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Condemnation is weird to us. What it often means is that one person condemns another:

“You’re going to Hell.”

“You’re worthless.”

“You’ll never fall in love.”

“I’m better than you.”

We even get God in on the act sometimes.

But what if that’s not the root of what it means to condemn?

Consider Paul’s thoughts from his letter to the church in Philippi:

Let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. (Warning: Condemnation coming) This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have. 

What if it’s not about earning the right to condemn someone or getting to condemn?

What if Condemnation is primarily about Presence?

That condemnation exists as a result of one reality rubbing up against another reality?

Paul isn’t teaching a lesson about condemnation per se, but we learn a ton about it in these passages. The existence of this new way of life, characterized by “standing firm in one Spirit,” “striving side by side,” “suffer(ing) for his sake,” “trusting in Jesus,” etc. is “a clear sign of their destruction.”

When you are being transformed into the Body of Christ, it does not give you the right to condemn anyone.

It makes you a walking, breathing condemnation of the brokenness you’re being transformed from.

It happens by the very Presence and existence of the alternative.

Love condemns Hate.

Hope condemns Despair.

Life condemns Death.

What if all we have to do is walk it out and let the chips fall?