Who are you to judge?

“As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. John 12:47

Jesus came to the world to save it, not to judge. So why are we judging? Who are we to judge when Jesus isn’t judging?He gave them a second chance, so shouldn’t we? If we are the body of Christ we should be representing Him, not tearing people down because of what they wear, eat, talk about, listen to, who they hang out with, ect..

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Luke 6:37

When you judge you are opening yourself up to judgement. Now I’m not saying everything that people do is ok, but who are you to judge them? Who are you to tell them what to do? You might be convicted to do something or not to do something, but that doesn’t mean they were. No I’m not perfect and neither is anyone else, so why are we expecting people to be perfect? Especially those who haven’t given their life to Christ, why would they live differently just because you think they should?

“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor. Matthew 7:4-5

Why would someone listen to your judgmental comments when your own life isn’t straight? Clean up your own life before you try to show someone else how to live theirs. By judging, not only could you send someone away from finding Christ, but you could destroy valuable friendships. So examine your own life, what do you need to change? Focus on being you instead of making someone else be the you you wish you were.

Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. James 4:11

I know my blogs are normally more uplifting but this is something that Iv’e learned that I would like to share with you.I’m not judging you by telling you that you’re judging others, I’m showing you the consiquences of judging. There is a difference between teaching and judging, unasked for advice is criticism.  Criticism is judging. If you are at a point with someone where they ask for advice from you, give it to them nicely, they want you to be honest when they ask. But remember to say it nicely in a non-judgmental way. And privately, don’t tell them what they are doing wrong in a big group of people, take them aside and tell them nicely what you have to say. They will take it better that way, and if they aren’t really someone you can talk to, it probably won’t hurt anything to let someone else talk to them. When you are judging someone, you aren’t walking in love with them.

Live long and prosper, Tori.