Christians: Is there a tie between focusing heavily on doctrine and being judgemental?

Question

Doesn't that approach to religion set you up so as to constantly compare others and their beliefs to yourself and your beliefs, then evaluate them in light of yours? Couldn't you intentionally choose to reserve judgement and go through life more happy-go-lucky or does that scare you for some reason?

Answer 1

Only if the doctrine you're talking about is a doctrine of judgment. If you're focused heavily on a doctrine that says "God is Love," or "Care for the hungry, the poor, the needy", or "Judge not lest ye be judged" or any other similar Christian doctrine, then NO.
What is more often true is that you will come to look like the God you serve. If you believe in a God who is, ultimately, a God of Judgment, then you will become judgmental. If you really believe in a God who is Love, then you will become more and more loving.

Answer 2

No comparisons. Christians do what's right in their own judgment based on what they know from Gods word. If people feel judged by another mans actions, so be it. If you are referring to answering Yahoo Questions, well it is a forum made for debate. Most Christians have what we call joy, which is far deeper than happy-go-lucky. Being happy is fleeing. You can be happy one minute and not happy the next. Now judgment should never be used as a ploy to try to get someone to believe as we do. It won't work anyway. I don't know of an example at the moment of Jesus using it either. But you know, as well as everyone else knows, that we all go through tough times in life. Some much harder than others. That's when people look for something other than temporary happiness. I see many hurting people walking around and money or fame won't help them.

Answer 3

Hello Freespirit

Good question.

The more a Christian focuses on doctrine and acts accordingly, the more that Christain will judge righteously and fairly.

Jesus didn't tell us not to judge, He said to be careful how we judge because we will be judged the same way we've judged others and held to the same standards we hold everyone else to.

I don't compare other people to myself although I'm sure some do. I have compared other faiths with my own and I've evaluated them not in the light of mine but all of them in the light of each other equally. After thoughtful consideration I decided Jesus was the most credible.

I don't follow Jesus to be superior to anyone else, I follow Him in order to be the best that I can be. It's other peoples business if they want to make a decision for Him or against Him. I can't decide for anyone else.

I'm sure I would like if everyone agreed with me, but I know everyone won't. I will share by beliefs also. Some people see this as imposing my beliefs on others; how is having an honest, open discourse with someone "imposing"?
The listener is free to disagree.

If an atheist shares a belief with me, is that atheist "imposing" a belief on me, and comparing that belief with mine and evaluating my belief in the light of atheism?
Couldn't this argument work both ways?

Thanks

Answer 4

No, but there seems to be a tie between people not knowing when someone is being judgmental or simply answering a question, which is an opinion based on beliefs.

Answer 5

Good doctrine can also keep you from being judgmental. It really depends on the doctrine. Doctrine is merely a core belief system that sets the foundation of your faith.

Answer 6

True Christians leave the judgement up to God and try to live by example. A true Christian doesn't say I am better than you because I don't do this and that, they work on their own imperfections and sins and pray to God to help them.

Answer 7

yes; thats why there are splits in many churches and then splits in those churches. its like a pyramid.