Is your bible a weapon for judgment or an instrument of love?

The Bible! Number one selling book in the history of mankind. And arguably the most controversial and misused book. Its readers have started wars in its name, stopped wars in its name, started arguments, ended them, created racism, ended racism, created rule and law, struck down rule and law, wrecked friendships and brought friends together. Many question its relevance to today's society. Does it still apply? Can it be taken literally? I was raised with the Bible as a central part of my family's culture. It was read and applied daily. I attribute some of my strong faith to its part in our lives, some of my faith to my mother and grandmother's undying commitment to their personal faith and sharing it with me and the remainder of my faith to an unexplainable belief in a creator and his love for us sent in the form of Christ and his sacrifice. It's not something I can put into words and I guess that's why they call it faith but nonetheless it makes for a tough sell when trying to explain your faith to someone who wants to understand but wants a logic for it when none exists. No book has been more often quoted and misinterperteted than the Bible. It stirs anger and sadness both when I see or hear people use scripture to tear people down, embarass, humiliate or degrade other human beings. There is no greater hinderence to the growth of another growing in or coming to faith for one than the misuse if the Bible. This blog isn't the final word on this subject, it's not a pure argument for the legitimacy of the Bible and it's not coming from a self righteous place. It is a challenge to myself and to others to take a deep breath and really take a hard look at our motives before we quote this powerful book and to question our motives for injecting it into our discussions, creative works, our twitter accounts, facebook accounts and more importantly our relationships with friends, families and acquaintances. There could be much time spent arguing whether the Bible should be quoted on Facebook in any form other than an uplifting one. But we will save that for another day. The bible is filled with verses that give direction and law for our lives. The question is, what is the role of scripture? Are we to use these passages to apply to our own lives to grow our faith or are we to use them as a weapon to judge others when we have our own shortcomings? Or maybe both? The bible is very clear about whether we are to judge our peers. Matthew 7:1-5 7 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye." This is one of hundreds of verses pertaining to this. Does this mean we should not ever use scripture to encourage needed growth in others? I don't believe so. I do however believe that if scripture is to be used as a convicting force it had better be done meticulously, it needs to be done out of a pure heart in love and that one needs to have a relationship built with the person they are delivering a message to. And it had better be done face to face in person privately and out of the view or ear shot of others. No group of people has caused more to run from God than us who claim to be Christians. I'm sure I have been guilty of causing others to flee countless times and it causes guilt to even think about it. But with each passing day I pray I will grow in my place as part of creation to build people up as ones created in God's image and to draw them nearer to God's love by demonstrating it rather than push them away by demeaning or condemning them. Let the Holy spirit do the convicting he has more tact than we do. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 "Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing." 1 Corinthians 14:26 "What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up."