As Brother Kenneth Hagin will say, hardly do we find Christians or denominations walking in the middle of the road when it comes to biblical truth. In my post, The Trend of Teachings on Grace, I wrote about ministers who preach grace as though it is a license to sin. This time, I will be writing about ministers of God and Christians at other end of the extreme. These are the people in the ministry of Condemnation, whose teachings could better be referred to as “gospel of condemnation” or “sad news”.
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans 8:1
When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. John 8:10-11
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. John 3:17
The texts above make it clear that Jesus didn’t come to condemn the world, talk less of the believer he has redeemed. We now wonder why many ministers of God and believers spend time trying to write a message that will induce sufficient guilt as to make people cry, wail and collapse in condemnation and self-pity. We must be reminded that we don’t have to design our messages with such intent. If we preach the true Gospel, the Holy Spirit knows how to touch the heart of men and induce Godly sorrow or brokenness (which is what the Bible talks of) that will make people yearn for more of God’s righteousness out of faith and not out of guilt and fear. 1Cor 5:1-2, 2Cor 7:9-10.
Another vice in this regard is finding faults with others as though anyone is without fault. Many Christians spend time talking about other people’s adultery, corruption, bad marriage, so much so that they forget the fact that those they are condemning are people redeemed by the precious blood of Christ. If you worked so hard to tidy a room that was initially in a total mess, will you want people who come into it to notice and point out only the imperfections of the room? My friends, take a moment to think about it. It is ungodly to go about backbiting when we have been given instructions on or deal with brethren who have fallen into sin. Quite baffling though that many a time, people who engage in this vice are at the same time involved in something analogous to such a sin and sometimes even worse. Gal 6:1-2, 1John 5:16, 1Thes 5:14, James 5:16. It is unfortunate that countless number of cases of people being robbed of the joy of salvation by a throbbing sense of guilt induced by the devil and even fellow believer.
Whether condemnation comes from the pulpit or backbiters it does not draw people to God, rather it drives them away from the throne of grace which we are supposed to approach with confidence and yet with a contrite heart at such moment.
The word of God is meant for everything except condemnation. We can chastise, reprove, correct or even appeal to people’s conscience but are not allowed to condemn any believer.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 2 Timothy 3:16
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans 8:1
Written by Tomayo Berida, blogger at www.tomayoberida.blogspot.com
