4 Key Downfalls of Christians

Pastor J. R. Wilhite, author   Close Window

1. Judging

One of the key downfalls of Christians is judging. We mostly judge in ways we do not even realize is judging. For example this could be, a person cuts you off on the freeway and you think "that jerk" or "Where did they get their drivers license from, a Cracker Jack box?" There are more than just these 2 but to trying to keep this study shorter than the Bible itself I am only using 2 for now. At the moment we thought those thoughts we were judging, If we cast down that thought as not ours and ignore it we are fine, but if we keep the thoughts, dwell on them, and make them ours we are then judging and will be judged the same. We are not supposed to judge anyone. Jesus had every chance to judge and did not even do it at the cross; He forgave them.

Matthew 7

1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.

2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?

10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

What other ways could we be judging people?

How about appearance, clothes, make-up, too fat, too skinny, long hair, short hair, tattoos, rings in all kinds of places, jewelry, eye color, hair color, skin color, the list goes on and on.

We see someone in shorts and a T-shirt on Sunday morning and we imediately judge them not to be Christian or at the least a poor Christian that does not go to church.

First of all going to church does not make a Christian a Christian, otherwise Satan is a Christian, because he is the first in, and last to leave from all services.

Also the person who cuts you off on the freeway may have a sick child and rushing him/her to the doctor, or a pregnant wife, or may not even have seen you until it was to late. Think about it, haven't you cut someone off before because you did not see them?

If you see a car that is old, rusty, smoking, and noisy, don't you think that the car is junk and the driver must be poor or at the least not as well off as you? Then when you see a Mercedes you imagine the person must have some real money to be able to afford a Mercedes?

In both cases it could be the reverse. The old clunker driver could be well off, even rich and is too frugal to buy a new car. While the Mercedes driver could be in debt so deep they need help.

In WWII the Germans, not all, but enough judged people based on religion and hair color.

Jews were consider less than human as were certain nationalities, and bond hair color was considered to indicate a superior human.

We see blacks against whites, whites against blacks, Hispanics and other nationalities against each other, and religion against religion. Even families who judge different members of the family based on anything from who was born first to how well they play in sports and so forth.

Why did Jesus tell us not to judge anyone?

To avoid falling into sin. It is a falsehood if you judge someone wrong, therefore, you have sinned. Most of all, to keep us away from the negative part of religiosity, and more into the positive, i.e. - loving not judging, caring not judging.

2. Law - Legalism (legalistic)

What is being legalistic or of legalism and what is so bad about being part of the law?

To be legalistic or of legalism or of the law you are holding the law over peoples heads and using it to judge. You are judging them based on the law.

Jesus came to complete the law. The law was issued to point out sin in our life and help us avoid sin by realizing what was sin.

Many people are so caught up in legalism that they miss the whole point of Grace, and cause many to fall away.

John 8

3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,

4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.

5 Now Moses in the law comanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?

6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.

7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.

9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

10 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?

11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

In the above verses the scribes and Pharisees were using the law to try and trip up Jesus. Jesus (who had every right to) did not judge her. Instead He forgave her sins.

So many think since they follow the law they are better than others and will make it to heaven even before others.

I tell you now, you can not earn your way, buy your way, or talk your way into the next life with God. There is only one way to avoid Hell and that is found in Romans.

Romans 10

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

3. Belief - Doubt

You can not have any doubt or else you blow it as far as the next life and prosperity and health here and now.

Hebrews 11

6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him

If it is impossible to please God without faith, then where does faith come from?

Romans 10

17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

One of the ways of hearing is from reading the word; another is from hearing the Holy Spirit.

I John 2

27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

John 14

26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

So we know that faith comes from hearing two ways, one via God's Spirit, the other from reading God's word.

When is faith and what is it?

Hebrews 11

1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Faith is "Now" and it is the substance for things we want but are not yet seen.

Mark 11

21 And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.

22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

Notice in the above verses from Mark Jesus starts with have faith, do not doubt but believe, and ends with forgiveness.

4. Forgiveness

There are two important areas Jesus talks about forgiveness.

Mark 11

25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

Luke 6

37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

Luke 17

3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.

4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

How many times should we forgive?

Matthew 18

21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

If you think about it, it would take all day to sin, and then go and ask forgiveness for 10-100 times, so it is impossible to do 490 times in one day, or should I say Jesus told us there is no end to forgiveness.

We all need to repent, meaning that when we ask forgiveness we try our best not to do it again and if we do sin, we must go to the Lord and ask forgiveness. Remember, after He forgave you the first time, He forgot it, so when you come back this would be the first time in His mind even if it is the 100^th time for you. Do not repent of your previous sins, just the most recent.

So, to receive the next life with Jesus on the new earth as well as prosperity and blessings on this earth you must first believe He is who He says He is and is able to forgive us our sins. Second have faith in God, don't fall into the law (legalism or become legalistic), or judge anyone. Keep the faith, keep growing and listening for His voice until you hear it second by second and allow Him Lordship over your life.

God Bless You as you hear His words and follow His leading.

If you read Malachi 3:10-12 and then Mark 4:12-18 you will see where the tithe can and will increase your knowledge of the word and of God. The tithe is more than just giving 10% to a church, it is a way for God to have authority in your life over all that matters, your income, your growth, even relationships. Out of about 30 people I have known for the past 10+ years only 5 tithed. The 5 of the 20 that tithed have increased in every area of their life. Where the other 15 have increased some, they are still light years behind the 5 who tithed in all areas. It is your choice, but do not tithe until you understand the tithe and what it does for you and do it from the heart and not the head.

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