Judging Others

It is not a rare occurrence that I find myself in the presence of  those who curse, and I would venture to guess that this is the case for many of us. Perhaps there is a different situation which irritates your soul such as drinking, smoking, hateful words, laziness, violence, blaspheme, perversity, lust, irrationality, idolatry, adultery, or sexual immorality. I am sure that every devout Christian hears, see's, or feels others' sins. If you claim to be a Christian and do not notice other's obvious transgressions, you may seriously want to examine your faith, for that must mean that your soul is not in the moral position it should be (or you have isolated yourself from the world in which case a psychiatrist may need to be considered).

The fact is that this world is full of sin. On a daily basis, every human see's others pierce Christ's hands with what they do. All Christians have experienced that awkward and uncomfortable moment where someone blatantly sins in front of them and they are faced with a choice: say something or remain quiet. What are we to do? Doesn't the Bible say we shouldn't rebuke others while we are imperfect beings? We say to ourselves "so if I say something, I disobey the Bible, and if I don't say something, well, my conscience is heavy but it makes life easier" and we continue to rest in our ignorance. Once, I heard a Christian youth pastor say "I always think it's funny when I'm around my non-Christian friends and one of them curses. They always look at me and say 'Oh! Sorry man! I forgot your a Christian." to what the Christian replied "Oh, no, really, don't worry about it. Your not a Christian so you don't have to follow that."

Let's take a look at the passage where Jesus talks about judging another person.

"Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgement you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. Do you not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you."
-- Matthew 7:1-6

Jesus says that we should not judge (something non-Christians and Christians alike love to mention when a believer try's to correct someone's behavior). But there is a condition under which we should not judge. Jesus says "first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye". It's that simple, don't be hypocritical in your judgement. If you curse like a sailor, don't tell others to not curse. But if you have gained control of sin in your life by the grace and mercy of God, than you are in every position to rebuke and aid others in their difficulties. Not out of hate and mockery, for that is sin, but out of love and a desire to further their experience with Christ. Jesus even says in Luke 17:3 "Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sin's, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him."However, there must be a balance in the Christian life between Judgment and forgiveness, we have a responsibility to aid those who are poor spiritually but also a responsibility to forgive those who have come to acknowledge their depravity.

Some may say we have a tough job. For we are called to rebuke and forgive those who's sins we witness. Let us not say to those who are non-Christian that it is okay for them to sin because they do not believe in Christ. Denying a belief does not make it false. I can say that the world is flat, should I therefore live as if it is? Never traveling across water, worried that I may fall off the edge? I surely will but others have the responsibility, in their greater wisdom, to tell me the truth, that I may understand life further. We Christians are in the same position, we must proclaim Christ when given any opportunity, whether it be someone cursing in front of us, or someone coming up and asking us plainly about Jesus. We are called to a life of purity, judgement, and constant fellowship.