Do not be judgmental

How many times have you heard someone say, “You’re judging me.

The Bible says you’re not supposed to judge.”

Matthew 7:1 is one of the most misquoted verses in the Bible. People read “Judge not, lest you should be judged…” and stop there.

A recent study tells us that the Number 2 reason why 18-25 year olds stay away from church is because they think “church people” are judgmental.

The Number 1 reason this age group stays away from church is they believe those in the church are “anti-gay.”

The Number 3 reason is that people who go to church are hypocritical.

(That will give you something to work on this week.)

When the aforementioned verse is taken out of context, we could say that Jesus says we should not judge.

But you have to read the remaining verses (verses 2-5) to get the whole picture, because in verse 5 Jesus instructs us to “take the log out of your eye and then you can see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” So… after we have spent some “mirror time” looking at our own faults, we can then “look out the window” to see the faults of our brother.

Also, Jesus was teaching His disciples, and we are instructed to not “judge” those outside the church.

Why?

Because if they don’t know Christ as their Savior, they don’t know any better. When someone accepts Jesus as their Savior, then the Holy Spirit of God lives within them (our body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit) and then it’s the Holy Spirit’s job to begin the change that will lead them to being more mature in Christ. So Jesus is telling His church to reach out to those in need of a Savior, without being judgmental, and by your demonstration of God’s love, you will win them to salvation in Christ.

Too many times I have seen a church member be judgmental of someone and then because that person was “judged,” they stay away from church.

I wonder how many people will not be in Heaven because of judgmental church members?

And that is “Something to Think About” for this week. God bless.

Pastor Thad Gifford is the founding and lead pastor of the Crossroads Community Church, 62 E. Second St., London. He can be reached at (740) 852-7800, e-mail him at sermon8er@aol.com.