Should religious people disclose all of their transgressions before telling someone they're going to hell?

Question

I have frequently read postings saying, "Why do atheists think Christians are perfect?" The obvious answer is that many Christians engage in judgmental self-aggrandisement.

It has occurred to me that, if Ted Haggard had disclosed his questionable behaviors, he might have been more humble when judging others. The upshot is that looking at himself before he judges others would make him more credible as a Christian. My guess is that doing so would have changed his statements profoundly.

So my question is, would it be beneficial for those who decry the behavior of others to spend several minutes disclosing their own ethical lapses first?

[And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? (Matthew 7:3).]

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Answer 1

I agree 100%, but good luck with that. My experience has been that the christers, I mean christians, are the biggest hypocrites. For example, there was this church person that ask me to borrow a nice keyboard (the piano kind, not computer) I had. Notice that I said had. I had an argument with said person about something else some time later. When I asked for my keyboard back, the b*tch said that after speaking with the pastor from church, that it was OK to not return the keyboard. That in the eyes of God it was not theft, so no need to worry. Because the pastor said it, then all the other christers supported the theft.

My point is that these christers self justify themselves, and move along judging others. The problem is that when they become very public people, those self justifications don't work. Then they get busted.

If the person that borrowed the keyboard was to become a public figure, then I could bring out the bad things I know about the person. This time the pastor would not be able to anything.

Answer 2

Actually, you have mentioned a Christian precept which gets very little attention. Matt 7:3 says, in essence what you have in this question. Before you even remotely help someone to rid themselves of a sin, you had better to make sure you are clean first. THEN you can help another. When both people are burdened with sin, then each one is a determent to the other. It uses VISION and stuff in your eyes as the point. How can YOU who has a huge thorn stuck in your eye, help this person over here who has an eyelash stuck in his/her eye? Do you not know you must first clear your own vision to be able to see to help this other person with removing something from their eye. (I have paraphrased freely). Someone has to have clear vision.

This is why Christians examine themselves daily, and acknowledge their sins, asking for forgiveness. Then they can help another person who is drowning in sin. Kinda like, I will help you get in the boat after I get into the boat, but if I try to get you in the boat while I am still in the water, we will both drown.

Answer 3

As a Christian I can not tell you that you are going to hell, I can only tell you what the Bible says and the Bible also says that, " There is none righteous no not one" and "All have sin and come short of the Glory of God" . That is the reason Jesus came in the first place. The Word of God speaks to Christians just like it does everyone else. My husband is a Pastor and he always tells the congregation that the Word has to hit him long before it hits them, however he still has to live with it and deliver it

Answer 4

We don't claim to be sin-free. That's not how someone gets into Heaven. ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. What that sin was, or how 'bad' society thinks it was, has nothing to do with how God sees it. All sin is sin. Every human being has sinned in some way or other. God said so, and He knows. Jesus said there is no such thing as a 'good' human. Only God the Father is good, He said, and did not want humans calling one another 'good.'

The fact that all have sinned means that no one gets into Heaven on his or her own merit. No one can earn it. Being good doesn't get you there. That's what the world in general doesn't understand. All have sinned and all need a Savior. The fact that I have already accepted Jesus as my Savior means that my sins are now paid for by someone other than myself, so I don't have to be sent to hell as punishment or payment for those sins. It doesn't mean I haven't committed any! (I'd be committing one right there if I said I hadn't!) One reason Christians seem to dwell on others' sins is to get these others to admit their need for a Savior and bring them to repentence. Many Christians I know do tell of the sins they've had forgiven when talking to someone about receiving this forgiveness for himself or herself -- especially when the person thinks he's done something that can't be forgiven. If I can give an example of how forgiving God is by listing some of the many sins of which I've repented and been forgiven, sometimes it helps.

Answer 5

I don't think that would be a good idea. No one would listen to probable valid teaching since no one's perfect. I'm not defending Ted. On the contrary I think it's terrible, but how we sin or don't sin makes no difference because it's what is in the eyes of God that matters. We want everyone to appear spotless before God. You do that by simply accepting Him.

We are measured by a different yardstick. Christians are measured by their acceptance of Christ's gift of eternal salvation. The rest are measured by their works. Since no one's perfect, pretty much no one can get into Heaven without accepting His gift.

It's not what you do that makes you go to Heaven or Hell. It's whether or not you have accepted Jesus' sacrifice.

Answer 6

it is very sad when a Christian, or someone who claims to be a Christian, is hypocritical. generally Christians do try to look at themselves, and if they don't, i'd seriously wonder if they were a Christian or not. personally, i try to be very careful about telling people what they should and shouldn't do if i've been struggling in that area of my life. also, Christians don't believe we're better than others, or else we shouldn't, i don't know which Christians you know. but we are supposed to love everyone and be humble. because we are Christians doens't make us more valuable, it just means that we go to heaven when we die, although that isn't through our own doing. without God we are nothing.

Answer 7

Theoretically, Christians shouldn't be telling anyone that they're going to hell. Telling someone else that they're going to hell is the same as saying "I have judged you and found that you are unworthy to go to heaven."

By that alone, the Christian has sinned against what their God has said and won't go to heaven themselves.

But what you propose would definantly make things a heck of a lot more interesting. :)

Answer 8

i'm a christian and i don't think fear is the best motivator to tell someon about my faith. i'd rather tell people about the God i love rather than tell people they'll burn in hell for eternity.

no christian is perfect since we are all human. so while some people feel called to judge people, it's actually against biblical principle to do so since we are all accountable to God and will be judged by him. we are called to love people, but not necessarily what they're doing.

judging is a pretty natural human thing to do and everyone has to admit they make their own judgements based on their own beliefs everyday. preachers just take a lot of heat for it since the world is expecting them to be perfect. so i'm not judging Ted - he'll be accountable to God for that. not to me or any of us.

Answer 9

Exactly. The worst type are the ones like Haggard who who are not practicing what they preach to other people.

I mean come on if they are going to follow a religion then they should be sincere, and not using it to pass judgment on other people to cover their own guilt.

Answer 10

I am a sinner, that is forsure, but I do try to live a life pleasing to God. I thought I was all holy because of the things I didn't do. God had to chasten me because it isn't what I do or don't do that makes me a holy person. Christ paid it all. His blood covers a multitude of sins.
When I sin I tell God I am sorry. I don't need to air my dirty laundry to the world. But if I continue in my sin it will be exposed for all to see.