Saturday, 07 January 2012
-
Judging a Christian
See Matthew 7:1-5 & 1 John 2:1-14 Note: This is written to no particular person or people. These are words to process and for yourself to consider if they reflect a need for you to change your heart. There's no need to take this as a personal or even a general criticism. It is not a criticism of any sort. It's just something to keep in mind.
It is not up us (Christians) to say who is or is not a Christian -- who is or is not going to Heaven or Hell -- no more than we can tell a tree what fruit it ought to bear.
But we can judge (reasonably) if one is a Christian by the fruit of his heart; his likeness to Christ. Just as we can tell an apple tree from an orange tree by their fruit. Do the qualities which define a Christ-follower show evidently in the character and actions of the person? If you were to examine his soul, would his spiritual DNA testify that it was truly Jesus who lived in him? If you cut open an apple, shouldn't you find apple seeds? You should certainly find seeds at all.
And is the Christian young in spirit? Is he recovering from a broken heart now made new? A young sapling may not yet bear any resemblance or show any evidence -- that is, fruit -- that it is, indeed, the sort of tree it will mature into. Even full-grown trees can become sick, too, and must be cared for, nurtured back to health. It's fruit may taste sour or bitter and not seem like it ought to be. But it is no less a fruit tree.
We may be deceived by some would-be Christians. We may falsely judge a new Christian who has not yet matured as pagan. We, ourselves, may not even know what all a Christian ought to be, or we may know and yet fail to apply love, compassion, patience and understanding.
Jesus knows who are His as a shepherd knows his sheep. Listen to the Shepherd, and let Him worry about who may enter the Heavenly Pasture. Simply continue to encourage and serve the Flock as you have been called to do, and "baa" with the same grace which God gave you towards those who wander close to the teeth of the wolves.
Discern wisely so you are in the company of fellow Christians and not led away by false believers, and then leave the Final Judgment to the Lord.Have you ever experienced the judgment of others because of a lack of fruit? When have you judged someone as being non-Christian when they were in fact Christian? What can we learn from our experiences with judging that can help us discern wisely our Christian company?
Related Posts
Post a Comment
- Back to revelife's Revelife Site!
- Note: your comment will appear in revelife's local time zone: GMT -05:00 (Eastern Standard - US, Canada)
About the Author
-
- From: Rhindon@xanga
- Name: Michael Miller
- Location: Tyler, Texas, United States
- About Me: ("Formerly" NaitoOfNarnia.Xanga.com) Aspiring... ...singer. ...author. ...programmer. ...apologist. ...husband. ...father. I am many things and hope to be many things, but the one thing that makes me ME is that I am a son of God and friend of Jesus Christ. I enjoy reading; writing; playing video games; playing silly games with children; exploring how God crafted relationships to be between men and women, parents and children, siblings, husbands and wives, and how he imbued His nature into men and women; programming; roller skating; bowling; ...many other things.
-
Premium
Stats: This Week All Time Posts: 0 2 Views: 0 2608 Comments: 0 43 View all posts by Rhindon@xanga
Comments (41)
@hollowhopes@xanga - I'm sorry that you've ran into so many ill-mannered Christians. It's never excusable, for certain. I, myself, having been a Christian for the past 25+ years, have met many of the same self-proclaimed "perfect" believers. Whether or not they have actually accepted Christ is anyone's guess, but you wouldn't quite know it from their behavior. So I can understand why you would be so put off by Christianity (or just the believers, themselves).
But, I assure you, I wasn't stoned when I wrote this blog. *chuckles* Unless I was drinking a lot of soda...but then sugar only makes me hyper, not outta my mind. (You might have to confer with my girlfriend about that one, though. LOL)
I felt this post was necessary to write because of the very fact that, as you mentioned, Christians (and non-Christians) make some very poor conclusions about other people. The Bible does say that it is right and fair to make CERTAIN judgments ABOUT people, but it is never right or permitted to judge as in to pass sentence about who is or is not going to Heaven or Hell. That sort of judgment is for Christ alone. What I wanted to encourage people to remember is that people - even, or perhaps especially Christians - are still struggling with their sinful nature. Just because we accept Christ certainly never makes one perfect or removes all problems. I could tell you stories of my own poor behavior even AS a Christian.
