexcusable, and he condemns himself because he does the very same thingsu2026 He fails just as the man whom he judges failsu2026 rnrnIn God’s eyes, sin is a matter of the heart and mind, not just an actu2026 rnrnThe thought and desire makes a person just as guilty as the act itselfu2026 rnrnGod knows that many would carry out their thoughts if they had the courage or opportunityu2026 rnrnGod knows the heart, the mind, and the thoughtsu2026 rnrnSin, whether thoughts in the mind or acts in public, comes short of God’s gloryu2026 rnrnAll stand guilty before God; therefore, the moralist, the person who judges, is as guilty as the one judgedu2026 rnrnIt is for this reason that we are not to judge, criticize, and find fault with others…rnrnR.N. Graves, Sr DD

By: Fisherman4christ

Fisherman4christ — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 02:20:00 +0000

By: Paul Bowman

Paul Bowman — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 16:51:43 +0000

It is such an “easy” thing to revert back to a works mentality. The verse from Galatians 5:1 is so powerful to remind us not to go back – “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

This is one of those things in our spiritual life that we need to continually be on guard against.

Jesus set us free from moralism and from “being good” by our own effort. He wants to make us good from the inside out, by the work of the Spirit in us.

By: beccarudy

beccarudy — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 12:47:36 +0000

I think that the “works” mentality can come out even in people who always talk about “grace” which is the funny thing. Despite your recognition of the power of grace, you can't help but harken back to feeling like it is your responsibility to act like a “good” Christian. And I am certainly included in that. But there is freedom in letting the Spirit move in and through you to change you into the New creature.