don’t judge!

Written by

Adam McLane

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Who are you to judge me?



If there is one mantra in our culture that resonates faster than any others from non-Christians to Christians it is this… “Don’t judge me!”

I will admit that I am sensitive about this. I regularly get comments from folks that since I am a pastor… even my presence will sometimes elicit the response “don’t judge me.” As if I were judge, jury, and condemner. I am none of these nor do I claim to be… so why is it often attributed to any believer?

A dose of reality in a “whatever I want” world

At the same time, there is One who judges. There is a Day coming when we will all be judged and it won’t be pretty. In my life I can imagine the laundry list of sins that will be placed before me, because I am well aware of my sinfulness and my stupid inability to stop myself from continuing to sin. Nonetheless, I will be judged by the Lawgiver.

Sure, we all have friends that deny that this will happen. Furthermore, they deny that they are “that bad.” They say things like “Well, I am not as bad as Jeffrey Dahlmer, so I’m OK” or something equally stupid. However, when the punishment for even a single sin is eternal seperation from God, it doesn’t take “that bad” does it? Don’t they get it? We we all need a mediator in the worst way.

Expose, don’t judge



In my devotions this morning I came across this verse that adds perspective to the “don’t judge” mentality. Paul writes, “Have nothing to do with with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” (Ephesians 5:11)



What a powerful difference between judging someone and exposing their sins to them? When you judge someone you say “I am better than you are” but this isn’t what we are told to do, Paul taught us that when you expose something to them you say “Don’t you see that your own choices are messing your life up?” Instead of taking the judgment role… why not instead accept the role of allowing the Holy Spirit to do His job? While He is the author of our conscience He is also called the comforter.

I’m not saying “don’t judge” because that is a denial of truth, but instead why don’t we follow the Apostle Paul’s advice and “expose darkness?”

Comments

5 responses to “don’t judge!”

  1. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    1. “In my life I can imagine the laundry list of sins that will be placed before me, because I am well aware of my sinfulness…”

    2. “…when the punishment for even a single sin is eternal seperation from God…”

    Does this mean you’re going to hell?

    Reply
  2. PA Avatar
    PA

    Excellent question.

    Being sinful means that I deserve hell. Romans 3:23 says “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

    But in dying for those who believe, Christ’s blood pays for my sins and all who believe. The word the bible uses is that we are “justified” by his sacrifice. In that culture “justified” was written on receipts meaning “paid in full.”

    That’s why I said “We we all need a mediator in the worst way.” Because we are all sinful, we need someone to make things right between us and God. Feel free to e-mail me at mclanea@gmail.com if you’d like a fuller explanation.

    Reply
  3. Cheryl Avatar
    Cheryl

    With you there 100%
    To throw in a few cliches:
    Hate the sin but love the sinner,
    There but for the grace of God go I,
    Get the beam out of your own eye before picking at the speck in someone elses,
    etc.
    Paul said it nicely (after God told him it was ok to eat pork after all?)- something about buying the meat in the market (all from false gods temples) or not, as you wish, but doing whatever you do to honour God. Read it the way you read it and live it the best you know how, its all anyone can do.
    xx

    Reply
  4. birdwoman Avatar
    birdwoman

    I’m not a good christian, and I don’t play one on tv…

    but it seems to me that being a Christian means, in its very definition, that you have standards of behavior that you set for yourself. And when others don’t follow this standard, you are allowed to comment on that, esp within your own church. Also, your faith calls you to proselytize (sp?) and to try to pull others into your way of thinking.

    When you say “expose the darkness”, there is judgement inherent to that statement. Darkness is a judgement. But THAT’S OKAY. I don’t think you have to explain yourself at all.

    (*)>

    Reply
  5. D-Thinker Avatar
    D-Thinker

    Well said…

    Reply

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