Christians are often accused of being judgmental by speaking out against certain behaviors. In your opinion, what is the difference between healthy Christian concern and judgmentalism?
2007-07-24 16:16:49 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
A concerned Christian acts with the sincere desire to help someone. They won't sugar coat the facts; however, they don't feel the need to belittle another person.
A judgmental "Christian" wants to impress people with his/her knowledge of the Bible and his/her appearance of holiness. They want other people to fail in their quest for Jesus, because being surrounded by "bad" people only makes them look better.
2007-07-24 16:23:15 · answer #1 · answered by B 4 · 8⤊ 0⤋
Christ commands us to tell others about him and to speak the truth, no matter how difficult the message is to relay. For example, the Bible says that gay sex is an abomination. It makes me very uncomfortable to say that, but I am just relaying what the Bible says - not my words, His words. I'm merely the messenger.
When you cross over into thinking that you are better than other people because you don't commit certain sins and they do, then you are judging and just flat-out wrong. I wonder how many self-righteous people go to the buffet after church on Sunday and eat themselves into oblivion? They are morbidly obese, have high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, etc. This is just as sinful as living a homosexual lifestyle, yet they would self-righteously sit there and whisper under their breath about the gay couple sitting at the table beside them. This is WRONG, people!
If you've not sinned in the last 24 hours, then you're qualified to judge other people - that excludes 100% of the population. Every one of us is a sinner. Some of us are forgiven because we are relying on Christ's substitutional sacrifice, but we are all loved equally by our creator whether we have accepted him or not.
On the flip side, when you tell someone what the Bible says about a certain sin in their lives, and they assume they know your motives, they themselves are the ones who are being judgmental. You may not like the message, but don't ever think you know the heart of the messenger, because you really don't.
2007-07-25 00:41:12 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well, a "healthy" Christian concern is to pray for the person, not to bring the subject out verbally...
When you do so, by preaching against the behaviors, even damning the people who do them, is when it is judgemental...
Everyone judges, but not everyone talks about it...there is a big difference because if I were doing something wrong, I wouldn't mind if someone was privately praying for me, but if they come up to me and are like brian8907 you're going to Hell forever, then I would be upset.
2007-07-24 23:22:18 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
God is pretty direct in both the new and old testament. He did not intend us to be confused about what is right/ good and what is wrong/bad. Even the worst of earthly parents will let you know what they expect to some degree - even if its nothing.
So as a Christian and student of the Bible I can say for certain that some things are wrong for me as a follower of Christ. I can even go so far as to say that certain behaviors are wrong in others - our law system does it everyday.
But if I say that a person is condemned or going to hell because of something I observe - then I have crossed over to judgementalism and I am not given the right to judge another persons heart and thus their standing with God. It says in Revelations that we should be either hot or cold not lukewarm. Lukewarm is confusing to others both Christian and non-Christian - If I can't know what God expects - how can I follow him? I have to know what it means to follow him and there is most definitely a way to do that.
2007-07-24 23:31:01 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Nobody has the right to tell someone they're definitely going to end up in hell. That is flat out un-Christian behavior, because only Jesus is the judge.
Every Christian has the right to point out behavior that COULD land someone in hell.
That's not being judgmental ... it's being realistic ... and if done with sensitivity ... it's one way we show love for our neighbor.
Unfortunately, very few neighbors appreciate having their behavior criticized, by anyone, for any reason.
2007-07-24 23:32:58 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Healthy Christian concern points out the problem and lets the person choose for themselves.
Judgment is when the Christian condemns the person for being involved with the problem.
2007-07-24 23:22:02 · answer #6 · answered by Nora Explora 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
healthy concern....well, I would call it righteous judgment or as we are told, discernment. We certainly are meant to chose wise and discern that which is true.
Being too judgmental is in itself heavy handed and sometimes extremely hurtful. But not judging righteously as our Father has given us the ability to do so, is not acceptable to a Christan way of life.
2007-07-24 23:22:15 · answer #7 · answered by kickinupfunf 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A healthy christian concern would be "I've been down that road or seen someone who has and don't want to see you go thru the pain and suffering. Judgementalism Forgetting that you yourself has been there and forgetting that you are just as sinful but forgiven by the grace of God.
2007-07-24 23:23:24 · answer #8 · answered by austin 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The difference is assuming someone is wicked or hell bound for a certain belief. We don't know the names written in the book of life, so what Sally says when she is 27 that is against the will of God, she may repent from when she is 65... you just never know. Correct them, argue the faith, love them and keep the faith.
2007-07-24 23:23:17 · answer #9 · answered by L.C. 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bonzai Bobby, as usual, gave an answer that is the truth, in love. We are to judge matters in the church by way of discerning true doctrine from false. The line is drawn at taking upon one's self to assure another that they are going to hell. God Himself is the only One who is able to know the heart of a man. We are told to be a witness, but there reaches a point that if you are not received to shake the dust from your feet and move on. If that person is going to become one of the family of God, it will be the conviction brought about by the Holy Spirit. Jesus did not water down the truth gather even more to Him, but He did not linger where He was not received. It serves nobody to water down the Gospel, but we are warned about casting pearls before swine. They will turn on you. Much harm has been done to the Gospel by trying to shove meat at those who are barely able to take milk. Love will be all that is left after all other gifts have passed away, so better to err on the side of love.
Edit: Upon review, I do believe the sermonette I keyed was directed at me. I need to work on controlling my tongue.
2007-07-24 23:58:39 · answer #10 · answered by One Wing Eagle Woman 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