5 Reasons why Church becomes judgmental – #ChurchDNA 5

[Translation: [French | Italian | Spanish]

There often seems to be a clear delimitation between who is acceptable at church and who is not. It is human nature to point fingers, and say “they are sinful so that makes them evil”.

The key to understanding Jesus’ teaching on judgement is to look at the condition of our own heart.

Here are 5 reasons why we easily judge people:

1. Appearance of right

One of the reasons for judging people is that we are married to the appearance of being right rather than making proper judgments about right and wrong. Our appearance at church looks right: we do the right things, we are polished from outside – dressed well, having good manners, quoting the Bible by heart … It become a show of what our human standards consider being right, but it ignores the heart of the believer. It leads us to a dual life.

God is far more interested in the condition of your heart than your appearance of right or what you do.

2. Un-dealt jealousy 

Criticism in church often originates in hidden jealousy between the members. This jealousy shows that we are still being controlled by our own desires (1 Corinthians 3:3).

If we fight back with people we become like them. Focusing your attention on them only gives the sin of criticism and jealousy more power.

Deep down in the hearts of those who criticize you, they long for being loved … God will expose jealous hearts and fill them with His love. His Love will not allow us to condemn or tear anyone down.

Focus on loving those that criticize you, as Jesus does.

3. Un-forgiveness

Jesus said that we are to forgive others, as we hope to be forgiven by our heavenly Father (Matthew 6:14). Those who are forgiven, forgive others.

But what about people who are unable to forgive themselves? If you do not forgive yourself of past sins, it is a form of pride. Pride blinds the need for mercy for ourselves.

Ask God to help you to NEVER again retain unforgiveness in your hearts.

4. Self-righteousness

Satan blinds people with the spirit of pride. It makes them believe when they are right on one subject, they are righteous in and of themselves.

We are quick to condemn sexually immoral people but we forget that lying is an equal sin that condemns us to hell. By condemning them, we manage to feel some sort of superiority by forgetting that we all stand by the grace of God.

5. We haven’t loved like Jesus loves

Love covers a multitude of sins. If love sees only the good in others, then love does not accuse. Jesus loves us by overlooking our sin and He insists that we do the same for others: Jesus invested His time to win one sinner, Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-9). Just by love He convicted Zakaria.

When sinners see love they see Jesus in you. Instead of telling people what’s wrong with them, witness what Jesus has done for you. [tweet this] This will give them HOPE.

But doesn’t the Bible give us the license to judge each other?

Many are quick to point out that we have to judge each other as Christians to the truth. But we do not pay attention to the full truth.

We find the answer in Romans 14: 7-9: “As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.”

Here are few things to observe in the verse.

1) Vs 3b “for God has welcomed him.” The very meaning of being a Christian is justification by faith. God has justified your brothers and sisters in Christ by faith. They stand righteous and accepted by God.

2) Vs 4a “Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls.” So this second big truth is that your brother will give an account for his life before his own Master, and it isn’t you. Judgment is coming. Better take heed to yourself.

3) In verse 4b Paul expresses his strong view of the perseverance of the saints—the disagreeing and imperfect saints— “And he will be upheld [literally: be stood (by God)], for the Lord is able to make him stand.”

God will keep us and make us stand at the last day. Jude 1:24 ESV: “Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy”.

4) “Each one to be fully convinced in his own mind” That means we can force people to believe what we believe. Instead, patiently love them until the Holy Spirit reveals His heart to them.

That also means we are to love unconditionally. We are not to condemn others or ourselves.

Are we using wisdom?

Scripture needs to be rightly related to its context. In 1 Cor 5:12 we read the following: “For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church?” This verse refers to people who have been immoral without repentance.

Remember Galatians 6:1. “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.”

Take the log out of your own eye first. In Matthew 7:5 it is written: “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.”

Use spiritual discernment. We are to use spiritual discernment – is this my assignment to correct a brother or sister in Christ? Is there more to their issues than what you see on the surface?

Are you spiritually equipped to do it?  Often, within the church, fingers are pointed at others. Have you first taken time to love them? Do you give them hope that they are still loved and accepted?

The Bible says: “If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the dark

ness and your gloom be like the noonday.” (Isaiah 58:9b-10)

This is my prayer for you today: 

May your heart be filled with the Love of God. May sinners see His light in you – His grace in you will transform them.

May God use you to draw one person to salvation this day.