Stop Passing Judgment

Good Morning,

Romans 14:1-13 (NIV)
Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. It is written: " 'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.' " So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way.

We are surely a judgmental folk, we Christians. I know, there are those who will argue with that and point out that they are NOT judging, because, of course, we're told in the Bible that we are not to judge. But, I would argue that there are many who, truly, are judgmental and who judge for really inconsequential reasons.

We judge this denomination or that because of the day of the week that they meet. We judge because there are some who raise their hands during worship services and claim that they are just bringing attention to themselves. We judge, also, because people DON'T raise their hands and, therefore, must not really be worshipping as we think they should. We judge the music that is used. We judge the version of the Bible that one congregations prefers over some other version that the congregation next door is using. Those are the "religious" reasons we judge folks.

What about the non religious reasons? We judge people because of the clothes they wear. We judge because of the jewelry some prefer. We judge because some have "ink" and we think that's wrong. We judge because of hair styles...or if someone chooses to have no hair! We judge people, as Paul wrote, because of what they eat...or don't eat. Oh, this list can go on...and on...and on, pretty much to include just about, well, anything at all.

Then, there's the big non religious reason to judge...That would be someone's political bent and the way they choose to vote. There are those who say that if you are of this or that political leaning or party, well, you can't really be followers of Jesus. Then there are those who say the exact opposite, that if you are a follower of Jesus then you can't believe what is said or being done by this group or that group. This, political difference, is one of the things that keeps Christians from being really and completely united at a time when being united is of such huge importance.

You see, if we wish to make a difference and be noticed by the "world" in the right way, then we must make our feelings which divide us simply go away. If we truly desire to show Jesus to the world and to have people want what it is we have, then we must show a united front...no matter our differences otherwise...that people do, truly, wish for.

Paul said, "Therefore, let us stop passing judgment on one another." Plainly put, I think. Put into practice? Not so much. But it really is what we need to do.

Love, peace, and blessings,

David