Quick To Judge

Why are Christian so quick to judge? Why are they so quick to throw stones and condemn those who sin, fall, and make mistakes. It is almost like some Christians revel in the pain, sorrow, and humiliation of others.

We all have skeletons in the closet. We all have sinned. We all have failed. None of us is perfect. In recent days I have had the opportunity to minister to those who have fallen. They failed. They sinned and the sin became public. These broken people wept, confessed, repented, and made no excuses. The backlash they received from many in the Christian community has been shameful. SHAMEFUL. What ever happened to grace and mercy. Walking with them hurts. Walking with them has been the right thing.

Each child of God has been lavished in grace and mercy. Our sins are just as bad. Those shameful deeds committed in the secrecy of the dark shadows can be kept from public knowledge. Sometimes the truth comes out. O for grace and mercy.  We plead with God to deal with us in grace and mercy and yet demand He deal with others in justice. That is hypocrisy. Everyone needs grace and mercy.

It is painful and messy to pull up next to someone caught in sin. It is painful. My heart has grieved long and hard over people caught in trespasses and the ensuing consequences. It is awkward at times. Didn't Jesus deal with the woman caught in adultery with grace and mercy. She deserved condemnation but Jesus offered a second chance. He was not weak on sin. Before she departed He told her to sin no more. John 8:10-11 (NASB) 
¹⁰  Straightening up, Jesus said to her, "Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?"
¹¹  She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more."]

Why are people so quick to judge. I have needed grace and been bathed in that grace. Who am I  to throw the first stone in judgement. Who am I to look at people with condemnation. Who am I  to act as if I am better than they when I have needed the same amount of grace as the vilest offender. 

I think all Christians who love to spread the misery of someone caught in sin through gossip should go back and read  what Jesus said in Matthew 7. Matthew 7:1-5 (NASB) 

¹  "Do not judge so that you will not be judged.
²  "For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.
³  "Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?
⁴  "Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and behold, the log is in your own eye?
⁵  "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.

Not one person reading this has the right to sit in judgement of anyone. We have all sinned. Some of us have done a better job of hiding it. We all need grace and mercy and should treat others with that same grace and mercy. 

The day may come when we fail and everybody finds out. What a horrible thought. We will be forced to face up to the music of sin. Dressed in our humiliation, shame, and regrets we will wish for grace and mercy on that day. We will wish for true friends that will stand by our side on that day. We will wish for those who will not gossip about us behind our backs and who will not shun us to our face. 

Jesus is holy. Completely holy. He had every right to condemn the woman caught in adultery. He did not! Who do we think we are to sit in judgement of others when they fail. I will never shrink from calling sin a sin. By the grace of God I want to deal with others in the same grace I have experienced in my own life. I hope you will do the same.