An Exhortation:

The enemy condemns constantly, but we are held to a higher standard.

My brothers and sisters, I want to speak to you today about a spirit that has quietly woven itself into our conversations and our screens—a spirit of fault-finding. We often find ourselves standing in judgment of one another, but we must remember the warning in Matthew 7:1, every judgment we measure out becomes the very standard by which we ourselves will be judged.

For those of us in leadership, this weight is even heavier; we will stand before the judgment seat of Christ and answer for how we led the sheep.

We must look closely at how we use our words. James 3:6, tells us that an uncontrolled tongue can defile the entire Body. It is “immature talk”—speaking badly about a brother or sister—and it acts as a destructive force.

James 3:9

How is it that with the same tongue we bless our God and Father, and then turn and curse men and women made in His very image? This should not be.

In an age of social media, where judgment is instant and often loud, we must ask ourselves: Are we sure we have all the facts before we speak? Much of what we see online today does not follow the heart of God. When we speak against the Body of Christ in public spaces, are we reproducing the fruits of wisdom—mercy, gentleness, and sincerity? Or are we merely adding to the noise?

We must learn to discern the source of our spirit:

 Evil produces confusion. It brings disharmony and finger-pointing.

 God brings harmony and wisdom. His wisdom is pure, peaceable, and willing to yield.

If you feel a nudge to speak, ask yourself: is this the Holy Spirit bringing Conviction, or is it the enemy bringing Condemnation?

Conviction is a beautiful thing; it calls us to change and return to the Father, as seen in John 8:3–11 when Jesus told the woman caught in adultery, “Neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin.” Conviction leads to restoration and hope, not shame.

 Condemnation, however, only brings shame; it exposes faults and is not of God. The religious leaders in that same story sought to shame the woman, but Jesus chose mercy over judgment, showing God’s heart is always to restore, not condemn.

The enemy condemns all the time, but we are called to a higher standard.

Finally, remember the lesson of the Wheat and the Tares. We often want to rush into the field and start pulling up what we think doesn’t belong. But the word is clear: it is the Angels who will separate the wheat from the tares, not man. Our job is not to be the judge, the jury, or the harvester.

Our job is to be slow to speak, to seek divine wisdom, and to ensure that the work of the Holy Spirit within us is what controls our tongues.

Let us stop doing the enemy’s work for him. Let us choose harmony over confusion and mercy over judgment.