"You're not a Christian if you cuss."
"You're not a Christian if you don't come to church."
"You're going to Hell."
Have you ever heard (or said) any of these things? If so, please keep reading.
You know them. The people talk about you when they think your out of earshot. The people who decide that your job is not a "real job" (personal experience haha). The people who, as soon as you walk into a room stare at you like they've got something out for you. Maybe it even happened in a church! (That's a shock, Right?)
I'm my life I've judged others and it's something I'm not proud of by any means. I never want to be one of those people who look at others and come up with reasons why I'm holier then them. But, Sometimes I fall short and I do. The problem is not that I fall short. We can be forgiven. The problem is when it's an ongoing thing. The problem is when judge others for things when in our own lives we're doing said things.
The problem is Pride.
And the reason this is so bad with Christians most of the time is because most of us feel like being "Made New" and "Cleansed by the blood" somehow makes us holier then people who are not Christians or people who may not be as strong in the faith as we think we are. And that is not true at all. I would even go to say that as a Christian you are not holy. Simple as that. Yes, when you accept Christ as your savior you are made into a "New creation". But, You're not made into patron saint of judgment. Ya know why? Because we sin and sin separates us from God. No matter if you're a crack head who can't get off the stuff. Or you've been an active member of your local church for 30+ years. Once you sin, You've been separated from God and the only way back is through asking forgiveness. So if you still think it's okay to judge because of your Church social status, You're wrong.
Don't that sting just a little?
One of my favorite scriptures about this is Luke 6: 37
Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven.
It's a simple statement. But it's one, I fear, We overlook far to often. And as brothers and sisters in Christ we're called to love one another as God loves us. And I don't know if you realize this. But if God loves us, the very people who defy his commands and continue to fall short, with an endless love, don't you think we should maybe have grace to those who may never have even heard of God's love? Judgement is a dangerous game
1st Corinthians 13: 1-13
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful.
Love is the answer. We have to choose love over judgment. Simple as that. In my life I will strive to love as God loves us. and I will do everything I can to move in love in everything I do.
I hope this helped you in someway. I would love to hear peoples thoughts on this subject. Please comments if you want! And if my writing sucks and you want me to stop, Lemmie know! I won't judge you. ;)
With Love,
-Micah
