“Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you. God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to judge your neighbor?”
James 4:11-12 (NLT)
Matthew Henry once wrote, “Our lips must be governed by the law of kindness, as well as truth and justice.” That might have been true at one time but if I gotta zoom in on the present tense, ya ain’t really seeing this happen much. We’re all too busy being right in one position or another to notice that what we’re saying about the other side being wrong about one position or another might just be the very flaw within ourselves that we can’t stand.
Jesus warned us, “For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.” (Matthew 7:2) The hinge point here is “the standard you use is the standard by which” so can you just imagine what the other side says about you? If it turns out that you called one of those “self-righteous Christians” maybe we could discuss that being a problem over some Jumbo Shrimp? I can guarantee that, as we dip this into the cocktail sauce I prepare, things will get tangy (I do like my hot peppers). Anyway…
13th century philosopher and Catholic priest, Thomas Aquinas, one time stated “he that is angry without cause can be in danger, but he that is angry with a cause cannot be in danger.” Having been (or might still be) an angry man at one time I can kinda see the logic in here. I’ve huffed and puffed over many-a-things that seem so outta sorts that folks around me said I had a talent for making a mountain outta a molehill. Later on in life I would find out what I really liked was the adrenaline rush I got from being angry over a whole lotta nuttin’.
But it ain’t stopping the rest of the world around me getting themselves all bound up in the social wrongs of the everyday and they aren’t being very Mahatma Gandhi about it either. Now in Secularland I would expect people to shout into a mic and camera over something they consider an injustice. Politicians do it all the time to cover up their own messes, we see activists do it even if the injustice doesn’t affect them but when Christians do it, we are viewed as being self-righteous. Maybe we are, maybe we aren’t. Hmm…
The thing for us to know when it is righteous indignation and when its us just being offended. Righteous indignation can be considered a positive thing if this type of anger is on the right side. The question is what drives the moral compass in one’s life, themselves or Jesus Christ. If you’re underestimating the feelings, emotions, and desires of others then you need to take your self-righteous indignation to The Cross and nail it there.
Don’t get it wrong either, Moses was angry and he was right to be so. How would you like to be called to climb the highest mountain to receive God’s Law and then come down from there to a party honoring a cow? Jesus was angry and He was right to be so when the very House of Prayer He entered had been turned into a den of thieves. And God the Father, well let’s just say this to be safe, “God is a just judge, And God is angry with the wicked every day.” (Psalm 7:11) “Nough said to that point.
Even with our brethren we can come off as being the only ones who can rightly divide the truths of God’s Word. The problem with that is when we start dragging in those other theologians (who’ve been dead for a really time) into a conversation and start thinking we understand their position on dispensations, eschatology and salvation. Can’t we just rest on 1 Corinthians 15:3-4? Just askin’..
All in all, the bestest way I can think to handle all this craziest we are all knee deep in is to fall back on God’s promise in this sense. “Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.” (James 5:19-20) The righteous thing to do is being part of the mission of reconciliation. Amen?
Written by Chris Hughes: Chris is a husband, a father, has an education in Biblical doctrine and is a graduate of The Colony of Mercy. He has been a Freedom Fighter contributor since 2008. You can email him at cphughes515@verizon.net
Think About This: “The reason we see hypocrisy and fraud and unreality in others is because they are all in our own hearts. The great characteristic of a saint is humility-Yes, all those things and other evils would have been manifested in me but for the grace of God, therefore I have no right to judge.” – Oswald Chambers
The Daily Bible Reading: Ephesians 6| You can download our 2021 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here.
