My original title for this post was Can You Be Christian and Not Be Judgmental?. This is a topic I struggle with myself. I put off addressing the topic out of fear of being judged. LOL! But it is an important topic and one we shouldn’t shy away from.

The short answer to my question is – no. Realistically, can anyone, Christian or not, not be judgmental, one way or another? Judgement can make the difference between safety and danger, between success and ruin. But not all judgment is good. Let’s adventure into God’s word.

Don’t judge others, and God will not judge you. If you judge others, you will be judged the same way you judge them. God will treat you the same way you treat others.

Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭ERV

Why shouldn’t we judge others besides not wanting to be judged? The following verse is key.

Why would you focus on the flaw in someone else’s life and fail to notice the glaring flaws of your own? How could you say to your friend, ‘Let me show you where you’re wrong,’ when you’re guilty of even more?

Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Jesus establishes this very concept when dealing with the woman caught in adultery.

They continued to question him, so he stood up and replied, “Whoever hasn’t sinned should throw the first stone.”

John‬ ‭8‬:‭7‬ ‭CEB

This next passage, about believers with differing opinions, keeps me from becoming critical of others.

As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.

Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.

Romans‬ ‭14‬:‭1‬, ‭4‬, ‭10‬, ‭13‬ ‭ESV

But what about the non-believer? Do we present a God of love and forgiveness, or a Holy God who sits in judgment? Do we have to water down the Word, as many Christians are fearful to do? Think about that for a minute…

But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.

Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭44‬-‭45‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We are studying Jude in the Bible study I attend. We haven’t gotten to this verse yet, but I’m curious to see how it will be approached.

And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives.

Jude‬ ‭1‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ ‭NLT

It’s easy for Christians to overstep into God’s territory. We try to fix people. We proclaim: hate the sin but love the sinner. Some teeter over into the hate the sin side, coming across as being hateful of people. Where others fall onto the love the sinner side, being accused of excusing sin. So how do we live?

We live as light – Mathew 5:16

Connected to Jesus – John 15:4

Led by the Spirit – Galatians 5:16

As a witness of God’s love and forgiveness – Acts 1:8

I won’t apologize for believing the truth of scripture, nor do I desire to cast any stones. God has provided all the necessary means for forgiveness and salvation. He has invested His very life to redeem us. It’s important to embrace and acknowledge the whole counsel of God and not pick and choose bits and pieces as justification or weapons.

for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.

Acts‬ ‭20‬:‭27‬ ‭ESV‬‬

There is so much more to consider. This is why there is no substitute for reading and studying all of scripture. In one sense, I am going against my own advice by pulling out certain scriptures. For that very reason, I encourage you to challenge what I present. If I lead you back to God’s Word, I’ll gladly accept my fallibility. Still, I honestly try my best to listen to the Holy Spirit’s leading, and I desire to offer more of an encouragement than a challenge.

LOL, I don’t quite know how to end this. Be encouraged? Love one another? Believe strongly but softly? Yes, all of the above.

Grace & Peace,

Sandy

Image created in Canva