Wrong

Janice* called me.  Her voice conveyed discouragement, confusion, and a hint of controlled resentment.  After listening to her, I felt saddened and angry.
            
​Several leaders—male and female from various churches in other states and a school, all tied to a nationally-known pastor and speaker told Karen she was not a Christian.  One of those pastors refused to baptize her. Janice shared the statements they leveled against her. They judged a woman suffering from post-traumatic stress (PTS) from their presumptuous and self-righteous position, causing grave damage to a young Christian struggling to grow in her faith.  Now she was uncertain of her salvation.  She felt unsafe and criticized in churches—where she should be most safe and find compassion—not condemnation. 

Janice put her faith in Jesus on a couch in the living room of my home in Colorado.  I had the privilege of sharing Romans 10:9,10 and walking her through what it meant to confess sin and to put one’s trust in the Lord.  In the presence of myself and another friend, she shed many tears and radiated the joy that comes when Jesus fills an empty heart.  Janice found a church and a home fellowship to attend.  Unfortunately, the houses of worship she visited harmed her instead of helping her.
 
Meditation
Romans 3:26--God presented Him to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be righteous and declare righteous the one who has faith in Jesus.
 
God makes it crystal clear that Jesus is the One who declares righteous those who have faith in Him.  Justification comes from God’s grace received through faith. Redemption comes from His Son.  No person—pastor or counselor, elder or teacher, has the right to tell someone they are not saved—that is wrong and presumes upon what only God determines.  Yes, we can undoubtedly warn people of sin and point out unrighteous behavior, but we don’t get to assert what only God can see—what is inside a person’s heart.  “Man does not see what the Lord sees, for man sees what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7b).

Depression is not proof that a person is unregenerate. Trauma is not a basis for condemning someone’s heart. Beware of junior holy spirits who declare what is not theirs to state. 
            
Romans 10:9 says, “If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”  It does not say the Pope, minister, bishop, apostle, or evangelist establishes salvation. To cause a young believer to stumble because of making a wrong pronouncement is a severe injustice, and God will judge that act itself.  Let us learn from God’s grace and be gracious.
 
Inspiration
The counsel of Jesus is to abstain from judging.—Oswald Chambers in Studies in the Sermon on the Mount

*Not her real name
​ 
©2022Daniel York  ARR.  Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed, subject to the inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)