"If Jesus were to descend from heaven and physically set foot on 21st-century Earth, prosperity gospel televangelist Jesse Duplantis told his followers, the Redeemer would probably take a pass on riding on the back of a donkey: “He’d be on an airplane preaching the gospel all over the world.”
Duplantis, saying he needs about $54 million to help him efficiently spread the gospel to as many people as possible, has asked the Lord — and hundreds of thousands of hopefully deep-pocketed followers across the world — for just such a plane."
This was in the Washington Post and on the news this morning! Unbelievable. I was so mad! This man is asking his supporters to donate $54 million dollars! I have always felt taking advantage of people in the name of Jesus is so much worse! Today I was so irritated! And what really irritated me was him saying Jesus would take a pass on riding on the back of a donkey! When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a humble donkey I don't think it was because there was not a jet available! He was fulfilling a prophesy from 500 years earlier.
I was busy thinking about how bad this man was when I heard, "Jesus tells us to look at our own sin before judging someone else." Ouch! But I quickly felt better because I have never done THAT before. Then I heard, John 8: 7, "...Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” I guess I can't argue with that one!
This verse jumped out at me today. Proverbs 18: 19, "It is foolish to jump to conclusions before investigating the facts." Just because I saw this on the news does not mean it is true! How many times has someone told me something and I judged before investigating the facts.
I have done plenty wrong and I have done worse. In God's eyes a sin is a sin. I act like the sins have numbers beside of each one and He totals them. Nope! Mr. Duplantis and Mrs. Newsome are both sinners. Thankfully, my sins are not across the tv screen!
Matthew 7: 1-5 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Luke 6: 37-42 "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye."
I sure am grateful that only God can judge me! James 4: 12 says, "There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?"
