Lost Crusader #252 Real Judgment

And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs. Revelation 14:18-20

All the world is consumed by a phobia of being judged. Everyone is on guard searching every word and deed of others as evidence of judgment being cast their way. Nothing may be viewed critically or questioned anymore without being labeled as judgment. The popular charge, “You’re judging me” is a shield against any disagreement with one’s ideas.

It is a successful shield. It has paralyzed the church. The church, in its desire to please the world, has taken up the mantra. Christians live in silent fear of giving offense. Somehow carnal philosophy has replaced a reading of the gospel. Jesus never quailed at the possibility that His words might offend. He rebuked His disciples, calling one of them Satan. He called leaders of the faith children of the devil. He told those He saw as sinners to go and sin no more. Jesus didn’t say those things to be mean, and woe to the one who says His words came from a mean spirit.

The “sticks and stones” message of yesteryear has been discredited by those who maintain that words hurt. I agree, words can hurt. The words that hurt the most are false cheers of permission and license. Words that give the hearer the idea that criticism is nothing but unjust envy and hatred; are the most hurtful words that can be spoken.

People say only God can judge them. That’s true, but they rarely give thought to what it will be like when God executes His judgment. He will judge us on an individual basis. He will consider our unique life and pronounce judgment based on His Word. His Word is not a printed page. His Word is a living person who spent a human lifetime on earth just as we do, yet He did it without sin.

There is no heavenly I’m Okay, You’re Okay Day. There is, however, a Judgment Day followed by the Son of God treading out the winepress of God’s wrath. If offensive words save me from that judgment, speak them now. Better to be offended by men than to be offensive to God.