Judgmental Christians

Judgmental Christians

"Judge not, lest ye be judged", Matthew 7:1 and Luke 6:37. "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone", John 8:7. "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?", Matthew 7:3.
This is some of the most prominent scripture in the New Testament regarding judging others. Jesus Christ was very straight-forward in His words: do not judge others. This is something that is left to God. However, in my encounters with some people in Bell County and Middlesboro, this is something that is not well practiced.
Now I know that using the Bible and trying to have an opinion on religion and Christianity in Bell County is like shaking a stick in the face of a rattlesnake. Not a lot of smart people would do so as there is wide variance amongst the represented beliefs. However, I feel that it’s something that has weighed heavily on my mind.
I have had my own experiences with judgmental Christians. It’s not a pleasant event. For some reason these people feel the need to pass judgment on others "to hold them accountable" to their Christian beliefs. In one personal experience, the individual(s) that passed judgment on me revealed themselves to by hypocrites soon thereafter. In another instance during my days in school, if I did not attend First Priority meetings but claimed I was a Christian, this set a bad example to my faith. However, what no one knew was that I avoided these meetings because this "non-denominational" group was far from it. It was heavily concentrated by a particular denomination and a particular church I did not agree with. Because of the interactions I had with certain First Priority members and my lack of attendance to their meetings, for the longest time I was turned off to organized religion (except for my family’s church). These Christians, I feel, meant well in their intentions but were unaware as to how their actions affected how the church is received by non-Christians.
Bell County does not have the problem with irreligion (lack of religion) like other places in the world. However, if the actions of judgmental Christians has the ability to turn one of it’s most devout followers off to religion (but not Christianity in my case), think about what it can do to non-believers. When outsiders see how we treat each other (Christians), what incentive do they have to come to a church and receive judgment for the sinful actions other church goers might have witnessed? Why should they come to church and feel shame and guilt for past actions? This is no incentive to increase church attendance. The church should be a welcoming place where no one is judged on their deeds. Is this the case in our churches today?
I have since gotten over my feelings toward organized religion. I realize that organized religion is an essential part of being a Christian. I see accountability as being very important to remaining "clean", however I feel that accountability is best shared between people that you want (emphasis on want) to hold you accountable for your actions and should not be left to just anyone that feels the need to weigh in. I have my own accountability partners in my faith and my actions; they are my family, my close friends, and my wife. No one else. They support me in my walk with God and how I live my life as a testament to His love. They do not try to chastise me in public regarding my actions, but if I slip, they are there to lift me up (and do not use the fear of public embarrassment to keep me from slipping).
Being a Christian means loving and supporting your brothers and sisters in Christ. Not working to keep them honest out of fear of public embarrassment. We as Christians are not called to judge others, but to help others in their walk with God.
So to those Christians that passed judgment on me and turned me off to organized religion (but not to God), let me thank you for making me stronger. Thank you for changing who I am as a person so that I can love others and not pass judgment on them for their actions. Thank you for showing me that I can be a testament to God’s love by loving those who fall short rather than humiliating them. Thank you for being a good example of the type of Christian I do not want to be.
Not to pass judgment, but I’d like to close with a good Bible verse. Taken in context it refers to actually being clean and not just keeping the appearance of being clean;
"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Bling Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean", Matthew 23:25-26.