Sober Judgement

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. ~ Romans 12:3

 

            “Sober judgment” is hard to find these days, at least when it comes to public discourse. And, there is no shortage of persons who think more highly of their opinions then they ought to. It is also apparent that God-given faith is in short supply. Paul’s admonition, given in grace, is wisdom for all who will hear, but he isn’t talking to CNN, Fox, the president, the senate, the congress, governors, mayors, BLM, cops, protestors, anarchists, angry social media enthusiasts, etc. Paul is talking to the Body of Christ, with truth in love – “by the grace given to me.”

 

            The Body of Christ is made up of those who have repented of sin, accepted God’s grace, and subjected themselves to Christ as ruler of their eternal lives. In the spirit of “truth in love,” I am asking you to consider who you know that seems to match those criteria. Do others consider you a member of the Body of Christ? What signs would you look for? What standards of authenticity would you look for?

 

            Many religious people who keep company with friends and fellow church members who share their lifestyles and tastes will fall short of the standard. Why? Often, it is because meeting with the approval of our peers affirms our opinions about rightness and wrongness, goodness, and badness. Therefore, self, reputation, and society rule our lives more than Christ. How can you tell? Does the Christian in question smoke, drink, curse, etc.? If you say “yes” and then condemn them, you’ve missed the point. The critical question is, do those habits control the Christian more than Christ? Then ask this, does your judgment of them have more to do with your tastes, social circles, etc.? If so, then Christ is not ruling your opinion of others among the Body. Do you hear people talking about Christ but see them serving their flesh as if it were their king? Spirit-led sober judgment is hard to get through when its energy is focused upon ourselves rather than others.

 

            This difficult message is a reminder to us all (myself included) that the voices we listen to, the opinions we embrace, and the words we speak reveal much about the condition of our souls. Christian witness is not so observed so much in what we say about Jesus, but what we do because of Jesus. Repentant sinners forgive more readily and extend mercy and grace more freely. They are not quick to condemn and are not easily angered. Christians are especially compassionate and long-suffering with others in the Body. They are courageous in their commitment to Christ as King. Their fear of rejection from friends and other peers is overcome by love and loyalty to their Lord, Jesus.

 

            As isolation, impatience, resentment, anxiety, and fear steadily pursue the people of God like Pharaoh’s army bearing down upon the Israelites whose backs were against the Red Sea, we must humbly drop to our knees and surrender our fate to the Lord’s rule. We must be willing to wait and watch as God’s power is revealed in God’s perfect time. We must not join the faithless voices of doubt who only wish to be comfortable, even if it means slavery to sin and death. “Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” ~ Luke 21:28