These are things we ought to know and be mindful of...but, alas, we do forget or become purposefully negligent to be patient and understanding with others. We need to remember to take a moment and realize there may be factors that are contributing to WHY a person behaves a certain way. Perhaps someone has deep-rooted pain that hasn't been dealt with yet, even as they have since accepted Christ. Perhaps someone has honestly misunderstood a portion of the Bible is acting in a way they THOUGHT they were right about and simply need to be gently corrected. The list of possibilities goes on.
It's for those various scenarios that I wrote this post. To help us all to remember that we do not know the whole story and that we need to be careful in HOW we come to conclusions about someone...and to be SLOW to coming to that conclusion.
As far as being hypocritical goes, it really doesn't matter...we're all hypocrites in one way or another. Christians are no different. Whatever the offense, this post is meant to help us to be aware of ourselves and how we relate to and think about others.
On a personal note, I would be glad if you wouldn't mind subbing to my page. I welcome your questions and input if you want. Perhaps I can help offer a better view of Christianity and be a better example of the sort of Christian one should expect. In either case, I'd like to invite you on over as a friend. Sound good? :)
@xhalesx - Had I been thinking that thoroughly, I would have definitely included such a point. :) You make an excellent case. It's NOT enough to just make careful judgments ABOUT others, even if our own attitude is not sinful. We need to help others in loving and careful ways. You're absolutely right.
@Pollypinks@xanga - I believe I see what you're getting at, and I think you make some good points. While what you bring up is a bit off topic from my post here, one thing we need to remember is that the Bible is just a straight-forward, cut-n-dry book. It covers a GREAT MANY facets of issues (which is why answering your cited verses would go way off track as it relates to my post).
Here's a few points to consider thought:
- Jesus did teach about Heaven AND Hell, and that we are going to find ourselves in one or the other.
- All mankind will see Jesus, and they WILL proclaim Him as Lord, because after everything else is said and done, ONLY Jesus will be left, and they won't be able to claim anything else. That doesn't mean everyone will ACCEPT Him as Lord, they just won't be able to deny it.
- Jesus didn't come to condemn, as in "that's it, game over, you all go to Hell." He did come to save the world. But it's another matter as to whether or not the world accepts the salvation offered.- Only those who are IN CHRIST will be made alive.
As for the government...it does have its place, and we shouldn't ignore how government plays into the entire religious matters at hand. I certainly, personally, don't have any easy answers (I'm no political genius here). But the Bible DOES reference a few political points and they are very important to heed.
All that said, let's just keep in mind what I offered in my original post here. Let's just be mindful of how quickly we jump to conclusions about others. That's ultimately all I wanted to offer.
@MissAngelicaMaria@xanga - I appreciate the praise for my post. :) I'm glad its message was well received.
I'm also sorry you've been such a victim. Tis not right at all. It seems to me that the religiously judgmental tend to most often forget the grace they have been shown by Jesus, and/or have a deep root of fear of judgment in light of their own skeletons. It doesn't excuse anything, for sure, but that would be my guess as to why they behave that way.
I'm glad to hear you recognize God in your life, too. :D
For my understanding about where you are in your spiritual life, have you, too, accepted Jesus?
@hollowhopes@xanga - Also, this part of what you said stands out to me:
"I don't get it. Were you stoned when you wrote this? I think almost all Christians are extremely judgmental (and infuriating), including the fact that they constantly judge each other and decide who's a 'REAL' Christian or a 'TRUE' Christian following the 'right' type of Christianity."
Would you mind elaborating on such instances? What kind of examples have you witnessed? I'd like to understand what you've noticed about Christians and such and also the doctrines you encounter that are often argued over. Perhaps I can offer some clarity. That is, if there's somethings you honestly just don't get. I'd like to be of help, if you wouldn't mind me sharing my input further.
@Rhindon@xanga - You seem like a nice enough guy but I've had one too many experiences with people to want to educate myself. I just mean that people will be Episcipalians and then once they are born-again, their born-again friends will be critical and say they weren't "REAL" Christians. My evangelical sister also said Catholics "weren't really Christians." Their whole circle is just like that. I guess I just didn't understand some of the wording of your blog, but that could've just been me. I just think people should believe what they think and leave everyone else alone about it. If it's a good enough belief people will come to it on their own.