This Week’s Verse to Memorize: 2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. 1 John 3:2-3
This place is beautiful! Great for a little getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Robert Rodriguez
1711813203
The bestest place
Florence Ibrahim
1711601879
Christan true and very clean and good food and speaker blessed bmy soul love it my home and will always come back again again for ever in the lord. Room was so beautiful . They work so hard to make you happy. Will try to bring family member to be... blessed hear also. I support all that they do to help men and woman find god. When I come to Keswick I didn't want to go home . That how happy and blessed I'm. Always pray for all of them daily. So glad I found this blessed placeread more
Ross Fichter
1710505821
Stayed here while we were visiting my in-laws at The Pines Living Facility. Exactly what we needed for lodging -- inexpensive compared to most motels without any loss of accommodations, and very Christ-centered environment. Plus they serve a great... breakfast every morning. No TV in the room, but that was not an issue for us, since there is nothing worth watching anyway. Staff were extremely friendly and did their jobs well. This place is a gem and a blessing to all who walk on their beautiful property.read more
Manuel Chávez Martínez
1709498094
Es un lugar maravilloso para disfrutar la palabra de Dios
Pianista Benjamín Arias
1708802888
Bien
William Dundas
1708697460
This place holds a special place in my life journey. I was Baptised there as I RE-DEDICATED myself. It was Febuary at night, so my review may not give it the right justice. What I can say, there were a ton of relaxing, peaceful locations to... re-connect with JESUS. Obviously, there was a pool, several lake's with benches. Gathering locations to celebrate, and break bread. A very wholesome Resort.read more
Adrian Obrien
1707934719
Spontaneous invite to girl talk! Loved it! Speaker was on point, fellowship and food , how better to start Valentines?
Ivelisse Romero
1707021027
Beautiful place to separate yourself for the Lord. Soo peaceful no technology which I love. Just you nature and God. I was there for a women's retreat.
Jennifer Crabtree
1706843166
A wonderful Christ- and family-oriented place! Beautiful grounds and welcoming staff. We thoroughly enjoyed our time at the conference we attended as well as the community hymn-sing. Highly recommend.
Jason Zimolong
1706837733
They've been a 5 star treatment and resort...doing God's work!
Patricia Simpson
1705193514
Peaceful little spot, so close to home 🩵
James Kolchin
1704151396
It's A Good Place To Have Retreats And They Have GREAT FOOD AND GREAT MUSIC
Kaia Leeds
1703475382
This was a very nice place!! I sang here with my school!!
Geoffrey Brewster
1702920475
You can see GOD work in and throughAll that go there.
Google Rating
4.8
Based on 425 reviews
America's Keswick Christian Retreat and Conference Center
This place is beautiful! Great for a little getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Robert Rodriguez
1711813203
The bestest place
Florence Ibrahim
1711601879
Christan true and very clean and good food and speaker blessed bmy soul love it my home and will always come back again again for ever in the lord. Room was so beautiful . They work so hard to make you happy. Will try to bring family member to be... blessed hear also. I support all that they do to help men and woman find god. When I come to Keswick I didn't want to go home . That how happy and blessed I'm. Always pray for all of them daily. So glad I found this blessed placeread more
Ross Fichter
1710505821
Stayed here while we were visiting my in-laws at The Pines Living Facility. Exactly what we needed for lodging -- inexpensive compared to most motels without any loss of accommodations, and very Christ-centered environment. Plus they serve a great... breakfast every morning. No TV in the room, but that was not an issue for us, since there is nothing worth watching anyway. Staff were extremely friendly and did their jobs well. This place is a gem and a blessing to all who walk on their beautiful property.read more
Manuel Chávez Martínez
1709498094
Es un lugar maravilloso para disfrutar la palabra de Dios
Pianista Benjamín Arias
1708802888
Bien
William Dundas
1708697460
This place holds a special place in my life journey. I was Baptised there as I RE-DEDICATED myself. It was Febuary at night, so my review may not give it the right justice. What I can say, there were a ton of relaxing, peaceful locations to... re-connect with JESUS. Obviously, there was a pool, several lake's with benches. Gathering locations to celebrate, and break bread. A very wholesome Resort.read more
Adrian Obrien
1707934719
Spontaneous invite to girl talk! Loved it! Speaker was on point, fellowship and food , how better to start Valentines?
Ivelisse Romero
1707021027
Beautiful place to separate yourself for the Lord. Soo peaceful no technology which I love. Just you nature and God. I was there for a women's retreat.
Jennifer Crabtree
1706843166
A wonderful Christ- and family-oriented place! Beautiful grounds and welcoming staff. We thoroughly enjoyed our time at the conference we attended as well as the community hymn-sing. Highly recommend.
Jason Zimolong
1706837733
They've been a 5 star treatment and resort...doing God's work!
Patricia Simpson
1705193514
Peaceful little spot, so close to home 🩵
James Kolchin
1704151396
It's A Good Place To Have Retreats And They Have GREAT FOOD AND GREAT MUSIC
Kaia Leeds
1703475382
This was a very nice place!! I sang here with my school!!
Geoffrey Brewster
1702920475
You can see GOD work in and throughAll that go there.