Don't Rely on Social Media for Truth

It should go without saying, “Don’t rely on social media for truth,” right?

Social media has captivated the attention of young and old alike. It is a communication mechanism that allows you to subject yourself to those things that are of interest to you and at the same time, reject those things you do not prefer. You can saturate your mind with political postings to suit your taste, recipes, automotive advice, poetry, or cat videos. You can subscribe to postings that are of interest and later unsubscribe...when you lose interest. You can connect with other people with similar interests and you can disconnect with anyone you wish. Social media is your world as you like it. You choose your influences. And social media does influence!

The following quotation from Rev. Benjamin Cremer has made its rounds on social media: 

“If you take the Bible extremely literally about human sexuality, but not about feeding the hungry, bringing good news to the poor, liberating the oppressed, forgiving debts, bring health to the sick, or loving your neighbor, please don’t act like you take the Bible seriously.”

It is important to see the ploy used by this individual and many like him. It is a deceptive way of condemning a strict view of biblical morality.

In reality, what God said about human sexuality has no relationship...

     ...to what He said about feeding the hungry; immorality is sin.

          ...to bringing good news to the poor; immorality is sin.

               ...to liberating the oppressed

                    ...to forgiving debts,

                         ...to loving your neighbor…

                                      immorality is sin.

If I claim to love God and love my neighbor, but I am known to be the world’s greatest hypocrite, immorality is still sin. One person’s sin does not justify or condemn another person’s sin. Yet, some people reject God’s instruction in a specific area, such as, sexuality, and distract from their error by shifting attention to the error in the lives of others. To them, Jesus said:

Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 

--Matthew 7:3

That was how Jesus illustrated His previous statement:

Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.

So, the quotation by Cremer is just another way of saying, “You can’t judge the wrong for which I am guilty, if you are also guilty of anything.” The flaw in that kind of reasoning is twofold:

• First, to recognize the moral sin in which someone is engaged is not the same as ‘judging.’ To call a thief a thief and condemn that person for theft is not judging but stating a fact. How else can we follow Jesus’ instruction In Matthew 18 and correct a brother who has sinned?
• Second, the faults and sins for which I am guilty have nothing to do with your faults and sins. We each bear the guilt of our own sin. That is a universal teaching described well in Ezekiel 18. (You should read it!)

Social media is not a good place to discover truth because you can find someone who already agrees with anything you want to believe. God has revealed truth in Scripture. Anyone who uses human reasoning to dismiss the clear teaching of Scripture really does not take the Bible seriously.

Mark Stinnett

November 2, 2025

What is the Basis for God's Judgment?

How does God decide how to judge?

God told Moses, “I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.” (Exodus 33:19)

At first glance, it might seem that God is arbitrary or judges according to a whim. It is as if, depending upon his mood, He might be merciful or wrathful; He might be gracious or choose to withhold His blessings.

In reality, moodiness is a human trait, not a part of God’s character. Rather, God’s character is consistent. He is at all times gracious and compassionate. He is slow in getting angry, but will not allow sin to go unpunished. (Exodus 34:6-7) That said, can we understand God’s judgment?

God created man and woman in His own image. That means that there are qualities or attributes in humans that are like our Creator. Beyond the simple fact of creation, we know that God made humans with the expectation of there being a relationship between Creator and created.

Think of your human relationships. Why do those relationships exist? Ultimately, relationships exist because of connections of commonness. The Bible calls that fellowship.

• Family members are in a relationship because of common relatives.
• Best friends share common likes and dislikes, share common experiences, and think similarly.
• You might have a relationship with people of a common interest such as a hobby or political ideology or religious belief.

In all relationships, if the point of commonality dissolves, the relationship also dissolves. The same is true about God and us. When a person stops being like God, the relationship ends. Sin is sin because it is not like God.

Judgment, whether God’s judgment or human judgment, is composed of two elements: discernment and separation. Discernment is about deciding the basis for separation. Then, there is the act of separation. A silly, but simple example is that of judging silverware. When setting the table, silverware is put out in sets for individual use. Yet, when stored, the silverware is categorized (judged) by grouping similar kinds of utensils. In each case discernment is used, and then a separation is made.

When God judges people, it is on the basis of relationship. God separates people into two groups:

• Those who have a fellowship relationship with Him and 
• Those who have nothing in common with Him, i.e., no fellowship.

Have you ever grown apart from a friend? 

You went your way and they went theirs. Common interests and experiences became more history than present. It is not a matter of dislike, but a lack of commonality. The relationship fades.

