Not to Condemn, but to Save
By G. W. Shone
“God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” John 3:17. “If any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.” John 12:47. “As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world” (not to condemn, but to save). John 17:18. If we would always remember these words of him who gave his life to save us, and not alone to save us, but as a ransom for the whole world, would we be so ready with tongue and pen to criticize and condemn those who are the purchase of his precious blood? would we be so ready to lend our ears to evil reports against those who are of the household of faith, yea, even against fellow workers in the vineyard of the Master? Some go so far as to originate a false report, in order to poison minds against an individual. My brethren, my sisters, these things ought not so to be. How can we deceive ourselves with the belief that we love God, love the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, when our hearts are full of envy, jealousy, evil surmising, and we lend our tongues to be used by Satan to accuse, criticize, condemn, and speak evil of the brethren? “Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit. Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother’s son.” Ps. 50:19, 20. What right have those who do such things to take God’s words upon their lips, and teach them to others? (Compare verses 16, 17.) God will surely require it of those who indulge in such a course. He will bring them over the same ground, that they may experience what they have caused others to suffer. When you injure one who is the purchase of Jesus’ blood, you are doing it unto the Lord. These things are written in the books of heaven, and an account will have to be rendered of every wrong word and action. If we look into our own hearts for the motives which prompt these unkind words whereby some soul is hurt, we shall find envy and jealousy, in nearly every instance, to be the cause. Let us not deceive ourselves. What we sow we shall surely reap. “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.” James 1:26. “If any man have not the spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” Rom. 8:9. How much better it would be for our own peace of mind, what a sense of victory we should experience, if we would let the mind of Christ be in us! Then, instead of indulging in evil-speaking, envy, and jealousy, we would lay down our lives for the brethren. We would be willing to bear blame for that in which we have no share, in order to shield a brother or sister from suffering. How must holy angels, who rejoiced when Satan was cast out of heaven because he was always accusing the brethren, weep, when they see these brethren doing the same work! I beseech you to refrain from this kind of business. We shall never enter the presence of our beloved Redeemer, and join in the song of Moses and the Lamb, until we have gained the victory over every wrong word and action. How much longer are we going to retard the Lord’s coming, for in love he waits, with long-suffering patience, till we are ready. “Get ready! Get ready!” “Press together,” is the message to God’s remnant people. “Ye must die a greater death to self than ye have yet died if ye will enter glory.” We can not afford to slight these warnings. Let there be a humbling of heart, a subduing of self, such as there has not yet been, that the Lord may be gracious unto his people, and heal their backslidings. “The end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. And above all things, have fervent charity [love] among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:7, 8. “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another.” Rom. 12:10. “Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; seeketh not its own, is not provoked, taketh no account of evil; rejoiceth not in unrighteousness, but rejoiceth with the truth; . . . endureth all things.” 1 Cor. 13:4-7, A. R. V. “Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil-speaking, be put away from you, with all malice. And be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Eph. 4:30-42.