I'm studying James 1:17-27 for this Sunday's sermon.  It's funny how God gives me experiences that I can use, but I was had heard something recently that got my mind working on this far before this morning.

I was listening to J. Vernon McGee's "Through the Bible" program yesterday on XM as I was driving Princess Rachel to the Triad area for a full week of spoilage with grandma and grandpa.  I think this radio program originally aired in the 60s or 70s, but someone wrote in a question about Catholics.  This person asked whether Dr. McGee thought that someone who was in the Roman Catholic Church should "get out" of it, and the writer referred to the Roman Catholic church as "the harlot."

I was pleased that Dr. McGee told the caller that while he didn't agree with all the theological stances of the Roman Catholic Church, he was not going to stand in judgment of an entire denomination of people.  Dr. McGee chastised the fellow a bit for wanting to put himself in God's place and be in judgment of others, when he cannot know what is on the hearts of millions of Roman Catholics.

I was reflecting on this and recalled that Jesus was the most severe towards the Pharisees and priests who enjoyed using their knowledge of the law to show their superiority over others.  Many times Jesus encounter individuals who fell short of the law -- each time Jesus showed compassion and mercy.  But he made it rather clear that only God can be the true judge.

In Mark 9:38-41 John is upset because he found someone driving out demons in the name of Jesus Christ.  He said he told him to stop because "he is not one of us."  Jesus told him not to stop the man, because "No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, ⁴⁰for whoever is not against us is for us. ⁴¹I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward."

James is preaching that we should "be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves." (James 1:22).   I think as Christians we should care less about minute points of doctrine and more about God's people.  If we don't, we may just find ourselves judged far more harshly than even we have judged others.

Peace,

Ray