What happens when a person pulls away from God, no longer listens to God’s instruction, and no longer thinks the way God thinks. What happens when a person no longer has anything in common with God? The relationship dissolves.

We sometimes wonder why, in Scripture, God judged people in a way that seems harsh. The simple answer is that there was no relationship. God has done everything divinely possible to have a relationship with mankind. He is even willing to forgive sin. Yet, some people refuse God, turn from God, or even oppose God.

God’s judgment is based on His recognition of a person’s current relationship status with Him.
What is your status?
Are you in fellowship with God?

Mark Stinnett

December 17, 2023

Where's the Love in That?

By the standard of today’s society, Jesus might be branded intolerant for the way He addressed the Pharisees of His day. For example:

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

—Matthew 23:27-28

That was just one of eight ‘woes’ that Jesus spoke on that occasion. And there were other occasions on which Jesus dealt rather harshly with the Pharisees and other religious leaders of the Jews.

One reason Jesus sounded harsh is because He called them hypocrites and then described them as lawless. In our day he might be labeled a name-caller and branded for being judgmental.

However, His seemingly harsh-sounding admonition is easily misunderstood. Do you know the meaning of the little word ‘woe’? The English word ‘woe’ and its Greek counterpart convey the idea of sorrow, grief or great distress. When Jesus called out, “Woe to you,” it was a way of sounding an alert for impending sorrow.

Do you like alerts?

Most would answer, “Yes” and “No.” We often set reminders (alerts) by scribbling a note or marking a calendar. Many folks set phone alerts for appointments, birthdays, anniversaries, and other important events. The alerts help us to remember. We like those alerts.

Warnings that are posted on our streets and highways are welcomed as well. Sometimes, however, the alerts may be considered annoying, such as speed limits.

• We prefer not to be pulled over by a state trooper and warned about speeding.
• We prefer not to get a warning from the bank that funds are low.
• Husbands prefer not to be corrected by their wives...and vice versa.
• Teens prefer not to be corrected by their parents, or teachers, or any adult or friend...or any other living thing.

However, common sense tells us that warnings are good; correction is good. Do we understand that discipline is good, even when it is not self-discipline?

What happens in a parenting situation when a child refuses simple instruction? In general, it is followed by verbal correction. Then, if verbal correction fails, a strong rebuke may follow. If a strong rebuke fails, then a variety of disciplinary measures may be used.

As parents, we understand the purpose of discipline. We do not prefer it; the child does not prefer it; but discipline is used to keep our children from moral ruin, from disastrous life choices and from behaving like wild animals. Discipline is a gesture of love on the part of parents.

The Pharisees had formed a hard shell of rejection around their minds toward Jesus. They had failed to listen to His divine instruction and had rejected Him as the Messiah, the Hope of Israel and the Savior of the world. Though the ‘woes’ sound harsh, Jesus was not pushing the Pharisees away. Rather, He was issuing a warning that was yet another attempt to offer hope by breaking through their harsh rejection of the truth. Say what you will about the ‘woes’; but in them we see ultimately the love of God.

We are to speak the truth in love;

but we are to speak the truth.

Mark Stinnett

January 8, 2023

Evaluating God

Does the title of this blog bother you?

It should. Unfortunately, there is quite a lot of questioning going on these days when it comes to God and His word. Even some of today’s biblical scholars presume to question God and evaluate His word. Some give Him no more respect than mythological gods, and assign His word no more value than other ancient writings.

When a person questions God, he is calling God into account as if God must answer to him.

When a person scoffs at God’s word, he stands in judgment of God’s declaration. Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, scoffed at God’s words delivered by an angel. In contrast, Mary accepted God’s word, even though she found it extraordinary and difficult to understand.

Job listened and responded to his friends when they came to console him. Over and over they concluded that Job’s misfortune was evidence of his sin. After all, in their thinking, good things happen to good people and bad things happen to bad people. Job maintained his innocence, but he went too far. He kept telling them that if he could have an audience with God, then God would defend him; God would vindicate him.

On the one hand Job was correct. His suffering was not a result of sin. (Sometimes bad things happen to good people.) However, it was not his place to call God to the witness stand to vindicate him. When God spoke to Job he started:

Who is this that darkens counsel

By words without knowledge?

Now gird up your loins like a man,

And I will ask you, and you instruct Me!

—Job 38:2-3 (NASB95)

Job had been stating his case, and in doing so, demanding an answer from God. He presumed to have God answer to him.

God answered Job with more than fifty questions (as well as numerous statements) relating to creation. Then He said to Job:

Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him? He who rebukes God, let him answer it. 

