Checking Account.

"Yet even angels, who are much more powerful, do not bring a slanderous judgement against (the unrighteous) before the Lord." (Second Peter 2:11)

In this second letter from Simon Peter, the famed disciple gives us a clue as to how things work in the heavenly realms. We are told that even the angels do not slander the unrighteous. How interesting, the use of this word "slander" in a context where there is clearly unrighteousness going on. Apparently, even if the judgements are true, it is still defined as slander. The implication is that if angels do not make judgements, then human beings should not do so either.

I am reminded of one of Pastor Sam's sermons from a few years ago. In discussing Psalm 50, our pastor gave the illustration of the psalm as a courtroom scene: the people of God were called to assembly, and God judged the people. The problem was that, though their sacrifices were regular and correct, their hearts were filled with malice and slander. And, the condition of the people's hearts made their sacrifices unacceptable. Who made the assessment? God Himself.

On Sunday Pastor Sam gave us a valuable phrase: "We can't manage the devil". On a parallel track, we can also say something like "We can't claim to be Christians and behave like the devil." Slander is never justifiable. Just a few verses down from the Matthew account of Lord's prayer, Jesus teaches that we are not to judge (see Matthew 7:1). May God help us to avoid the devil's trap by not giving in to the temptation to sit in judgement of others.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. (Matthew 6:13)