When I speak about the Bible and actually quote the Bible (God's word), non-believers will tell me that I am being judgmental and that's not CHrist-like because only God's is to judge us. But I don't think I'm judging anyone (ever), I'm just quoting the Bible, saying how God has told us to live our lives in order to gain eternal life with Him and I express my personal opinions. But I can't judge people.
I think many people, whether believers or not, are confusing what "being judgmental" means in regards to what God means by that term verses what mankind has put on that term. Mankind has lawyers and judges in the court system. We have laws. We don't tell our judges not to judge us, that only God can do that. Earthly judging is completely different from Heavenly judging, right? Please help me express this! Thanks for your input!
2007-06-27 13:28:30 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
They don't believe the Bible to be the Word of God so they assume you are voicing your opinion, when all we are doing is telling them what God says to do or not to do. They don't believe in God so they will not believe His Word. Dust your feet off and go on to the next unbeliever. Never let an unbeliever upset you.
2007-06-27 13:40:12 · answer #1 · answered by Jeancommunicates 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
In life, when ever a story is told, there is always two sides to every story and then there is the truth... and in theory only God will know the truth, therefore only God can Judge once you get to heavens gates.
Me and you only ever hear one or both sides of the story, but we will never really know the whole truth. Therefore, when you quote from the bible, you are only applying what you think is the solution based on 'your' interpretation of the bible, even though you don't know the whole truth, and this is being judgmental. Your interpretation is only relevant to your life and others have their own interpretations of the bible. Many people choose to keep their interpretations to themselves because other believers may not agree with them on when and where they should be used. This prevents argument among Christians to a minimum.
If you want to 'voice your opinion' try this. When you express your own opinion, Firstly, put yourself in that position and without quoting the bible, describe how the situation would make you feel emotionally and physically, look at possible confusions, then talk about others you know who have been in that situation and what they did to make things better.
Judgment should be saved for after you pass away... whilst people are alive, we should only try and help people through difficult times. When someone is doing wrong, they generally have a long time to make up for what they have done. But they shouldn't feel pushed into this with threats from the bible, its got to come from the heart, then and only then is there sincerity or purity if you like.
In response to the who legal system thing. This is the only system we have to keep order on earth. Its necessary.... the judge, judges on the merits of the case..... by this I mean 'hard evidence' . They don't just give a judgement based on two stories. You can't judge unless you have all the possible evidence.... just like you can't judge without knowing the whole story. Its worth pointing out that sometimes the courts get it wrong, when new evidence is presented... this is why they have the compensation scheme. So isn't it possible that when you express your opinion on another person that you may be getting it wrong.
2007-06-27 21:34:08 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The big differences is motivation. If you cite the scripture just for it's sake or because someone askes you, then you are reading the scripture. When you are citing the scripture because you disapprove of someone then you are being judgmental. When you selectively leave parts out or miss represent it, you are wielding it as a weapon.
Also how is expressing the scripture whole cloth without adding your interpretation to what it means expressing your option? You are expressing the option of the church and translators who have chosen what is to be called scripture and what is to be called anecdotal.
Lastly when we ask a judge to "judge us" we are really asking them to judge the facts and events against a code of law. Ideally a judge would keep their personal opinion of you out of any decision they make.
2007-06-27 20:39:34 · answer #3 · answered by Kith D 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well said! You did fine, no need to "help" :)
My "Websters New World Dictionary" says "judgement means: "Justice;right" when used in the Bible...to man, judgement means "a misfortune looked on as a punishment of God"....otherwise, it means " a judging; deciding/a legal decision;order or sentence given by a judge or law court/a debt resulting from a court order/an opinion or estimate/criticism or censure/the ability to come to the opinions of things; power or comparing and deciding; understanding;good sense"
Peace be with you :)
** Jean has it right...wipe your feet on the mat and don't look back...you tried, they wouldn't listen....so be it
2007-06-27 20:34:38 · answer #4 · answered by ForeverSet 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Ok about the all gays are going to hell statement and the difference between saying I think gays are sinners is actualy no diffferent. Either way its the persons opinion. People should be allowed to express their opinions no matter what. The danger is when some one carries out a judgemental action against another person. For instance hitting that person or harrasing them repetedly after they ask them to leave them alone, or killing them or dammaging their property. This is an action carried out against this person. However bawling because some one expresses their opinion and its not favoriable to yours and trying to get hate crimes enacted against them so as to subject your will on their free speech is a form of judgement. For christians there is a way of expressing what the bible says in a form of love with out trying to bash a persons spirit. Remember Jesus did not come into the world to condemn it but to bring life. We are all sinners acording to Jesus and no ones sins are better than another persons. We are not their judges to carry out sentence on them in the end. And for the most part christians do well on that though there are some bad examples out there. For them Jesus said as you deal it out it will be given back to you unless you repent and desire ultimately chaning our actions concerning that behavior. Remember he loves you all and wants productive behavior in our lives. If God did not love us he wouldn't correct us. We don't even have to obey but it behooves us to obey becuase if we don't we are only hurting ourselves and others.
2007-06-28 13:06:58 · answer #5 · answered by Dustinthewind 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
But that's not your opinion, it's something written in an old book. That's like pointing to a sentence in a KKK manual and reading it to a person of color, saying it's your opinion (but God forbid anyone calls you judgemental).
2007-06-27 20:35:39 · answer #6 · answered by Elphaba 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you read the Lord's command about judgment in it's context, it is clear that he is condemning hypocritical judgment. There is nothing wrong with simply stating that something is immoral.
2007-06-27 23:28:06 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Telling someone where they will go after they die is judging .But if you start by saying "this is what I believe or think" then you are just saying an opinion.That's just how i see it anyway.
2007-06-27 20:35:17 · answer #8 · answered by Brandi24 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
yes, "all gays will go to hel" -judgmental since you are not god and you are not the one who will decide. So you dont know.
"i think gay people are sinners" your opinion, stupid one but your opinion anyway
2007-06-27 20:34:59 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