Do not judge, or you too will be judged. — Matthew 7:1 by Oswald Chambers

Do not judge, or you too will be judged. — Matthew 7:1 Jesus says one simple thing about judging: Don’t. The average Christian is the most sharply critical individual. The human mind has a natural tendency to criticize, but spiritually nothing is accomplished by criticism. Only the Holy Spirit is in a position to point out what is wrong in someone, because only the Holy Spirit can do so without causing pain. When humans criticize, they only succeed in weakening and wounding. It is impossible to enter into communion with God when we are in a critical mood. A critical mindset makes us hard and vindictive and cruel. It leaves us with the flattering idea that we are better than others. Jesus says that his disciples must cultivate the uncritical temper. This cultivation must happen again and again; we can’t do it once and be done with it. There is no getting away from the penetrating gaze of Jesus. He tells us that if we see a speck in another’s eye, it means we have a plank in our own. Every wrong we see in another Jesus finds in us. Every time we judge another, we condemn ourselves (Romans 2:17–21). We must stop using a measuring stick for other people. There is always one fact more, in every person’s case, about which we know nothing. When we decide to commit ourselves entirely to Jesus, the first thing God does is give us a spiritual spring-cleaning, showing us what we would be if it weren’t for his grace. After that, there is no possibility of pride left, nothing that allows us to go on criticizing others from a place of superiority. Once I realize what God has done for me, it is impossible to despair of anyone else.

The Problems in Corinth

A book I read in my formative Christian years was "The Corinthian Catastophe" by George E Gardner. It was first published in 1974. That was the year I became a Christian.An exciting time when everything was new and lots to learn. Early in my new journey I began to hear about the Charismatic movement and in particular people who "spoke in tongues". I was open to learning as much as I could and as such was open minded about what was being said and in particular when I met a young man who had "met " Jesus and had come from a troubled background.We had some fellowship with some of his friends which was a "charismatic group" and we were quite enthused about the community he had joined.We were both fairly new Christians.But some older mature Christains we knew,gave us some wise advice which caused us to ask questions. That is how I came to be reading books like "The Corinthian Catastophe". There were others.I think I used to buy on average a new Christian book,sometimes two a week back then. In addition we were receiving great Christian teaching from our Pastors. I have spoken on my blog and Youtube channels about some of the things I came to believe. See the link here. https://youtu.be/fXa_byzV6ZA?si=-A7aGiT1hEBCXbir But fast foward to today. One of the things I am concerned about is the "Alpha Course". A Christian course designed to introduce seekers to the Christian Faith. I have noticed how popular it has become in mainstream denominations like the Baptist Church for instance. I was at someone's house one night and saw an Alpha course study book on a shelf and picked it up and glanced through it. I noticed there was a so called Holy Spirit weekend as part of the curriculum. That was what disturbed me. Please let me say I don't doubt that many have become Christians through the Alpha course but the test is how are they doing now? These are the headings for topics to be discussed and introduced on this part of the course.(Since this was written there may have been some changes) "Alpha Weekend Introduction to the Weekend Who is the Holy Spirit? What does the Holy Spirit Do? How Can I Be Filled with the Holy Spirit? How Can I Make the Most of the Rest of My Life?" All good questions but closer study of the material concerned me. Without going into various Bible Passages to support what I an saying about Alpha, my concerns are. 1. There is an emphasis on the Holy Spirit.(The Holy Spirits role is to Glorify Jesus, not Himself) 2. An introductory Christian outreach course should be concentrating on Jesus. 3. The course is in my opinion encouraging an experience of the Holy Spirit that is not Biblical including speaking in tongues. I beleive the true gift of tongues has ceased in this day and age. 4. There is evidence to support that modern tongues is given by an evil spirit. Or more than one.We are told to try the spirits to see if thney come from God. The receiving of the Holy Spirit is a part of the process of becoming a Christian. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit was the giving of the Holy Spirit to the Church through the Apostles first and then to the Jews who were exhorted by Jesus in Acts 2:38. They repented and received Jesus and were Baptised by immersion and received forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. They are not recorded as speaking in tongues. To be filled with the Holy Spirit is to be controlled by the Holy Spirit. Many in the Charismtaic movement are not being controlled by the Holy Spirit. I have seen people in Charismatic meetings doing very strange things. I was having a coffee with a Christian friend one day and he was talking about a Christian friend who was very depressed. My friend couldn't understand that as he said to me. "But he speaks in tongues!" The Alpha course is in my opinion creating un-realistic expectations in many, and many may leave the Church because of disappointment as they don't understand why they are not "making the best of the rest of their life". I have just been going through my certificate that my Pastor gave me 52 years ago on the occasion of mt Baptism. These are the essentials outlined with verses to support. 1. Faith in Christ John 3:16, 1 John 4:4,5.Romans 1:16. 2 Timothy 1:12 2. Repentance towards Christ 2 Peter 3:9,2 Corinthians 7:10,James 4:8-10 3. Confession of Christ.Matthew 16:15,16 4. Baptism into Christ Mark 16:16,Acts 2:38,Galations3:27,Acts 8:35-39 5. New birth through Christ Romans 6:4-6,11 John 3:5. 2 Corinthians 5:17 6.Receiving the Spirit Acts2:38. Romans 8:1,9,26. Galations 5:22-24 Galations 6:7,8 7. Worshiping regularly Matthew 18:20. Acts 20:7 1 Corinthians 11:26 Hebrews 10:23-25 8.Growing in Christ Matthew 7:7,8 Phillipians 4:6. 2 Timothy 2:15 1 Peter 3:15 9. Sharing for Christ 1 Corinthians 16:2. Matthew 6:33 Luke 12:34. 2 Corinthians 9:6,7. 10. Caring for others Matthew 28:19,20. Romans 10:13-15. Matt. 25:37-40 11. Travelling Heavenward Hebrews 6:1. 2 Peter 1:5-8. Colossians 3:2-4. Romans 12:18. Revelation 2:10. I have listened to Nicky Gumbel on youtube saying that all Christians are given the Holy Spirit when they become Christians. But have they been filled? Nicky implies that the evidence is speaking in tongues. He shows an interview with Jackie Pullinger of "Chasing the Dragon" fame. (A book about her work in the walled city in Hong Kong) Jackie says that drug addicts were immediately set free from drug addiction when they spoke in tongues. A friend of mine when he was young, was set free from drug addiction without any withdrwal symptoms after he had gone "cold turkey". This was because he was already a Christian.And also because the minister counselling him had prayed along with others that the Holy Spirit would fill the empty void in him that had been caused by the binding of the evil spirits powering his drug addiction.Those spirits were contolling his life.See a link where this is described on my main blog. https://geoffthompsonsblog.blogspot.com/search?q=drugs We have a Corinthian catastrophe going on around us continually. In my opinion Alpha is contributing to it. The so called "Baptism of the Holy Spirit doctrine as taught in many circles is leading many astray and sadly some away from the Church and God. There are some links below where I have spoken on this subject. Thank you for reading this far. Geoff Thompson The strife with tongues. https://youtu.be/fXa_byzV6ZA?si=BcVWCQNs5RcOEHiV

