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The Trouble with Judging Others
Luke 6:36-42
by Rev. Frank Schaefer

Our topic today is “judging others” so I thought I do some research on Christian books that deal with this issue. I came across a rather controversial book by Pastor Jason T. Berggren. His book is entitled “10 Things I Hate About Christianity”

The first point he makes in his book is about how judgmental Christianity is. He says: “If we must point fingers, let’s point fingers at ourselves.” [1]

In contrast, Atheist Philosopher Alaine de Botton wrote a book entitled: “Religion for Atheists” in which he points to the positives and strength of Religions. Rather than mocking religions, De Botton says agnostics and atheists should instead steal from them. Religions are packed with good ideas on how we might live. In particular, he points to how religions successfully...
a. build a sense of community
b. make relationships last,
c. go traveling (pilgrimages)
d. use art, architecture and music
e. address emotional needs. [2]

So, if even an atheist philosopher can see some good in Christianity, let’s not throw out the baby with the bathwater. Even with the judgmental attitude the church often portrays, there are redeeming qualities that give us hope.

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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[1] Berggren, Jason, 10 Things I Hate About Christianity: Working Through the Frustrations of Faith

[2] de Botton, Alaine, Religion for Atheists: A Non-Believer’s Guide to the Uses of Religion