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Judge Not

    In the world people are used to being judged by others. In fact, they even brace ourselves for that and prepare to judge others for judging them! People are so used to being judged and condemned they have this wall that they put up immediately in defense. I have found that this wall is especially high if someone knows that you are a Christian, because they are seen as the most judgmental group of all. 

    But what if it weren't that way? The model for Jesus' church isn't based in judgement. With Him He brought love and grace. Jesus even chose His disciples through the eyes of grace. If we could have the same mindset of Jesus when interacting with people on a daily basis, maybe the stigma of "judgmental Christians" could be abolished and more people would actually have an interest in knowing this "Jesus." 

    If you have been living your life in judgement of others, I have to tell you you're wrong. Jesus did not walk in judgment, but instead showed unconditional love and compassion. That is how we ought to be living our lives. Reach out to others with the same love and compassion of Jesus. If you have trouble, just remember how He treats you in the same manner regardless of all your faults.

John 8:7 When they persisted in questioning Him, He stood up and said to them, "The one without sin among you should be the first to throw a stone at her." (HCSB)

Matthew 9:9-13 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.

While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (NIV)

Luke 6:37 Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. (NIV)

Romans 2:1 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. (NIV)

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