You’re Not the Judge
Are you "judgy". (Made up word there).
You may be, but then again, you may just be on the side of right and those around you do not want to hear the truth.
Recently, a post I made on FB regarding an absurd, what I guess I would call, a "poster" style (you know...one of those images with words on it) post of sorts, brought the wrath of a few of my friends. No problem really, to me, but I observed the theme of the responses.
"Who are you to judge...we are all equal in God's sight".
Well, kinda'. Certainly, we are all unclean and unable to stand before him on our own merits.
My response to this was a line by line refutation of each point with historical data from the past that demonstrated what and how Despotic leaders have done with regard to each of these statements. In other words, what life looks like under a Tyrant based on historical record in the past, say 200 years and how, under these Tyrants what life would be like for any and all of those who believe this is the correct way to think/vote.
One example was regarding “Your Brother is Gay”. I simply said, under such Despotic governments, you better damn well hope he’s not outed. In many of such regimes, he will disappear and never be heard from again. “Have you not read the Muslim belief on these matters and the practices of the Taliban regarding homosexuals?”
I've made the observation that often when someone doesn't like the truth and/or something upsets them personally, they will go on the defensive and state that we are not to judge others.
Somehow the above factual data was “judgmental” in it’s nature.
Jesus himself said "...judge not lest ye be judged...". Matthew 7:1
This is true.
This is NOT to be confused with making a statement according to fact which refutes a position on a matter that is in error.
Listing, for example, a series of rebukes or statements of fact which refute a thought process going directly against truth or historical data is not being "judgmental" in the sense of the word that Jesus himself warns against.
The position one takes whenever they don't like the truth on an issue in which they attempt to justify their wrong and/or poor choices seems always to be "don't judge".
In my view, this is nothing more than an attempt to make right their wrong way of thinking or their desire to live in sin (which is anything the Bible says is wrong). Or, at the very minimum reasoning away any need to change.
What's right or wrong? I'll tell you what's right or wrong. What the Bible says is right or wrong. End of story.
If one doesn't bend a knee to the Bible as the final authority I cannot even have a reasonable discussion with them because, as made clear in C. S. Lewis’ Mere Christianity, they are living by their own personal moral compass, which, at some point, will become inconsistent, hence negating, ultimately their thinking on moral clarity and matters of the sort.
With that said, one cannot look at historical records and instead choose to ignore them because they are inconvenient facts which support the position OPPOSITE of their selfish and perhaps even sinful desires or demands, claiming the one stating such facts is "judgmental" or "racist" or "anti-gay" in good faith intellectually.
If you need an example of such a statement that would inflame such rhetoric, I refer to one of literally hundreds across the bible which would, if my experience is true and correct, raise the ire of many who do not want to hear such matters and would then begin the accusations of the author or speaker being judgmental.
Here's something from Paul, the author of over 1/2 of the New Testament.
"Even one of their own men, a prophet from Crete, has said about them, “The people of Crete are all liars, cruel animals, and lazy gluttons.” This is true. So reprimand them sternly to make them strong in the faith. They must stop listening to Jewish myths and the commands of people who have turned away from the truth.
Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure. But nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, because their minds and consciences are corrupted. Such people claim they know God, but they deny him by the way they live. They are detestable and disobedient, worthless for doing anything good." Titus 1:12-16
By today's standard, Paul is "racist" for he comes into agreement that ALL of the people of Crete are liars. He is also "judgmental" because he calls them liars, cruel animals, and lazy gluttons.
Later he says they are detestable and disobedient, and worthless for doing anything good.
Harsh, judgmental words by the American secular/cultural standards of today.
Can you even IMAGINE if anyone even so much as THOUGHT to speak such words today in America related to ANY type of act which comes into disagreement with God's word
God help them.
Surely, they would be at risk of suffering the modern day version of being stoned to death by those who, when convenient like to remind us that "God Loves Everyone" (he does) or "We're all Equal in God's Sight" (we are)...yet, hate what God says directly in his word regarding those things they love, support, and embrace.
Yeah...those people.
Stay tuned. I have some amazing photos coming from an adventure into the Mountains yesterday. The Western Larch are in full fall color up there.
-rob out