One of the biggest complaints about churches is that they are judgmental.  I hear many say that Christians aren’t supposed to judge.  Matthew 7:1 Jesus says we aren’t supposed to judge, but then there is Matthew 7:2 where it says that you will be judged in the way that you judge.

The thing is everyone judges.  It is a part of life.  No one is exempt.  If we don’t how are we to tell if something is wrong or right?   Everything can’t be right.  Jesus says there is only way to get into heaven.  Jesus says in Matthew 7:13-14 that people will think there are many ways to get into heaven but there is only one way.  In Matthew 7:21-23 Jesus specifically says that some who think they are Christians will be surprised to find out that they are not.  Jesus says there is a right way, and many wrong ways.

Judging is actually necessary, and Jesus says how do you approach it, is what makes the difference.

The world judges people to put them down, to make fun of them, to make themselves feel better because someone is worse off than them.  The thing is we all have faults.  None of us is perfect.  Unfortunately, some churches and people who are Christians do judge like this.  It is wrong, but God sees all, and Matthew 7:2 applies to them.  I would not want to be in their shoes before God at the end.

How should we judge? (1) We need to use God’s word when saying what is wrong and is not.  It should never just be our opinion.  In the end only God has a vote.  We better have Scripture to explain it.  We should say this is what God says, not what I say.  (2) We should then remind them that God loves them and is absolutely ready and willing to forgive them and forget their sin.  Psalm 103:12. There is hope that must be the message.

Two more steps and this where many fail.

(3) Look at them as Jesus looks at them.  See them as people who need an answer.  Don’t put them down, show them love with how you look at them.  Remember you represent Jesus, and you may be the only Jesus they ever see, so what do they see.  (4) Lastly offer to walk with them.  Be there for them.  Yes, it may be messy.  You may go I don’t want to do that.  When you think that, remember you were messy once, and Jesus came and walked through the mess with you.  It is the least you can do.

These last two make all the difference.  People want to go to heaven, and the good news is, that Jesus wants them to get there.  But there is only one way, and we need to share that with people.  People need to know what that is in a way that they can actually realize and understand and come to grips with.

People think there are many acceptable ways to get to heaven.  The thing is Jesus does not agree with that.  He is also very clear about it in the Bible.  There is only one way.   People need to know what that is so they can get to where they are going.  And when they make a wrong turn, we need to be able to tell them the right way to go in a way where they will listen. 

Love is caring for the other person no matter what.  Since only one way leads to Jesus and heaven, when we see someone headed in any other way, and we know that the end of that road is destruction (using God’s Word not our opinion), we should do all that we can to help them get back on the right road because that is what Jesus would do.

Remember Jesus loves you; I love you, and you are awesome!