It’s hard to see someone who isn’t living the way that they should be and not judge them, even subconsciously. For instance, we might see a drug addict and think, “Wow, they must not care about their life!”
However, we have no idea what circumstances put them in their situation. We don’t know if they were exposed to drugs at a young age, if they use drugs as a coping mechanism, or if they were traumatized at some point and started doing drugs, only to find that they can’t seem to stop. All we can tell from an outsider’s perspective is that they are a drug addict.
Noticing isn’t bad. Reacting terribly instead of with a helping hand, though, is. As Christians, we were not called to judge others. This isn’t to say that we should overlook sin, though. Jesus tells us in John 7:24 (NIV), “Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.”
In context, Jesus had healed a man from an illness on the Sabbath and was judged for it by the crowd. Jesus answered their judgment in the previous verse by pointing out that those people also break the Sabbath, but in a different way. John 7:23 (NIV) says, “Now if a boy can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken, why are you angry with me for healing a man’s whole body on the Sabbath?”
Instead of realizing that they too had broken the Sabbath in order to keep a law, the crowd judged Jesus for doing good in healing the whole body of an ill man. (Keep in mind that Jesus did affirm that doing good things on the Sabbath day is OK! The last bit of Matthew 12:12 (NKJV) says, “Therefore, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.)
Judging others by what we can see is not okay. We must first understand their story, and realize that they too can be saved. Now, as I said before, to avoid judgment is not to overlook sin. We are told to correct one another in loving kindness as brothers and sisters in the body of Christ. Consider these verses:
James 5:19-20 (ESV)
19 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back,
20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
Galatians 6:1 (ESV)
1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
2 Thessalonians 3:13-15 (ESV)
13 As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.
14 If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed.
15Â Do not regard him as an enemy but warn him as a brother.
Ephesians 4:32 (ESV)
32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
In gentleness, we are to rebuke one another, as well as to forgive one another in kindness. That doesn’t mean to outcast someone because of their sin. Realize that you are a sinner, too! Christ died for all of us. If we were perfect and without sin, we would not be in need of a savior!
Anyways, moving on. Realize that just as you were saved, a person you might judge can be saved. Consider this story from Luke 8:27-39 (NKJV). A man, who was filled with demons, came and cried out to Jesus. This man had been suffering for an indefinite amount of time but had been completely overtaken by his demons. In this reading, we can liken ourselves to the man and our sins to the demons.
LUKE 8:27-39 (NKJV)
27 And when He stepped out on the land, there met Him a certain man from the city who had demons for a long time. And he wore no clothes, nor did he live in a house but in the tombs.
28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me!”
29 For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had often seized him, and he was kept under guard, bound with chains and shackles; and he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the wilderness.
30 Jesus asked him, saying, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” because many demons had entered him.
31 And they begged Him that He would not command them to go out into the abyss.
32 Now a herd of many swine was feeding there on the mountain. So they begged Him that He would permit them to enter them. And He permitted them.
33 Then the demons went out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the lake and drowned.
34 When those who fed them saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country.
35 Then they went out to see what had happened, and came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid.
36 They also who had seen it told them by what means he who had been demon-possessed was healed.
37 Then the whole multitude of the surrounding region of the Gadarenes asked Him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. And He got into the boat and returned.
38 Now the man from whom the demons had departed begged Him that he might be with Him. But Jesus sent him away, saying,
39 “Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you.” And he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.
In the case that you skipped that or need a recap, Jesus had healed a man that most others steered clear from at all times because of his demons. After rebuking the man and healing him from his demons, Jesus permitted those demons to enter into the swine (pigs), who proceeded to jump off into water and drowned. The man, after becoming changed and in his right mind, wanted to go with Jesus wherever he went. Instead of letting him, Jesus instructed the man to spread the Gospel, proclaiming all that God had done for him, and so he did.
Wow, right? A man full of demons, much like us sinners, was cleansed and healed by the saving power of Jesus Christ! The man had so many demons in his life that his own judgment had been clouded (when Jesus asked, “What is your name,” it appears that the man did not answer with his own voice, but with that of a demon’s). Yet, with the healing power of Christ, the man was healed.
This is why it is important for us, as Christians, to refrain from judging other people. Fun fact: a lot of people steer clear of Christians because they think we’re judgemental! We are called to rebuke, but out of love. It’s important that people recognize their sins so that they can repent and be saved (if they’re not saved already). If they know of their sin and continue to live in it, pray for them: they may be addicted, or so full of demons that they can find no escape.
It’s important to remember that WE cannot save souls. We can lead souls to salvation by correcting one another in loving-kindness, but only Christ can save. No person can be saved unless they allow Christ into their life, and we cannot force Christ.
Warn others, but don’t condemn them. Talk to them, not behind their back. Don’t be rude when confronting them, but do so in loving-kindness if you think that they do not know that what they are doing is sin. Don’t roll your nose at people (if you’ve never heard that saying before, it basically means “Don’t act like you’re better than they are!”). Be kind. Judge, but judge righteously. Judge, but with loving kindness and gentleness.
Don’t condemn people through judgments. Rebuke and correction are different than rude judgment.
Love people. If they don’t seem to listen or are fighting with an addiction of sorts (not limited to physical substances like drugs or alcohol. An addiction can be all sorts of things, such as cursing or watching pornography), pray for them.
Life’s hard. We all know it. Help one another through, build one another up, and if you see someone slipping up, remind them of God’s promises and urge them to get back onto the right track.
God bless you.
N.B.
