Two Thoughts: Who’s the Judge and Is Jesus enough?

In the last Devo, I felt the need to deal with the death of a very famous person to challenge all of us to consider how we deal with our emotions. The dialogue for the most part that ensued was beneficial and I believe is needed. I hope it continues, however, it also brought to the surface some real issues that I believe need to be addressed.

As I stated I have read quite a few articles about Robin Williams, his death, the cause and even where he is eternally. For many years I have listened and watched as many in the church make some pretty unbelievable statements…never considering, first, what truth do they have to support it and second, how much damage they may be doing.

Some have made statements about where Robin Williams is now that his spirit has left his body. This amazes me! If the Scripture has taught us anything, God and God alone is responsible for that and He is the only One that really knows where someone’s eternal destination is.

I am a very narrow person because Scriptures demands that – there is only one way to a relationship with our Maker.

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

The Truth states that only through Christ can a person enter into an eternal relationship with God. However, nowhere do the Scriptures state that we are privy to the information of who is one of God’s or not. Yes, we see fruit in the life that leads to a conclusion, but that is all it is, our conclusion! If the fruit in their life is not clearly of a child of God we should pray for them to know Christ intimately. However, when we make a pronouncement of where anyone is eternally we need to pull out our ID and see if the name on it is spelled GOD. He alone knows the real heart, the real person and the end destination. Even Jesus taught on this:

Matthew 13:26–30 “But when the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the tares became evident also. “The slaves of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ “And he said to them, ‘An enemy has done this!’ The slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?’ “But he said, ‘No; for while you are gathering up the tares, you may uproot the wheat with them. ‘Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”

Every person, even the famous, was created in God’s image and they answer to Him alone. We are not that judge and should spend our time and energy caring for those that have suffered the loss and leave the judgment to the One that has that right.

James 4:12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?

Matthew 7:1–2 “Do not judge so that you will not be judged. 2 “For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.

I have been astounded by how many are so sure where Robin Williams is! I am positive the family of the thief on the cross was sure he is separated from God for eternity. Most likely they were not at the cross, due to the shame they felt, and they did not know that an ever loving God rescued him at the last moment.

The other aspect that this whole tragedy has brought to the front is the issue of mental disorders. This is likely the most difficult issue the church has been facing for quite some time now. I will attempt no direct answer to any direct disorder. What I want to do is challenge the hurried judgment I see to label something so complicated as this. Also the “cliché” answers thrown to issues that cannot be dealt with through simplistic and I am sad to say flippant responses by the family of God. One of the greatest disservices the “health, wealth” folks have propagated is that God’s children have a bubble around themselves and none of this fallen world will touch them. It breaks my heart because I have had to sit and cry, hold hands, explain and guide with Scriptures those that have cancer, a still born, a deterioration of physical or mental health, that it is not a lack of faith, or that God is punishing them.

For far too long some in the church blamed all sickness on individual personal sin and if not healed it was because the person lacked faith. Even Jesus had to deal with this:

John 9:1–3 As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.

Interesting, it was God that had this man born blind, for His purpose. The “health wealthers” can’t deal with this because they have yet to understand what it means when you say the word GOD! That’s why in their prayers they tell God what He is going to do and claim their will, not His will!  

It seems now though, we have challenged that with Scriptures enough, that those that are honest about the Word of God see that because we live in a fallen world, all of us are open to the ills that sin brought. 

Sadly, we still seem to be very behind when dealing with mental illnesses. Bipolar, Manic Depressive, Clinical Depression, Schizophrenia and others are spoken of as problems of the will, or faith. We meet someone that is not emotionally down, but drowning in the confusion of Depression and we tell them to “take 2 verses and call me in the morning!”

If someone came to you with Strep throat would you tell them to trust Jesus only, or would you also recommend they get some medicine. Is not God the One that allowed the discovery of medicine?

Believe me, as a Pastor I know the stress here, and I have not found the answer, yet I do know it is not as simple as “all you need is Jesus.” WAIT a minute Nate…are you saying that Jesus is not enough?

NO! I am not saying that. Let me repeat for those that do not read carefully, NO I am not saying that.

Jesus is enough, if that is all He requires. No cancer, no broken family, no mental disorder can stop Jesus from making everything perfect in a millisecond, if that is what He wants. However, Scripture and history shows that God more often then not desires us to take the road of grace and growth. There is so much proof now that our complex bodies can be affected in so many ways, including mental issues that cannot be cured by a heart to heart or prayer unless Christ makes it so. If we can understand that Paul did not tell Timothy to only pray but get some help for his condition:

1 Timothy 5:23 No longer drink water exclusively, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.

Then why do we not see, that when it comes to conditions of the mind that may be medically caused, that we should be careful and loving to take the same approach. There are good men and women, brothers and sisters in Christ that have taken the time and given the discipline needed to study and learn about these conditions. There are no easy answers, but there are answers.

I have studied these issues for years, informally and in formal settings in my post grad work. The man that led the classes has a Th.M. in Theology, a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and is a Licensed Clinical Professional. When he states that so much is not known and that anyone trying to help should move slowly and carefully, it should make all pause before they throw out their diagnosis of these issues based on ignorance. 

We owe it to anyone that suffers from complicated conditions of the mind the love that Jesus would extend. We need to understand that it is not our job to have all the answers, so we should not take guesses! Those guesses do a lot of harm to Christians that are trying so hard to “feel” normal but are told they are not because, “they really don’t want to be” or “they have poor faith” or “they are in deep sin.”

Each time I was in the USA I taught classes in a Bible College and Seminary. One young man I had as a freshman, senior and then in Seminary. He was one of the best students I had ever experienced; his spirit made me feel like a gross sinner and his love for Jesus was phenomenal. In his 20’s he had memorized the first 40 chapters of Genesis. He also was bipolar. As we sat at lunch he was considering stopping his meds, because he felt it showed a lack of faith. I challenged him to consider that Christ was taking him on a path that I did not understand, but his doctors had clearly helped him. He agreed, but questioned why did he need the help. I told him only God could illuminate him on that, but that the journey he was on was glorifying Christ and causing him to grow. 

I told him I would pray for him. I then left to be at my father’s side as he died. While I was there I got news that this lovely young man, went off his meds, became paranoid and jumped into a coal train to escape what he thought was chasing him. He was found lifeless under tons of coal when the train was emptied.

Some in this world will cast out words quickly to state what they think was the REAL problem. Most times the words will not be measured, will be shallow and would harm individuals that walk this same path.

I have been led by the Lord, to not jump to any conclusion when I know so very little. I will help anyone I can with heart to hearts, but when I see the problem is deeper, I will refer to good professionals that can help at a level I cannot. I will also always beseech my Lord to intervene personally and miraculously heal, but I refuse to judge that person faithless or my Lord callous if He chooses to have His child walk a difficult path. I know neither His plans nor His ways. My goal is to only minister to the one that is suffering.

The wisdom found in Scripture is very helpful. None of us should rush to claim understanding of issues that only He can understand!

1 Corinthians 4:5 Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God.