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Welcome my friends to season 3 of the Determined to Dance podcast. My prayer is that you’ll be encouraged to persevere daily in our chaotic world. Today’s episode, Judge or Dance? looks at how easy it is to judge others who don’t express their faith like we do.
Show Notes: Judge or Dance?
It’s easy to judge others, especially Christians who act, think, or worship differently than we do. Sometimes, I’ll see someone at the store and catch myself judging their clothes, hair, jewelry, or tattoos. Pharisee would have well-described me in my early Christian years and I’m glad to say that God has delivered me from much religious judgmentalism. But it’s easy to fall back into old habits if I’m not careful.
I forget what Paul said in Galatians 5: 1-2, and 6: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” NIV
Jeff Walling follows through with this thought. “Did you catch that last phrase? ‘Faith expressing itself through love.’ There is something fundamentally wrong with a faith that isn’t ever expressed. The meaning of the word connotes letting something out that is inside, as in expressing your feelings. Though the style may vary, expressions of faith and joy in Christ have long been part of the fabric of Christian worship. I remember growing up in a church where hardly a Sunday would pass without someone saying ‘Amen.’ But in some religious circles, these spontaneous expressions of faith have become so metered and subdued that they are almost nonexistent.”
My faith should be expressed through love. Looking down on or talking about others who don’t act, think, or worship like me is the opposite of love. There is only One who has the right to judge and it’s not me.
Walling goes on to discuss how in Luke 7, Simon the Pharisee judged the woman with the alabaster box because of her extravagant expression of love toward Jesus. Simon had rules to live by and this woman was not following them. How could she embarrass him like this? How could Jesus not know who she was?
Jesus did know who she was and accepted her worship. He said in verses 44-47: “Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”
I don’t want to be like Simon. I’ve been greatly forgiven and you have too. We all need to bring our alabaster box; our expression of faith shown through love to Jesus and lavishly break it at His feet. God understands each of us—our past, our raising, our hangups—and He still accepts us. How can we not show our love to Him?
Mother Teresa said: “Do not think that love in order to be genuine has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired. Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.”
We can’t judge others and dance. Let us pray for others and leave our questions to God. He’s waiting on the dance floor for us with His hand extended.
Let’s pray: Father God, thank you for Your great love. we want to express our love and faith but we can’t do it while we condemn others. Help us to see people as You see them. Through the eyes of love. In Jesus’ name, we pray, amen.
God asks us to be faithful to love Him and others. Why not express our faith through love this week?
Today’s featured author is Claire O’Sullivan, author of “Romance Under Wraps,” an inspirational romantic suspense novel. A stroke survivor, Claire’s debut novel, “Romance Under Wraps” showcases an identity thief, Catherine Cade, working as a nurse practitioner. A patient is dead. The cops aren’t talking. Detective Rick Calhoun hunts corruption and coincidentally, or not, runs into Catherine. Does it mean prison for her? Or saving grace?
Learn more at Claire’s website, https://www.claireosullivan1.com/
Next week, we’ll focus on how to avoid getting stuck in a routine while dancing. Until then, stay determined to dance.
Links
My debut novel, Jessie’s Hope
Remember: Judge or Dance?
Video of the week:
I absolutely love music and each week I’d like to share a relevant song we can enjoy together.
