Christians, does this work?

Question

You can claim that judging people is wrong and claim that you don't do it.
You then judge someone and get called on it.
You can a) deny, deny, deny or b) ask God for forgiveness.
Either way you never really have to own up to it or take any kind of personal responsibility for your actions.

Maybe you don't believe this is true for you, personally. But most nonbelievers see Christians as being this way. That is why many people would not want to become Christians even if they COULD believe in your fairy tales. People don't like to be associated with hypocrites and liars.

probl, you're right I am guilty of judging. I never said I wasn't. According to my beliefs, it is perfectly acceptable to call a spade a spade. However, if I was a Christian, I should play by the Christian rules which include "judge not, lest ye be judged." I live by my own rules without hypocrisy. Christians should be able to do the same.

Corinna, you're right. I do not associate with hypocrites and liars. If I catch someone I know lying or being a hypocrite, I inform them. Luckily, the people I associate myself with are mature enough to hold themselves accountable for their actions. They are responsible enough to hear me out and do something about it. In exchange I ask them to do the same for me. It helps me become a better person. Making an honest mistake is one thing, but living a lie is something else. You seem to fail to understand the difference.

Answer 1

How could you accuse someone of judging unless you had also judged them guilty of judging?

Answer 2

Christians are not suppose to judge non believers that is God's job we are only suppose to judge brethren and then only when there are two or three as a witness. If you are a non believer and a Christian is passing judgment on you for your actions then that person is not a true christian. Jesus himself ate with and associated with sinners and never condemned them he loved them and hated the sin. Why would a non believer ever want to accept Christ if they see that so called Christians are mean and hateful putting them down trying to shove Jesus down their throats. I can see their point of view and if you have been treated that way I am so sorry I hope that some day you meet a true follower of Christ one that will win your heart over to Christ through love and compassion .

Answer 3

Well, not to cheapen what you're saying, but ALL people are hypocrites and liars. It's just that since Christians are supposed to be "Christ-like," our failings are more noticeable.

Everyone judges everyone else. That's part of being HUMAN.

If I judge someone, and I'm called out on it, not only do I apologize to the person I was judging, I apologize to the person who called me out on it. Then, and ONLY then, do I ask God for forgiveness. But I don't believe that should be equated to not taking personal responsibility for something. Christians believe that humbling ourselves and asking God for forgiveness IS taking responsibility.

I'm sorry that nonbelievers can't -or WON'T- understand this.

Answer 4

You have hit the nail on the head, CCC. Christians are guilty of judging and being hypocritical at times, and on behalf of all Christians, I ask for your forgiveness. I’m sure my fellow believers stand with me. We apologize for any misrepresentation of Jesus. And sincerely, we deserve nothing good from God, any more than anyone else on earth does. Hey, it all boils down to the fact that everyone sins, Christian or not.

But there is one huge difference between Christians & non-Christians that no one can deny. Christians have chosen to receive God’s grace, and non-believers have not. It’s His grace that we emphasize. Any notion of self-righteousness should not have been intended, and if anyone did, he ought to repent.

Despite the fact that we shouldn’t offend, however, unfortunately you will continue see it happen again and again. Get over it already. There will not be another “sinless Jesus” living on earth as long as you live on this same earth, because we’re all human. And when people offend you, you have a right to feel antagonistic. If you didn’t feel that, now you’d would be the super-human.

The core reason we insist on Christianity, however, is simply because we want to share the good things God is doing for us. You know, if you have something really, really, really!!! good, you want to share it with others, because it’s just TOO good of a thing to miss out on. I hope you get to experience what I’m talking about someday. It’s simply too incredibly amazingly good to near sufficiently describe in human words. You have just got to experience it yourself. Peace to you.

Answer 5

That is a very good question. There are two types of judging. One is where you take action and ostracize or otherwise punish whom you judged. The answer to that is "let he who has not sinned ...". The second is when you look at a persons actions and hear his words and decide he is not the type you want to associate with or share your society with. On this one we are told to select our friends etc. by their virtues. It happens all the time and we will make mistakes (we are human). Therefore we are encouraged to learn the bible so that we can pass this kind of judgement as fairly as can be.

Answer 6

There was this one time, about a week ago, that I posted a formal apology asking for forgiveness from one person that I had wronged on here. Not only did the question get some great feedback from some of the community members, but it also achieved the results I wanted: me and the person forgave each other. The question got deleted. I never even got a violation notice on it.
Here I was trying to practice what I preach, and someone didn't appreciate it. No, I'm not perfect, and I mess up sometimes, but when I realize it, I do try to make amends. Of course, I could have emailed her... but that is beside the point. My point was to show anyone who had witnessed my bad behavior that I was repenting before God and before them.

Answer 7

All people judge and it is wrong. It seems to me that you are guilty of it too. You are free to believe as you want. I don't care. Remember..hypocrites and liars don't have to be Christian. I try very hard never to reduce someones beliefs to words like fairy tales. Respect goes a long way toward understanding each other.

Answer 8

Ummm... so are you telling me that you do not associate with hypocrites and liars? You must be one lonely person! EVERYBODY has lied and been a hypocrite. I am not excusing this behavior because it is wrong but NOT ALL Christians act this way all the time. I admit I have caught MYSELF acting like that and yes I feel bad and I repent and apologize to the person I said it to and about...that is taking responsibility.

Answer 9

I can't answer for the majority of Christians but only for myself. When I screw up. . .I admit I screwed up and I genuinely feel bad about it, I do my best to right the wrong w/ the person involved. Then I try to learn from my screw up and grow as a person taking full responsibility for what I did while at the same time trying to turn it into a stepping stone to being a better person.

Just because I am a Christian does not put me on a level of not having to be responsible for myself or my actions.

Answer 10

No sir you are wrong. I can judge you. Once I get to talking to someone for a few minutes it becomes very clear whether they are truly in Christ or not.

Like, you, most likely are not. And are in danger of condemnation.

As for your 2nd paragraph, who are you kidding? If I judged you, for an example, to be a jerk and tell you. You will in turn judge me to be a B_____. Unless you are so holy to say, you feel that way but I think you are wonderful. Then you'd be a liar! That's a different story. So there is judging going on both sides.

So you say people can't believe in Jesus because we judge you?!?! Oh so it's my fault you reject Jesus! HUMmmm!?!

Answer 11

Judging actions or ideas is permissible. Judging someone's motives or thoughts is iffy. but no one may judge someone's ultimate fate (heaven or hell) since only God kows what will happen to an individual. The most that we are allowed to say is that certain things are sin, and that unrepentant sinners do not go to heaven.