Sadly, even the Christian world today is often caught up in the obsession to accommodate everyone and be non-offensive. The whole "don't judge" phenomena has taken everyone by storm. I often feel as if we're being asked to become unthinking robots with no opinion other than agreement with anything and everything. Upon really examining this, though, one has to conclude that this isn't possible. We can't turn off our humanity and become robots indefinitely.
I have had fellow Christians tell me I should be ashamed of myself for calling sin what it is. I've been called "legalistic" and "judgmental" for simply agreeing with what God has already put forth in His word. I've had people tell me to take the plank out of my own eye, to stop minimizing my own sin and maximizing the sins of others. Is there a danger of these accusations being true? Of course. Always. As a Christian, I need to be watching myself, staying in the Word, listening to the Holy Spirit, and getting Christian accountability. When I'm wrong, I should promptly admit it and make it right. First Corinthians 10:12 says, let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. We need constant maintenance in our lives. I am certainly not above this. I try (though I'm not perfect) to humbly receive correction when I am wrong.
There is a flip side of this, though. When God calls me (or any believer) to say something about a sin (and believe me, we don't enjoy doing it!), and people jump on us and remind us of how imperfect we are, I am reminded of a well-known line from Shakespeare's Hamlet. "The lady doth protest too much, methinks."
When people have to go crazy against a believer who simply agrees with God, this is clearly an overreaction. Seldom am I confronting a person for their own sin (I think there are times when we're all called to that), but rather, talking about sin or impropriety in general. Things in society that affect everyone. Things that have become very public, demanding we take a stand. Things like abortion, the LGBT (etc) agenda, fornication, adultery, dishonesty, greed, selfishness. Scripture has a lot to say about every one of these, though they aren't my aim at the moment. See some of my other posts, or better yet, the Bible for more info on any of these things in relation to scripture. My point here is people's reaction to believers taking a stand--sometimes other believers' reaction to those of us who take a stand. A lot of times, those who react aren't even committing that sin or lifestyle, but just have this urge to attack anyone who makes a statement that is less than absolutely positive. They're parroting society, which is very dangerous If the world can condition Christians to just repeat their rhetoric, we're in a bad place. We are called to be a thinking people. I was in a Bible study once where a zealous young woman (about age 22, and new to the group) vehemently rebuked a wise, respected older man in the group who was sharing scripturally how Jesus was the only way to Salvation and how Muslims weren't headed for Heaven. Turns out, this young woman was a Christian herself, and when backed into a corner, she admitted the older man was right, but she just felt it was judgmental for him to say it. This is a problem.
Even supposing for a moment that I am overstepping bounds in stating something is sinful, those who feel the need to correct me should do it in love, not harshness or judgment. That's right. It is just as judgmental to criticize a fundamentalist Christian as it is to criticize anyone else. Harping on me isn't going to make me change, but loving consideration might. And that's even assuming that what I have said is sinful or out of line. Sometimes it could be, but often it isn't.
As Christians, we are called to align our beliefs and lifestyles with God's word. Second Timothy 2:15 tell us Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. A chapter and a verse later, in 3:16, we are reminded that all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and instruction in righteousness. That is our authority. I'm not making a nasty judgment against someone because I dislike them. I often like these people very much personally. Out of love for them and hopes that they will come to know Christ, I speak in agreement with the Bible. This is actually much more loving than pacifying people and agreeing with them to make them feel good. God tells us how it will end. He tells us that those who reject Jesus will be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord (Second Thessalonians 1:9). Revelation 20:15 expounds on this by saying that these unbelievers will be thrown into the lake of fire. I don't want that for anyone! I want everyone to be redeemed from this. I want all to know the joy that comes from having their sins forgiven and a right relationship with God--both now and for all eternity. That is why I speak out. It is possible for Christians to fall into sin as well, and while they will never bear the eternal consequence for it (since Jesus already did), they will lose joy in their lives, and not be able to enjoy the full fellowship with God. Psalm 32 testifies to this, when David talks about how miserable he was when he was living in a sinful situation. Believers can be made miserable by their sin, and I don't want this for anyone either. In love, as the Holy Spirit leads, I may speak up--and I hope others would do the same for me when I err. The Bible gives steps for confronting believers in sin (Matthew 18).
A lot of people say that Jesus never judged others, but simply loved. This isn't quite accurate. He knew the judgment was coming, and talked about it. Many of His parables discuss the difference between the righteous, who go on to everlasting life, and the wicked, who go to eternal punishment (Luke 13:27-28). If there weren't a judgment, we wouldn't need a Savior, and He wouldn't have come at all. He was very loving to people, but He never condoned sin. In John 8:11, He told the woman caught in adultery, "Go and sin no more." He called the Pharisees a "brood of vipers" (Matthew 12:34). When the people in the temple were taking advantage of others, Jesus vehemently turned over their tables and disrupted what they were doing. He didn't just smile and say, "I'm not here to judge." He had righteous indignation. Not quite the meek picture of Jesus a lot of people want to have. And yet He was humble and meek as well.
Some might consider John the Baptist to be a bit out of line, or over the top. But Jesus Himself approved of John's ministry. In Matthew 11:11, Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist." This would have been Jesus' chance to say, "Well, he did some good stuff, but he was too legalistic and judgmental." But He didn't say that. John had been in God's will. Maybe Christians today who speak out against sin are in God's will too, and should be supported, not silenced or labeled as judgmental by their brother and sisters in Christ who are just too uncomfortable to do the same.
Some will still argue, "Yes, but Jesus said not to judge!" They are referring to Matthew 7:1, which says, Judge not, lest you be judged. This is probably the most well-known (and misused) verse today. Even people who give no mind or credence to the Bible will quote this if anyone even remotely disagrees with them. They are taking it out of context. Jesus said this in the middle of the Sermon on the Mount. He wasn't saying we can't hold beliefs, or disagree with anyone. If He was, that would contradict the rest of scripture. The verses following explain that we need to get our own lives in order, and then we can help others with their lives. If I come down on you for something, but I'm doing the same thing, I'm going to face the same criticism (and rightfully so). I need to get it right in my life first, before I help you. That's what this passage is talking about. It isn't saying we can never confront or speak out against something. John 7:24 sheds further light on this topic when it says, Do not judge by mere appearances, but judge righteous judgment. In other words, have all the facts before you make a judgment about a person or situation. Don't assume (we all know what happens when we assume, right? HA! HA!).
Nowhere in the Bible are we told to turn off the brains God gave us. Nowhere are we told that excusing sin is compassionate. We are told to speak the truth, whether people want to hear it or not (in season or out of season Second Timothy 4:2). We are to be humble but confidant on the authority of God's word. At the end of it all, do you want to look into the face of someone who thanks you for sharing the truth with them and saving their soul, or hear the cries of someone you affirmed on earth being cast into the lake of fire? The choice is yours.
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