How to Know If You Have a Condemning Spirit

About this sermon

Why does condemnation feel so automatic? In this episode, John Ortberg invites us to slow down, breathe, and notice something surprising: judgment doesn’t just live in our thoughts — it lives in our bodies. Returning to the story of Cain and Abel, John shows how God interrupts Cain with two gentle questions: - Why are you angry? - Why is your face downcast? Those questions open a doorway to freedom. Drawing on neuroscience from Jill Bolte Taylor and Antonio Damasio, John explains how condemnation becomes embodied through stress hormones, muscle tension, and emotional rehearsal. He introduces the difference between decisional non-condemnation (“I choose not to judge”) and emotional non-condemnation (asking God to transform what happens inside your body). You’ll learn: • why condemnation feels physical • how the 90-second pause works • what it means to “feed the monster” • how blessing rewires your reactions • why you can disagree without condemning John also shares painfully honest examples of everyday judgment (hair gel, Tesla drivers, passive people — we’ve all been there 😅) and offers a freeing realization: you don’t have to condemn anyone. Only God knows anyone’s full story. Jesus was right all along: Blessing is easier than contempt. Love is lighter than judgment. And there really is now no condemnation. 📚 Today's Resources: Jill Bolte Taylor — research on the 90-second emotional rule Antonio Damasio — distinction between feelings and embodied emotions Everett Worthington — decisional vs emotional forgiveness (adapted here to condemnation) Better Angels — assessment questions addressing the culture of contempt George Carlin — illustration of the universal judging reflex (“everyone’s an idiot or a maniac”) 🙌 New episodes every weekday. 📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time. Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time. TEXT US at 855-888-0444 EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text BECOME to 855-888-0444 SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team 😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/ 🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/ Music Credits: Believe Me by Glass Echoes - MB01UU8HNMQ8GT0 Frost on My Window by Coldbrew - MB01IZWASF1DYPO