redemptive critique

Right now in my listening of Scripture I'm in Jeremiah, one of my favorite books, but a difficult one, indeed. It is full of judgment over the people's sin. Yet it is redemptive. God's ultimate end for his people, in spite of all the judgment is redemptive, giving them a future and a hope.

I must say that when I hear some Christians, I'm wondering just how redemptive the critique is.

A critique is redemptive when it lovingly and faithfully points out the sins which need to be repented of. This is loud and clear in Scripture. But it is not a critique which tries to find something wrong somewhere, or is prone to think the worst. That critique can be more like the devil's, one of accusation and of being an adversary rather than an advocate for the sinning person.

God in Jesus comes alongside those who are sinning, offers his hand, lifts them up, then tells them, "Go, and sin no more."

I believe we should seek to find the best in people, not the worst. And that we should be faithful in how we live, and what we say as in testimony and teaching. God alone can convict sinners, and bring the dirt out of their lives to save them. We also must be very careful what we say about God's children. They may be in error, and in sin, but they are in God's image, and well could be his children in Jesus, part of our family.

I'm thankful God's critique is redemptive, because if it were not, there would be no hope for any of us. But in Jesus there is always hope for everyone of us. As we seek to live in the grace and truth that is in Jesus our Lord.

What would you like to add to this?

finger pointing

I'm glad to be part of a fellowship/church in which there is no finger pointing. It's not to say there are absolutely no cliques there (though it's easy to break into and become a part of any group there, actually). While at the same time sin, and God's grace are both taken quite seriously.

What I mean by finger pointing is the tendency to judge others either on their practice or doctrine. This tendency is not exclusive to any one group, though in some groups it seems to be more open, as a part of who they are, and pronounced.

What I find in Scripture in Jesus is a desire to take others in, realizing that each is on their own separate spiritual journey, but can do better if they are received and included, so that God can use the lives and testimonies of others to help them, even as their own life and testimony helps the others.

What does this bring to mind, which you'd like to share here?