Out of our heart come our actions, and words. Mark 7:20-23, Matthew 12:34b
Out of a heart filled with hate, comes hate, until there is no more heart or soul left.
Many men are skilled at projecting something other than they are; in their heart. And their actions are motivated by their self-interest. Matthew 7:22-23
God alone is judge, and God alone condemns (James 4:12, John 8:15-16, Nahum 1:7b/2 Timothy 2:19b) and all will stand before Christ in judgment (John 5:22, John 12:48, Acts 17:31, Romans 14:10-12, 2 Corinthians 5:10, 1 Peter 4:5)
Our judgment starts with ourselves, and we will be judged with the same measure that we use to judge others (Matthew 7:2) and by our willingness to forgive (Luke 6:37-38, James 2:13a).
We however are also commanded to be discerning Philippians 1:9-10, Hebrews 5:4
In our decision making, we should do nothing to cause a brother to stumble or fall (Romans 14:13) and recognize that mercy triumphs over judgment (Romans 14:1, James 2:13b).
Jesus was "a friend of sinners", but his/our mercy never condones nor enables sin; the man healed at the Bethesda pool (John 5:14) and the woman caught in adultery (John 8:11) were told to stop sinning. Sinners (all of us) however are masters at self-justification, denial, evasion, excuses...and accusing others of being hypocrites or judgmental.
And in calling out both actions and speech, our motivation is reconciliation (with God) and peace (with each other).
Very often the origin of the "bad" speech or actions is a wounded heart, and we also want healing. IMHO keith is in desperate need of the healing only the Holy Spirit can give. I genuinely want him to find it.
