Faith

We Are To Share the Gospel But Let God be the Judge

by John Clark 
12/07/19
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The biggest mistake Christians have made in several previous decades is judging, if not condemning, particular beliefs and lifestyles. It has alienated entire cultures. It has given Christians a bad name. It is part of the reason(there are other factors) why there is such hatred toward Christians today. In a way, Christians have themselves to blame. 

     The saying, "Love the sinner but hate the sin" can apply to every single person. There is also a tendency to normalize some sin among Christians while at the same time single out sin among non-believers. Some things that several decades ago were thought to be wrong and ungodly by Christians are now deemed acceptable and normal. Passive, less obvious actions are just as much sin as the open and obvious ones. Then there are wrong thoughts, motives, and attitudes, that people don't see. There should be just as much hatred toward Christians viewing pornography, to name just one example, as there is toward homosexuality and abortion. 

     The local and Universal Church needs to clean up its act before judging the actions of unbelievers. Don't forget that the Church should be for the broken hearted, and for people who need healing and hope. They should be welcomed, not shunned. Gays, transgenders, abortion supporters, and other individuals and groups that are "sinners" or go against biblical and traditional values should be welcome in the local church, but at the same time shown through the gospel message of forgiveness and hope that there is a much better way. They should also be treated with equality, but not with special privileges. 

     Jesus associated himself with people thought to be the sinners of his time. The people that Jesus judged were the religious leaders. He didn't judge the Samaritan woman at the well who had had several husbands. He didn't judge the woman caught in adultery but said to the people gathered around, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."

     We are told, as Christians, to love people. We must seek to take a bold stand for righteousness, morality, and traditional values, without judging. Yes, we must, by all means, love the sinner without coming across as condoning what he or she does. This can be very difficult at times. It requires much prayer and discernment. 

     In both of the above examples of the woman at the well, and the woman caught in adultery, Jesus neither judged them nor condoned what they did. He did, however, seek to call them out of their sinful ways to a much better way of living.  We should follow the example of Jesus. 

     Jesus did not shun people and ignore their needs. He associated with them, interacted with them, and conversed with them. Jase Robertson, star of Duck Dynasty, sums it up by saying, "One of the things that helped my relationship with those we were reaching out to was that I was not afraid to go to rough places or hang out with people who were cutting up...We were looking for opportunities to share the message with people who wouldn't be caught in a church."

     We, as Christians, are to simply share the message of forgiveness, hope, and salvation. Let God do the judging.