—Job 40:2 (NKJV)

God is not subject to our scrutiny. We may question whether the Hebrew and Greek documents that contain God’s word are authentic, but we must not question what God said. We must evaluate ourselves and even our own congregation of the Lord’s church, but not God.

The Bereans studied the Scriptures to evaluate Paul’s words. Note well, however, that the Scriptures were the standard by which Paul’s words were evaluated. (Acts 17:10)

We might wonder when God will fulfill a promise, yet not question the promise. We might ask for God’s help and then ponder His ways and inquire about His will. And yet, we should never question His character, His justice, His love.

Moses and the Apostle Paul wrote of God:

The Rock! His work is perfect, for all His ways are just; a God of faithfulness and without injustice, righteous and upright is He. 

—Deuteronomy 32:4

Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God. How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! 

—Romans 11:33

God identified Himself to Israel: I am who I am. He does not exist to be evaluated by man, but to be revered and obeyed.

In the end, it is God who will be evaluating mankind. And His judgment will be carried out according to the words of Jesus (John 12:48).

Mark Stinnett

March 27, 2022

How Do You Deal With a Hypocrite?

Do you have a friend or relative who is disgusted with the church "because it is full of hypocrites"? What do you say? What can you say? They ARE right, even though they are probably exaggerating to some extent. 

And yet, sometimes those who accuse are guilty of the same hypocrisy! That makes it a rather difficult and delicate matter. 

We should observe that Jesus is still Lord; still head of His church. He hasn’t quit because some so-called Christians were/are unfaithful or because some were/are playing church. 

Hypocrisy makes me sad for two reasons: 

First, in ideal circumstances there should be no hypocrites. 

Second, Christians should not stand in judgment of one another. 

I have misjudged plenty of people over the years only to realize that I knew very little about them. My perception was limited. I later discovered that they were not playing church, but were spiritually weak and doing their best. Some were young in the faith and immature. (For how long have you been perfect???) When I thought others should be more active, I discovered that they were. (Their good deeds were not done in front of me!) Still others were taking action on bended knee, behind closed doors, active in prayer. Leaders made decisions and I did not agree. Yet I later realized that I did not know all the facts that they knew.

All of that to say, I was terribly judgmental. So, I quit. 

No, I did not quit the church; I quit being judgmental. What made me quit? 

First, it was an exhausting task that left me disappointed and angry, and that was not good. 

Second, I applied the words of the Apostle Paul to myself: 

Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. 

—Romans 14:4 (NASB95) 

I also remembered that Paul quoted God: 

“Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” 

—Romans 12:19 

Neither you nor I have been tasked with ensuring justice and equity and fairness while on this earth. That's God's job. I also remembered: 

The Lord…is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 

—2 Peter 3:9 (NASB95) 

And I remembered that God is not new to hypocrisy. He even recognized that...

"they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; nor are they all children because they are Abraham's descendants…." 

—Romans 9:5 (NASB95) 

So, if you run into anyone who complains about hypocrites in the church, agree with them. Then ask if they have taken the time to approach their hypocritical brother or sister about their sin. Jesus was more interested in winning back a brother than pointing out fault: 

If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.

—Matthew 18:15 (NASB95)

The New Testament letters were written because the church is imperfect. We are naïve to think that God is not aware of hypocrisy in His church. Yet, He has instructed us how to deal with sin in His church. And while His instruction is strong, its application demands patience and gentleness. After all, the Great Shepherd does not want to lose any sheep, not even one.

Mark Stinnett

January 3, 2021

Did Jesus Ever Judge?

A woman who had committed adultery was brought to Jesus. Her accusers were trying to trap Jesus. The sentence under the Law of Moses was stoning. What would Jesus do? He openly said that he did not judge her. (John 8)

There is a terrible misunderstanding in our culture regarding ‘judgment.’ The example above is often used to rebuke Christians who appeal to the Scriptures regarding the immoral behaviors and lifestyles of many in our society. Unfortunately, the passage is misused. Jesus did not justify sin just because he did not judge her.

The problem is tricky, partly because of the broad usage of the term ‘judge’ in the New Testament. The core meaning of the Greek term for ‘judge’ was: to separate. It was the idea of distinguishing between things. It could even describe the activity of organizing things (e.g. separating forks, knives and spoons in your silverware drawer—judging your silverware; a little silly, but accurate). Of course we are more accustomed to thinking in terms of legal or moral judgment, that is, distinguishing between legal and illegal, or between moral good and evil.