@hollowhopes@xanga - Thank you for that benefit of the doubt. :) I appreciate it. And I, in return, appreciate your kind and thoughtful words even after your experiences. From what you explained, I totally (at least, I think it's "totally") understand your hesitations.
If this helps, let's just say that one can make a reasonable judgment if another is a Christian based on the EVIDENCE of how one lives, etc. That doesn't mean one IS a Christian, but, as the saying goes, typically "if it quacks like a duck..."
Now, on the other hand, the FINAL judgment is up to God as to whether or not one is actually a Christian. Only God truly knows absolutely. That sort of judgment is NOT for Christians (or non-Christians). We can judge (discern, estimate, etc) whether or not certain actions, lifestyles, etc are what a Christian ought to do based on the Bible and the leading of God's spirit, just as we can judge the difference between a ballet dance move from a country line dance move. But we have to understand that ballet dancers might be former country line dancers (not that either is a bad thing; I mention them only for illustrative purposes).
I hope that makes sense.
In the meantime, would it be okay if I Friended you here on Xanga? If you never want to check out my posts, that's perfectly okay. But, since I'm here on Xanga, and we've crossed paths, I wouldn't mind getting to know you a bit better. Maybe I could be of encouragement to you through your posts. :)
@Rhindon@xanga - Yep, I am open to friending, I just have had some of my blogs featured in the past and later found by classmates etc. and wanted to keep it private from people I know. But anyone can add me!
@hollowhopes@xanga - I understand. Glad to meet you. I am known as Michael...coincidentally, that's what my parents named me, too. Go figure. :)
Fundamentalists in my town refuse to participate in our ecumenical service at Thanksgiving, because they don't consider everyone there Christian. Of course everyone there isn't Christian! That's the whole point! Getting together as a community, agreeing to love one another, praying together, holding each other up in prayer, singing songs of praise together, and breaking bread together. But the evangelicals? No way. Wouldn't touch us with a ten foot pole. When my intense study of the Bible began about a decade ago, I had to abandon things I'd learned from "born again" believers. I had to look up meanings of verses in greek and hebrew, and I had to put them in the context of the cultural realm in which they were applied during the time they were written. Not only were many interpreted differently in their native tongue, but I found that we as a culture have changed many things to suit us as well. And why is the greek tongue not taught in fundamentalism? Because they would have to change the way they do things, that's why! Paul's speech at Galatia, for one example, where he admonishes the women to silence themselves. A real eye opener for me. I feel like I was hoodwinked into believing something that wasn't so, and judging others for being in churches that don't do things exactly like they do. Reformed churches are considered anathema, just for an example. And yet, we in reformed churches still accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, yet, are not considered true Christians by sign carrying fundamentalists.
@Pollypinks@xanga - It's my desire to dig deep to the root of Scripture just as you have. It's going to be mind-blowing, for sure. One thing is for sure, what those particular Christians were/are doing as you described is wrong. Unless you were doing something that was OBVIOUSLY wrong, there is no excuse for that.
@Rhindon@xanga - Yea its not right at all, as for me yes I have accepted him into my life especially these last 3 or so years which have been tough on me personally. And when I had no one to turn to well I embraced my inner religious spirit I suppose, but right now I'm sortof in a state where I'm searching for the right church for me. I was baptized catholic, but I don't consider myself a catholic and I actually don't feel...at home in a catholic church. So I'm just looking for a place where I feel like I belong :)
@MissAngelicaMaria@xanga - By chance do you live in Washington? LOL I know of a GREAT church there. *playful "shameless" plug for one of my recent blog posts*
@Rhindon@xanga - hahahaha no, unfortunately I do not. I live on the tiny island that is Puerto Rico ^_^
@MissAngelicaMaria@xanga - Wow. Even when you go to work you're on vacation. Luuuuckyyyy!
@Rhindon@xanga - hahaha I suppose the weather over here is definitely more preferable to the ones in the states right about now. I went there for 2 weeks over the holidays and caught a cold on my last days -_- so yea warm weather and sunshine beats winter any day for me lol
@MissAngelicaMaria@xanga - Which state did you go to? You should sue. LOL
And YAY for warm weather! I live in Texas yet it's in the 30s now. o.O
@Rhindon@xanga - Lol, I visited New Jersey mainly although a took a trip to CT, NY and Indiana :) it was quite the holiday.