Questions for Reflection - "Conversations: Sharing Our Faith with a Skeptical World"
"Why are Christians So Narrow Minded? Part 2: On Judgment"
Luke 16:19–31; Matthew 25:31–46
- Do you find Christians to be judgmental? In what way?
- Read Matthew 7: 1-5. What does Jesus mean by "judge not"? What does he not mean? How do you exercise "judgment" every day?
- Keller talks about our cultural bias against "judgment". Do you agree? What might be difficult for American Christians to understand about the gospel?
- Another reason why we might have a problem with God's judgment is who we understand God to be. Read some scripture: Deut. 10: 18ff; Psalm 72:1ff; 50; Micah 6: 1-8; Isaiah 2: 12-18; Malachi 3:2ff. What image(s) do you get of who God is from these passages? What does God care about?
- Now read Luke 16: 19-31. Note the context. Jesus is addressing the Pharisees. What is their assumption about God's judgment? Can you relate?
- Read Matthew 25: 31-46. What criterion does the Lord use in his judgment? Note the theme of "recognition". How does trusting God relate to giving of ourselves to those in need?
- In light of Luke 16 and Matthew 25, how might we describe "hell"? Read the Lewis quote in Keller, pp. 78-79. How is this different than your understanding or assumption about "hell"?
- Pastor Thompson said, "Is it ‘narrow minded' of Christians to believe in God's judgment? Maybe it's narrow minded to not believe in God's judgment." Do you agree, or disagree? Why?
- What is God doing to help you to practice the right kind of "judgment"?
For further reading:
Tim Keller. The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism. Dutton. Chapter 6.
C.S. Lewis. The Great Divorce. Macmillan. 1963
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Westminster Presbyterian Church |