If there's one thing Christians seem to fear being accused of more than anything else these days, it's being "judgmental".
"Judgmental" is a word that gets thrown around quite a bit by Christians and non-Christians alike---oftentimes as a way of evading a valid criticism.
(Don't want to answer the question or address the issue? Just accuse the other party of being judgmental: "Nobody's perfect." "Who are you to judge me?" "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone!" "Judge not, lest ye be judged!")
Besides misapplying the Lord's teaching about hypocrisy ("Judge not, that ye be not judged"), Christians who accuse others of being "judgmental" for exercising appropriate judgment, or who use the term as an ad hominem deflection tactic to avoid addressing a legitimate criticism, are being dishonest with themselves and with the Holy Spirit, as well as discouraging other Christians from judging in the way that the Scriptures teach that Christians should judge. Which results in a whole lot of Christians being accepting of things that they should not accept, and keeping silent when they should speak up, for fear of being "judgmental".
No, Christians should not be hypocrites, but if perfection is the prerequisite for a Christian to judge other people as the Bible does and also instructs us to do, then we can't judge anyone for anything.
We know that the apostle Paul was not a sinless man, but he judged quite a bit---including the apostle Peter when he erred---and he told others to do the same.
There is a right way to judge and a wrong way to judge; but righteous judgment, including pointing out and addressing one another's sins and faults, in love, is a part of Christianity, and one of the ways in which the Body of Christ is kept clean and healthy.
Well the churches are full because Christians don't judge. They're also full of uncleanness because Christians don't judge.
I'm reminded of something that a pope said---not sure who, maybe Francis. I believe he was asked the question of whether homosexuals went to heaven or not. His response: "Who am I to judge?"
(How many evangelical Christians would--and do--say the same, about homosexuality and many other things that the Bible condemns?)
"Who am I to judge?" sounds nice, but God has something to say about it; and while we ourselves do not have the authority to condemn people, we owe it to those in error to relate and uphold God's judgments about those things which He forbids and those things which He condemns, to hopefully spare those we confront from reaping the consequences.
If we seek to please people, rather than God, and to be liked by them, rather than to love them, we can't be effective Christians, because Christianity is about love, and genuine love involves the pain of being resented or hated for speaking the truth for the benefit of the other person, rather than being selfishly silent to avoid personal discomfort. And this goes for our dealings with our brothers and sisters in Christ as well as with unsaved people.
Instead of living in fear of being considered "judgmental", why not take up your cross and face the probable pain of confronting others' sins as the Bible teaches us to do, not seeking what is in your own best interest, but what is in the best interest of others---whether or not they receive it well. Do it in love, and do it with a good conscience toward God and man, and as the Lord leads, but do it---as one who will have to give an account to the Lord not only for what you did and said, but also for what you didn't do and didn't say when you should have.
My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. (James 5:19,20 ESV)
"Judgmental" is a word that gets thrown around quite a bit by Christians and non-Christians alike---oftentimes as a way of evading a valid criticism.
(Don't want to answer the question or address the issue? Just accuse the other party of being judgmental: "Nobody's perfect." "Who are you to judge me?" "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone!" "Judge not, lest ye be judged!")
Besides misapplying the Lord's teaching about hypocrisy ("Judge not, that ye be not judged"), Christians who accuse others of being "judgmental" for exercising appropriate judgment, or who use the term as an ad hominem deflection tactic to avoid addressing a legitimate criticism, are being dishonest with themselves and with the Holy Spirit, as well as discouraging other Christians from judging in the way that the Scriptures teach that Christians should judge. Which results in a whole lot of Christians being accepting of things that they should not accept, and keeping silent when they should speak up, for fear of being "judgmental".
No, Christians should not be hypocrites, but if perfection is the prerequisite for a Christian to judge other people as the Bible does and also instructs us to do, then we can't judge anyone for anything.
We know that the apostle Paul was not a sinless man, but he judged quite a bit---including the apostle Peter when he erred---and he told others to do the same.
There is a right way to judge and a wrong way to judge; but righteous judgment, including pointing out and addressing one another's sins and faults, in love, is a part of Christianity, and one of the ways in which the Body of Christ is kept clean and healthy.
Well the churches are full because Christians don't judge. They're also full of uncleanness because Christians don't judge.
I'm reminded of something that a pope said---not sure who, maybe Francis. I believe he was asked the question of whether homosexuals went to heaven or not. His response: "Who am I to judge?"
(How many evangelical Christians would--and do--say the same, about homosexuality and many other things that the Bible condemns?)
"Who am I to judge?" sounds nice, but God has something to say about it; and while we ourselves do not have the authority to condemn people, we owe it to those in error to relate and uphold God's judgments about those things which He forbids and those things which He condemns, to hopefully spare those we confront from reaping the consequences.
If we seek to please people, rather than God, and to be liked by them, rather than to love them, we can't be effective Christians, because Christianity is about love, and genuine love involves the pain of being resented or hated for speaking the truth for the benefit of the other person, rather than being selfishly silent to avoid personal discomfort. And this goes for our dealings with our brothers and sisters in Christ as well as with unsaved people.
Instead of living in fear of being considered "judgmental", why not take up your cross and face the probable pain of confronting others' sins as the Bible teaches us to do, not seeking what is in your own best interest, but what is in the best interest of others---whether or not they receive it well. Do it in love, and do it with a good conscience toward God and man, and as the Lord leads, but do it---as one who will have to give an account to the Lord not only for what you did and said, but also for what you didn't do and didn't say when you should have.
My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. (James 5:19,20 ESV)