Taking a Stand

Let me preface this post by reminding you that I am not a theologian, nor am I a professional writer. (As if you could forget either of those facts.) I just had an "ah-ha" moment yesterday that has caused me to do some critical thinking and I wanted to express it here.

This week in Bible Study, we got into a great discussion about being IN the world, but not OF it. (John 15:18-19 & John 17:15-16) During this talk, one of the ladies made an excellent point. She said that somewhere along the way, our society has equated holding certain beliefs with being judgmental. And, somewhere along the way, this has become a bad thing.

The most frequent place we see this is the debate about homosexuality. I believe that it is wrong because the Bible says it's wrong. (Leviticus 18:22, 20:13, Romans 1:26-27, & 1 Corinthians 6:9-10.) But holding that belief often means that I am labeled as casting judgment on others.

I want to clarify that this post is not meant to be about whether homosexuality is right or wrong, though I'm sure that's what a lot of readers will focus on. I think that as humans, we put sin on levels that God does not. I am a sinner and though that may not be the particular sin I engage in, I am no better or worse than someone who does. I could have chosen any number of hot topics that most Christians are considered judgmental towards, including premarital sex or abortion.

Instead, these ramblings are more to make myself and others think about why it's considered being judgmental to take a stand. And, moreover, whether Christians should care and how we should respond. At what point does believing in something turn into judgment? Is it when the conversation shifts from the sin (homosexuality) to the person practicing it (the homosexual)? Does it turn into judgment when an action is taken, such as voting against gay marriage? Or is it just being judgmental because it is not the popular opinion? Am I being judgmental when I say that adultery or stealing is bad (other things listed in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10)? Or is that simply having good morals because those things are still considered wrong by the majority?

(And on top of all that: Am I hypocritical AND judgmental because I would vote against gay marriage, but watch, and thereby support, shows that have gay characters? Hmmm...)

Is being called judgmental even a bad thing?

A common defense used by those being judged is Matthew 7:1-2, which reads: "Do not judge so that you will not be judged." Most people fail to quote the rest of Jesus' words in that passage, which are: "For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. 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? 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? 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."

In my opinion, this doesn't mean that we shouldn't judge. It means that we should be prepared to be judged ourselves and therefore take a good look at our own faults before pointing out other people's. Hmmm...about those shows I watch...

What do you think? C'mon - according to Stat Counter there are 276 "unique visitors" that read this blog. Don't worry, I don't know WHO you are, just that you're reading. SO, go ahead and comment (politely)!

I guess the bottom line for me is that it does bother me a little, but nowhere near enough to stop standing up for the Truth the Bible teaches. I'll continue to strive for the "love the sinner, hate the sin" approach. After all...

"If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you." John 17:15-16