I think people are easily offended in our society. So, the banner cries of “Tolerance” and “You can’t judge me” are often used to squelch descriptions of behaviors and lifestyles described in the Bible as immoral, evil or ungodly. That’s right, the Bible does make distinctions, not for the purpose of devaluing people, but for the purpose of instruction. That is the only way people will understand how to make a proper response to God in their lives. Now, consider a few verses from the Bible…

For God did not send the Son (Jesus) into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
—John 3:17

For not even the Father (God) judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son (Jesus)…. 
—John 5:22

He who rejects Me (Jesus) and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day. 
—John 12:48

So Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.
—Hebrews 9:28

What does it all mean?

Jesus was first sent to deal with man’s sin problem by offering Himself as a sacrifice in place of sinners. (God demands payment for sin.) Yet, every person must make a response to this incredible gift...

He who hears My (Jesus) word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. 
—John 5:24

A person who does not make a proper faith response to Jesus WILL be judged, specifically by the words of Jesus. So, when Jesus returns, He will not come “in reference to sin,” that is, to deal with the sin problem of mankind. Rather, He will judge (distinguish/separate) between those who have made a proper faith response to Him and those who have not.

As for the adulterous woman that Jesus encountered (John 8); Jesus explicitly told her, “Go and sin no more.” So, while he did not judge (condemn) her at that moment, he most certainly distinguished her behavior as sinful and unacceptable to God. Then, from that point forward she had to decide whether she would follow Jesus or continue her lifestyle of sin and in the end be judged by the words of Jesus.

Mark Stinnett

Listen, But Do Not Follow

Jesus told his disciples one of the oddest things I have ever read.

“Therefore pay attention to what they tell you and do it. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they teach.”
—Matthew 23:3 (The NET Bible)

That’s how I feel when I hear some of the voices of our day.

One of the banner cries of our current society is, “Do not judge.” That happens to be a teaching of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. Unfortunately, the meaning of this simple teaching is often misunderstood. Let me illustrate:

I was a public school teacher for a number of years. Can you believe that one of my students had the audacity to call me ‘teacher’? I shot back, “You can’t judge me!”

OK. That was sarcastic. Why would a teacher object to being called a teacher?

My point is that my student actually ‘judged’ me. At its heart, 'to judge' is to distinguish between things. My student judged me correctly by calling me a teacher. She distinguished me from a carpenter, a banker or other career choices. She identified me as a teacher.

One aspect of judging is that of identification.

Another aspect of judging is that of evaluation. As an example, another student parroted his dad, “Those who can do; those who can’t teach.” His quip was an assessment of those who enter into the teaching profession as being lesser than those who produce things. He had devalued teachers for not producing tangible, quantifiable things.

When Jesus warned, “Judge not so that you be not judged,” he was targeting the kind of judgment that evaluates others. How do I know?

Answer: By reading the whole text.

Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For by the standard you judge you will be judged and the measure you use will be the measure you receive. 
—Matthew 7:1-2 (The NET Bible)

Jesus’ instruction was about using standards to evaluate, not identification. So, what do we learn?

First, there is nothing wrong with identifying people according to obvious categories of distinction: Tall, Hispanic, rich, male, teacher, homosexual, murderer. It is perfectly fine to identify a teacher as a teacher; likewise, a juggler, gambler, athlete, or adulterer. In fact, it is not wrong to say that murder is morally wrong according to the Bible, because that is a factual biblical teaching. That does not assign less value to a murderer as a person, but it does identify the murderer as immoral (at least, according to the Bible).

Second, it IS wrong (according to Jesus) to evaluate people using an arbitrary personal standard. We should not look down on others for their choices, even if their choices are considered immoral by Jesus and the Bible. 

What is all this about???

There are many voices of our day crying out, “Do not judge me,” claiming that they are echoing the teaching of Jesus, yet they misuse His words. They identify themselves with Christianity while making obvious choices that conflict with the Bible. Then they defame anyone who points out their inconsistency by accusing them of being judgmental. Jesus called that hypocrisy.

So, when people speak the truth I will listen, but when they conflict with truth, I will not follow. How can I discern truth?

My Bible is completely open...is yours?

Mark Stinnett

When I "Looked" Like a Child

Parents often act as referees (judges) for their children. 

“Mommy, Billy hit me!” (Four-year-old sister.)

Wisely, Mom finds Billy to hear his side of the story. Sure enough, Billy hit his sister, but she kicked him first, because he took a toy from her, because she screamed in his ear. (You get the picture. Neither one was really innocent.)

