What does it look like to be non-judgmental: I think we got that down pretty
well actually: we accept, welcome and support all people in our church—within
reason (we would challenge some that potentially walk through out doors, but I
will elaborate on this point later). Fact is, we are not known to try to convert
those who think or believe differently from us. In fact, there are several among
us this morning who would identify as Buddhist, Jewish, and agnostics this
morning.
Of course, our evangelical brothers and sisters would challenge us: if you
don’t convert people, if you don’t oppose “false” beliefs, how are you a
Christian? How are you making disciples? Don’t we need some degree of judgment
in the process of disciple-making? The assumption being that our religion is
more helpful than other religions; or that our doctrine more accurately
describes God than other doctrines.
These are questions we should take seriously as progressive Christians. I
will reflect on these questions in the following discourse. I want to make three
important points about judging others as it applies to our progressive theology:
1. we may not challenge anybody on how they believe, but…we do make judgments
about bad policies, discrimination, inequality, and injustice. We may even
challenge people who hold to such policies, but we do not typically judge the
person. In my talks with conservatives about LGBTQ inclusion, I am always
mindful of the fact that I myself at one point thought the way they do. I may
have a different understanding now, but I have no right to judge them as a
person.
2. Our judgments are usually based on trying to tear down walls and include
those who are marginalized and suffer from social injustice. We oppose that
judgmental attitude and say: we are all God’s children and we are all welcome
and we are all entitled to the resources God so generously provided for all of
us. In a sense you could say that we are judging those who judge others. But I
think that’s one judgment that is ok to make, especially if we make it to point
out the injustice while we stand by our oppressed brothers and sisters.
3. We should follow Jesus example when it comes to living our Christianity.
Jesus’ approach was not one of teaching conversion, or judging others. Jesus
approach was one of care and compassion for the poor, the sick, the blind, and
the outcasts. He occasionally did have harsh words for the corrupt religious
leaders of his time, but you could make an argument for the fact that when he
did so, he did it to stand up for the poor and the outcast—Jesus was fighting
against social injustice in those moments.
Let me put Jesus’ message in perspective to that of John the Baptist. Jesus
started out as one of John’s disciples. And John’s message was clearly one of
judgment, one that cast fear into the hearts of people. Jesus’ message was one
of compassion and care, one that cast hope into the hears of the people.
Jesus gives his own job description as follows: Matt 11:4-6: Jesus replied, “Go
back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame
walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and good news
is preached to the poor.”
Jesus’ approach stands in contrast to John’s message: “In those days John the
Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, ‘Repent, for the
kingdom of heaven has come near.’” (Mt. 3:1-2)
The trouble with judging others is that those who do, think they are better
than others. The truth is: we aren’t! We are all human beings with flaws and
sins and if we assume to be better than others, that's pretty much the worst
sin.
Jesus is saying don't judge lest you be judged because but the exact same
measure that you measure somebody else you will be measured. So, be careful
because if you’re judging others you're actually putting yourself in a very bad
spot.
But if you have grace for others (and that's what the scripture talked about
that we read in the beginning) by the same measure that you pour on others in
terms of grace and love and compassion of forgiveness is going to be put on you.
So that puts you in a good spot if you truly do that to others. This is an
amazing principle, isn’t it?
And another trouble with judging others is that, according to the way Jesus
described God, God isn't even doing any judging. The God that Jesus proclaimed
isn't judging us. The God who Jesus proclaimed has grace for us--unending mercy,
forgiveness, love and compassion. Though God could be and would have every right
to be judgmental, God chooses to have grace for us!
So, if you are judging somebody else, you're putting yourself above God who
isn't even judging us. That's what's wrong with judging others. It's completely
wrong, it doesn’t make sense to do that as Christians. Instead, we should learn
how to see people through God's eyes and see the needs of people. We should have
compassion on them and our prayer should be” ‘God help me understand what these
people are going through and how I can help them in some way.’
The bottom line is that we are not to judge people, we are called to love
them, even our enemies, to forgive them, to help them, to love them into the
kingdom of God. Amen.
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