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Greetings and Salutations, reader,
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If you joined us last night at the "County Fair" Riverwood Hangout - thanks for coming! That was fun!
If you missed it (or just want to have more fun this week), join us at Revibe at 5:00 pm at the Memorial Park (aka the old fairgrounds) this Sunday. Our very own Jake Epley will be leading in worship as part of the Waverly Worship Team. So if you've missed Jake during his sabbatical, here's your chance to get a bit of that Epley Music in your soul and ears!
Alright, time to get back to our "violent" series about the shocking words of Jesus...
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The Slap of Judgment
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There are a handful of Bible verses that have slipped into the common vernacular of Americans, but without a doubt, the most used and abused is Matthew 7:1 - "Do not judge." Even people who have never cracked open a Bible will slap that verse across the ears of a verbal opponent, especially if that opponent claims to be a Christian.
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But when Jesus "punched" His audience in the face with those bewildering words, was He really saying we should never make a judgment about another person?
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How to Judge
"Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you." (Matthew 7:1-2, ESV)
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As with any Scripture, we not only need to put it in context with the surrounding text, but also within the context of the entire book and the entire Bible, where we are told to judge...
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- whether a prophet or leader is of God by looking at their "fruit" (Matthew 7:15-20)
- whether a person is a fool (multiple places in Proverbs)
- by testing everything (like teaching, prophecies, etc.) (1 Thessalonians 5:21)
- and more.
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Clearly, wise discernment is necessary and even commanded. So what does Jesus mean, then, when He instructs to the "judge not?"
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Notice Jesus says immediately after His shocking oft-quoted phrase: "for with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged." In other words, He was setting up the Golden Rule (which He shares in verse 12): "Whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them."
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Do you want someone to judge you unfairly, hypocritically, condescendingly, or superficially? Of course not! Then don't judge others in those ways. Just as you don't want to be judged solely upon your fashion sense, musical taste, hometown, skin color, or a simple mistake, don't judge others in the same manner.
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So please exercise discernment of what others say and promote, but do not judge them as though you are God or somehow better than them. Because Jesus died as much for them as He did for you!
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Revibe
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Join us for Revibe Sunday, July 19, from 5:00 - 9:00 pm at Memorial Park for an uplifting evening of Christian music and family fun. Featuring performances by Band Reeves, Table Songs, & the Waverly Worship Band. Best of all, it's free!
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Partnership Class
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Curious what it looks like to become a Riverwood Partner (our term for membership)? Sign up for our Aug 16 Riverwood 101 class, which will be held after the Worship Gathering. Lunch will be included!
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Spiritual Growth Resources
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Did you know we have "customized" spiritual growth resource suggestions readily available for you? Simply stop by the column in the lobby, determine your spiritual "depth," then select the appropriate card to take home with you.
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Just for Fun
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The South American country of Peru has a new hero: Erling Haaland. Apparently, new parents are so taken with the Norwegian soccer star, they are naming their babies after him! (Guess World Cup Fever really is a thing.)
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