Who Am I To Judge

"Don't be so judgmental!" "Why are Christians so intolerant?" "Why can't we just coexist?" In an age in which preference has replaced morality, many people find it difficult to speak the truth, afraid of the reactions they will receive if they say something is right or wrong. Using engaging stories and personal experience, Edward Sri helps us understand the classical view of morality and equips us to engage relativism, appealing to both the head and the heart. Learn how Catholic morality is all about love, why making a judgment is not judging a person's soul, and why, in the words of Pope Francis, "relativism wounds people." Topics include: • Real Freedom, Real Love • Sharing truth with compassion • Why "I disagree" doesn't mean "I hate you"

The Catholic Church still takes an ambivalent stance toward homosexuality, declaring that homosexuals should be respected and not discriminated against while morally condemning their intimate relationships. This volume presents exegetical, theological, and ethical arguments as well as evidence from the human sciences to advocate for the recognition of homosexuality as a natural variant of the human capacities to love and to form relationships.

A church that has made its peace with the world can no longer affect it! As 21st century Christians, we have settled down to a complacent form of faith that demands very little of us, and thus makes very little impact on the world. When secular values infiltrate the church, we accept them without a twinge of conscience and congratulate ourselves on our tolerance. We believe that we no longer have the right to challenge secular trends and decisions, in or out of the church. Erwin Lutzer looks at today's world, and confronts us with our responsibility, as believers in the church of Jesus Christ, to again be a force for what is right...not easy.

The Name of God is Mercy, Pope Francis' exploration on the universal theme of mercy, is a spiritual inspiration to both followers of Christianity and non-Christians around the world. Drawing on his own experience as a priest and shepherd, Pope Francis discusses mercy, a subject of central importance in his religious teaching and testimony, and in addition sums up other ideas – reconciliation, the closeness of God – that comprise the heart of his papacy. Written in conversation with Vatican expert and La Stampa journalist Andrea Tornielli, The Name of God is Mercy is directed at everyone, inside or outside of the Catholic Church, seeking meaning in life, a road to peace and reconciliation, or the healing of physical or spiritual wounds.

What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ? Is something more than simply "going through the motions" of weekly Mass attendance and receiving the sacraments just for uber-Catholics, saints, and martyrs? Has Jesus's exhortation to "be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matthew 5:48) tempted you to give up on the idea of following him more closely before you even get started? Join Edward Sri in this six-part study program as he breaks open what it means to be a true follower of Jesus Christ, and how you can move from being simply a "fan" to a disciple who has taken on the very likeness of Jesus Christ. Learn from Saint Peter the starting point for discipleship. Learn the four key habits, practiced by the early Christian community, that will increase your receptivity to divine graces and keep the fire of faith burning bright. With Edward Sri's dynamic presentations, this study will transform your life as you move from "Where am I right now?" to "What am I made for?"This Leader Guide provides you with the following:? Easy-to-use tools to lead a successful small-group study? Introductions, prayers, and inspirational insights? Discussion questions that inspire real-life application and fellowship? Background texts to help you go deeper into the topics

In the ancient disciple-rabbi relationship, the disciple would follow the rabbi so closely that he would be covered in the dust kicked up from his rabbi's feet. Thousands of years later, though we walk on roads of pavement and not dust, we are still called to be disciples—to follow our Rabbi, Jesus Christ, so closely that we are covered with his life, changed, and made new. Into His Likeness provides an approachable but in-depth exploration of how to live as a disciple and experience the transformation Jesus wants to work in our lives. We might desire to live more like Christ, but we know we fall short. This book simply helps us follow those initial promptings of the Holy Spirit, so that we may more intentionally encounter Jesus anew each day and be more disposed to his grace changing us ever more into his likeness.

The sin of judging and the error of legalism cause many of the interpersonal conflicts we experience as believers. Plaguing many of our Christian institutions, from churches to schools to families, these problems sap our spiritual strength and weaken the work of God in our midst.This helpful book defines judging and legalism in a biblical manner and discusses two often-overlooked biblical commands: do not pass judgment before the time and do not exceed what is written (1 Cor. 4:5-6). Learning to identify and avoid these problems will help promote peace and joy in the body of Christ and release believers to serve God in the freedom of his grace! All Christians have, at one time or another, borne the brunt of inappropriate judging and the burden of legalism and will welcome this book.

God invites us to judge and to help correct wrongs from a place of understanding. Sometimes we pre-judge a person based on our own biases and superficial experiences. We stifle dialog before the conversation even begins. If all we know is our own faith, and we never put it side-by-side with what others believe, our spiritual growth and commitments can be easily stunted. By truly listening and learning from those with different beliefs, we can broaden and deepen our kingdom commitments. It is possible to stand up for Jesus, to articulate our faith clearly as witnesses, and to defend our faith effectively, while at the same time not being perceived as judgmental. Christians need to be faithful witnesses to God who are willing to listen to people with drastically different stories. In those exchanges, when we suspend judgment and truly listen, we will find truth and beauty and goodness in some of the most unexpected places. We will also find that, if we truly listen, we may be given a chance to speak. Features include: Help for interfaith and intercultural dialog Thought-provoking questions for spiritual conversation or reflection