Christ for the Personal Crisis-Jack Bond

The Struggle with Worldliness By Oswald Chambers

The Struggle with Worldliness By Oswald Chambers Edition Modern Classic Updated Classic For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? — 1 Corinthians 3:3 People who haven’t been born again in the Spirit know nothing about the struggle Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 3:3. The war between the flesh and the Spirit begins with spiritual rebirth and can only be resolved in one way: we must learn, Paul says, to “walk by the Spirit”; if we do, we “will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16), and our struggle with worldliness will disappear. Are you contentious and easily troubled? We imagine that no Christian ever is, but Paul says we are, and he connects these qualities with worldliness. Is there a truth in the Bible that instantly irritates you? It’s proof that you’re still worldly. If sanctification is being worked out in you, if the Spirit of God is getting his way in your life, there is no trace of the contentious spirit left. Whenever the Spirit of God detects something wrong, he doesn’t ask you to make it right; he asks you to accept the light so he can make it right. A child of the light confesses instantly and stands naked before God. A child of darkness is defensive and says, “Oh, I can explain that away.” When the light breaks and you feel convicted of having done wrong, be a child of the light. Confess, and God will deal with it. If you try to excuse or vindicate yourself, you will prove yourself a child of darkness. How will you know that your worldliness has gone? God will see that you have any number of opportunities to prove to yourself the marvel of his grace. He will send you practical tests, again and again, until you see that you are changed: “If this had happened before,” you’ll say, “I would have been filled with resentment!” When worldliness is gone, it is the most obvious thing imaginable. You’ll never cease to be amazed at what God has done for you on the inside.

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The Overmastering Relationship By Oswald Chambers

I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness. —Acts 26:16 Paul’s vision on the road to Damascus was no passing dream. It was a vision that brought with it clear and emphatic instructions. Jesus told Paul that from now on Paul’s whole life was to be mastered: it was to be subdued, to have no end, aim, or purpose except Christ’s. “I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant.” All of us, when we are born again, have visions of what Jesus wants us to be. The big thing we must learn is not to be disobedient to the vision; we must not say that it can’t be attained. We think it can’t be attained because our faith doesn’t have the proper foundations. It isn’t enough to believe that God has redeemed the world, or that the Holy Spirit can make all that Jesus did come alive in us. We must have the basis of a personal relationship with him. Paul wasn’t given a script or a doctrine to proclaim; he was brought into a vivid, personal, overmastering relationship with Jesus Christ, and on this basis he became a witness. We too must have as the foundation of our faith a personal relationship with Jesus. This is the only way our vision will be attained, and the only way we’ll succeed in obeying it. Verse 16 is immensely commanding: “to appoint you as a servant and as a witness.” There is nothing there apart from a personal relationship. Paul was devoted to a person, not a cause. He was absolutely Jesus Christ’s. He saw nothing else; he lived for nothing else. “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).