These days, many people who are not religious have a negative feeling towards religious people, particularly Christians. Many feel that people who call themselves Christians are spreading hate and judgment instead of being loving and accepting. Others feel that Christians preach one thing and then live another. Unfortunately, many religious people these days are hypocrites. They condemn people for living a certain way and then sin in another way. Some Christians, but not all, tend to forget what the Bible has to say about being judgmental.
Matthew 7:1-5 James 4:11-12 James 4:22 Romans 2:1-3 Ephesians 4:29
All of these Biblical scriptures discuss the importance of loving others and not judging. It is important to remember that everyone sins, no matter how Godly of a life they are living, and in God's eyes, all sins are equal. Someone who gets drunk every night is sinning just as much as the person who is cheating on their spouse. One who judges someone for living together before marriage is sinning just as much when he or she uses the neighbor's wireless internet signal. Many Christians are missing the mark when they judge others. It is more important for Christians to love one another and leave the judging up to God.
God Calls Us to Love
Christians believe that it is because we are not without sin that Jesus had to come down and die for us. According to the Bible, not a single person is holy enough to go to Heaven without being saved. Jesus was the only person to live a sinless life, and he paid the penalty for all. Christians who truly believe that need to remember that Jesus called us to love others and show grace and mercy. There are examples of Jesus doing that himself. When the woman was about to be stoned for adultery, he told the crowd that only he who had never sinned could throw a stone at her. After all had left, he knelt down and forgave her for her sins. This does not mean that he was accepting of her sins or telling her it was okay. After all, he told her not to live in that sinful life anymore. When he forgave her, he was simply telling her she was forgiven for her sins, and he let the crowd know that they did not have the right to judge her.
Law Is Still Important
This doesn't mean that people can live however they want to live with no consequences. In the eyes of the law, all sins are not the same. It makes sense that a person who murders is going to have a bigger punishment than someone who stole some food from the grocery store. It's important to remember that Christians have to answer to God and the law. Both are important and both are separate. Yes, the murderer can be forgiven by God if he repents, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have to spend his life in jail. Sending someone to jail for their actions is not judging them. Telling them that they are going to hell because they didn't repent for their sins is being judgmental.
Remember Your Role
Only God knows the true heart of each person. Just because somebody is a Pastor of a church does not mean they are going to be saved. On the other hand, just because someone has a drinking problem doesn't mean that they aren't going to heaven. It's not up to people to decide. Christians are supposed to love others. People shouldn't judge others and tell them how they need to change. If we just loved one another, helped others when they were hurt or down, and accepted people for who they are, then the world would be a much better place.
