Judging is an item in Christian circles and outside it as well. We all judge and judge some more. On social media and forums you can read peoples ‘opinions’ that used to stay indoors and now sadly enough are shared with the world. But I don’t want to talk about how disrespectful people can be or wonder why people think they know how others should lead their life. I want to talk about the Christian habit to judge and condemn others based on their own Christian values.
Why we should point out their mistakes to others
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You point out their mistakes to them because you love them. They harm themselves, don’t they?
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If you don’t point out sin, you are an accessory
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If you keep sinning, God can’t bless you
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If you allow church members to live in sin, God can’t bless the church
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If you allow your fellow country men to keep sinning, God can’t bless the nation
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If you allow fellow Christians to sin, they aren’t a good example
How you can also look at it;
“I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes”, Paul says (1 Corinthians 4:3-5).
John adds to that; “If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.” (1 John 3:20).
Hasn’t God absolved us from our guild and forgiven our sins?
And what applies to us also applies to others; “They are God’s servants, not yours. They are responsible to him, not to you. Let him tell them whether they are right or wrong. And God is able to make them do as they should.” (Romans 14:4 TLB)
This doesn’t mean we leave everybody to his fate. We are responsible for each other. We ought to help each other do the good, help battle the evil. But we should do this in the knowledge we fail as massive as the one we are trying to help. When we think we are any better, we fool ourselves (Galatians 6: 1-5)
The bible gives guidelines for a good life. It makes sense if they are taught in church. But it isn’t the core message of the church. The core is the good news of mercy when you don’t follow the rules. A message of mercy has nothing to do with ‘approve of everything’. It has to do with a God who loves you so much He gave his only Son so He won’t loose you, but you can be with Him forever. The Son hasn’t come to condemn you, but to save you (John 3:16-17).
It is this love that changes people. The more you realise how loved you are, the more you are drawn to God. The more you are connected to Him, the more you discover you are not perfect, but -hard to believe- still intensely loved. And the more you realise how precious you are to God, the more you will see how precious all the people surrounding you are, and just as unconditionally loved.
If God loves them unconditionally, who are you to judge or condemn them?
What about Gods blessing? Since Jesus carried the curse of the Law, that doesn’t effect us any more. It is a lie to tell God can’t bless when there is sin, or that He would withdraw. That would mean God would never be able to bless anything, because there always is sin. Last time I read the bible there wasn’t any difference between one sin or the other, but all sins were forgiven in Jesus name.
If you think you are doing good enough to earn Gods blessing, you have missed something.