With children, the vocal one is often the one who started the problem. When they tattle on the other child, their own fault is often revealed.

Solomon advised:

     Do not go out hastily to argue your case; 

     Otherwise, what will you do in the end, 

     When your neighbor puts you to shame?

                                                 --Proverbs 25:8

Have you ever approached a friend and (with a cloudy disposition) immediately began telling him/her how you were mistreated by a co-worker or boss or friend? You expected your friend to listen and accept every word, side with you, and then verbally acknowledge the injustice you had experienced. You expected them to 'cloud up' with you.

So, what happens when the other person tells ‘their side of the story’? Do you still appear to  have been so mistreated, so innocent?

Solomon continues his advice in the next two verses:

     Argue your case with your neighbor, 

        And do not reveal the secret of another,

     Lest he who hears it reproach you, 

        And the evil report about you not pass away.

The simple lesson is to apply self control. It is true that life is full of injustices, but sometimes we are not completely innocent.

Sometimes “I” am the cause of the problem...
Sometimes “I” misspeak...
Sometimes "I" do something questionable...
Sometimes "I" forget something...
     ...and "I" start the chain reaction of injustices.

Before jumping to conclusions and ‘arguing your case’ with others, go to the person involved and try to work it out. Otherwise the truth of the situation might be revealed to your friends and you might be partly to blame! 

Shame!

A little self-restraint along with a measure of wisdom might keep you from looking like a four-year-old child.

I Know What You're Thinking

Imagine the absurdity...

Everyone in the courtroom stands as the honorable judge is announced. He seats himself, the courtroom is seated; the judge faces the people in the courtroom.

The lawyers are ready to begin the day and the first case is introduced and immediately the gavel strikes and the judge announces, “Guilty. Next case.”

Again, imagine the absurdity.

You know and I know; the judge knows, the lawyers know, everyone knows... that’s not fair! There can be no justice unless the judge ‘hears’ the case. He cannot simply respond to the accusation without listening to the facts.

It seems so elementary, yet, we all sit in the judge’s seat at times in our daily lives. Parents deal with children, husbands interact with wives, wives with husbands; bosses and employees interact; neighbors interact; church members interact; people bump into people in stores, at the park, around town. We are involved in communication everywhere we go.

How often do you ‘decide’ something about a person before you get to know them? How often do you 'decide' how you will respond before listening to the other person?

It cannot work in the courtroom. The judge must first listen, then return a verdict (judgment).

It cannot work at the fast food restaurant. Imagine pulling up to the 'drive through' and just as you begin to order, you hear: “Hello...your order is ready.”

What makes us think it will work in our daily interactions with people. It is so easy to blurt out a response before all the facts are known. It is so easy to ‘jump to conclusions.’

Friendships severed; family members offended; business deals lost; progress stifled. Solomon calls it ‘folly and shame.’

     He who gives an answer before he hears, 
     It is folly and shame to him.
                                                             --Proverbs 18:13
I think 'time' is an important part of the solution. Just pause a little longer, listen a little more carefully, then respond. They say that “time heals all wounds” but perhaps a little extra time could prevent the injury in the first place. After all, I really don't know what you're thinking.

Hate Evil?

The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; 
Pride and arrogance and the evil way, 
And the perverted mouth, I hate.
                                                     --Proverbs 8:13

Tolerance! is the order of the day. In fact, our society tolerates just about anything, anyone, and any thought . . . except intolerance!!!

Most people assume that the soul of a person and the actions of a person are a 'single package' when it comes to acceptance. If you accept me, you must therefore accept what I do. If you do not accept what I do, you must not accept me.

Jesus stood out like a sore thumb and showed the right way.

When the Jewish leaders dragged a woman in front of Jesus and accused her of adultery, they demanded that he judge her according to the Law of Moses. Jesus made the most remarkable stand. He condemned the Jews for their arrogant judgment because they were also sinners. He then told the woman that he would not stand in judgment of her; but there is one thing more. Jesus instructed the woman to go her way “and sin no more.” He accepted the woman, but did not tolerate her sin!
(Read the entire encounter in John 8:1-11.)

He condemned those who judged.
He refused to judge.
He accepted the sinner.
He did not tolerate sin.

God does not tolerate sin.

Isn't that the beauty of the sacrifice of Jesus?
It expresses God’s love for the souls of men and, at the same time, his intolerance for sin. (If he tolerated sin, then why the sacrifice?!)

God hates evil.
Do you stand in awe of God?
Do you fear the Lord?
Do you hate evil?