It's so easy to judge, isn't it? It's in our nature really...we meet someone for the first time and we form an opinion...most of the time we are reserving final judgment for later, but most of us form an immediate opinion based on looks or conversation or whatever it is. We judge people on what they wear, their accents, their hair, their Facebook posts, etc. We are a people who judge. We try to prove to others that we don't, but even the best of us do. It's inevitable.
In that same tone, we, as Christians, are some of the most judgmental people there are. I don't know if we do it to make ourselves feel better about our own sin, but we all do it. We compare other's sin to our own. A murderer is much worse than a rapist is much worse than an adulterer is much worse than a thief is much worse than a liar which is much worse than I am because I just tell little white lies so as not to hurt anyone's feelings.
Because I understand that it is human nature, I accept it with a grain of salt and move on...but some days that isn't enough. Don't get me wrong, I am including myself as one of these judgmental offenders, but there are days I just want to scream at the top of my lungs at some of my Christian counterparts.
When one, in particular a Christian, uses social media to make their point...plead their case...judge...that is their right, but I hope they put much thought in to their statement before they post it. Think about those friends they might have that don't know the love of Christ yet...those that aren't saved. Think about the message you are sending. Are you telling them that God loves us all...every single one of us? That we were ALL made in His image? That he loves people of all colors, all sexual orientations, of all religions....is that the message we are sending? Because it should be...because it is true. He loves us ALL...
If one is a Christian then one, by definition, professes belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ. While my inner circle of friends and family most likely know what that means, I have plenty of friends that do not. So, in that instance, what do I want my message to be? Am I living my life as a person who believes in the teachings of Jesus? Are my social media posts portraying that?
It seems easier to be a "good Christian" when you live in a small place surrounded by like-kind...even if you don't live in a small town, you most likely are surrounded by like-kind. It is when God moves you out of that comfort zone to a place where there are few like you, when you may even be the minority that it matters. The same litmus tests don't work anymore. You find yourself judging everything harshly because it isn't like you. You waste so much of your time focusing on the differences that you might miss the purpose. You might just find the purpose when you stop judging and start praying, not praying that they become more like you, but that you would become more like Christ. In a world where everyone around you is different from you...you SHOULD stand out...but in a good way. As one who is forgiven and has hope and love. Someone who has joy in their heart...(not someone who is necessarily always happy).
I know what the bible says and I believe it. Every word of it. Just because I believe something differently from you doesn't mean I should hammer my beliefs in to you. I do not believe that God has called me to do that. Do I think that people are called to preach the truth? Certainly... But those people that we so harshly judge in our lives that are not saved are not playing with the same rule book and as such, cannot be judged using that same rule book. However, in that book it calls ME to LOVE. It tells me that above all else LOVE is the most important thing. It calls me to love my neighbor. I believe that God left us that instruction because He knew that without LOVE....and I mean genuine love for our fellow man...our motivation would never be right. Without love you will never be successful at planting seeds. Love has to be the motivation for everything.
That is my hope for my children. I hope that I teach them to love. Love everyone...more than jumping up on a soapbox to rail against gay marriage, homosexuality, Muslims, or whatever the flavor of the day is...I hope I teach them to love their neighbor. You don't have to love their choices or their religion...loving someone doesn't necessarily mean agreeing with their choices or their lifestyle...I think any parent can attest to that! Love people as someone who was created in God's own image. I hope they continually step out of their comfort zone and surround themselves with new...but I hope they always carry that love, God's love, with them. I hope that they reserve judgment and exude joy!
My friend posted a quote of Gandhi's the other day and it has been bouncing around in my head. Gandhi said, "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." That post goes on to explain that we are all just sinners. We are human. But, the big difference is that we are FORGIVEN. We can thank God that we have a Savior that loves us and has forgiven us.
In that same tone, we, as Christians, are some of the most judgmental people there are. I don't know if we do it to make ourselves feel better about our own sin, but we all do it. We compare other's sin to our own. A murderer is much worse than a rapist is much worse than an adulterer is much worse than a thief is much worse than a liar which is much worse than I am because I just tell little white lies so as not to hurt anyone's feelings.
Because I understand that it is human nature, I accept it with a grain of salt and move on...but some days that isn't enough. Don't get me wrong, I am including myself as one of these judgmental offenders, but there are days I just want to scream at the top of my lungs at some of my Christian counterparts.
When one, in particular a Christian, uses social media to make their point...plead their case...judge...that is their right, but I hope they put much thought in to their statement before they post it. Think about those friends they might have that don't know the love of Christ yet...those that aren't saved. Think about the message you are sending. Are you telling them that God loves us all...every single one of us? That we were ALL made in His image? That he loves people of all colors, all sexual orientations, of all religions....is that the message we are sending? Because it should be...because it is true. He loves us ALL...
If one is a Christian then one, by definition, professes belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ. While my inner circle of friends and family most likely know what that means, I have plenty of friends that do not. So, in that instance, what do I want my message to be? Am I living my life as a person who believes in the teachings of Jesus? Are my social media posts portraying that?
It seems easier to be a "good Christian" when you live in a small place surrounded by like-kind...even if you don't live in a small town, you most likely are surrounded by like-kind. It is when God moves you out of that comfort zone to a place where there are few like you, when you may even be the minority that it matters. The same litmus tests don't work anymore. You find yourself judging everything harshly because it isn't like you. You waste so much of your time focusing on the differences that you might miss the purpose. You might just find the purpose when you stop judging and start praying, not praying that they become more like you, but that you would become more like Christ. In a world where everyone around you is different from you...you SHOULD stand out...but in a good way. As one who is forgiven and has hope and love. Someone who has joy in their heart...(not someone who is necessarily always happy).
I know what the bible says and I believe it. Every word of it. Just because I believe something differently from you doesn't mean I should hammer my beliefs in to you. I do not believe that God has called me to do that. Do I think that people are called to preach the truth? Certainly... But those people that we so harshly judge in our lives that are not saved are not playing with the same rule book and as such, cannot be judged using that same rule book. However, in that book it calls ME to LOVE. It tells me that above all else LOVE is the most important thing. It calls me to love my neighbor. I believe that God left us that instruction because He knew that without LOVE....and I mean genuine love for our fellow man...our motivation would never be right. Without love you will never be successful at planting seeds. Love has to be the motivation for everything.
That is my hope for my children. I hope that I teach them to love. Love everyone...more than jumping up on a soapbox to rail against gay marriage, homosexuality, Muslims, or whatever the flavor of the day is...I hope I teach them to love their neighbor. You don't have to love their choices or their religion...loving someone doesn't necessarily mean agreeing with their choices or their lifestyle...I think any parent can attest to that! Love people as someone who was created in God's own image. I hope they continually step out of their comfort zone and surround themselves with new...but I hope they always carry that love, God's love, with them. I hope that they reserve judgment and exude joy!
My friend posted a quote of Gandhi's the other day and it has been bouncing around in my head. Gandhi said, "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." That post goes on to explain that we are all just sinners. We are human. But, the big difference is that we are FORGIVEN. We can thank God that we have a Savior that loves us and has forgiven us.
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