Thou Shalt Not Judge

You have to love "Christians" who spend as much time as they can bashing Catholics. I am frequently attacked by "Christians" as not a Christian because I am Catholic.

Idolater, Worshiping those outside of God, Not following the words of Christ... it's still frustrating because no matter how many times we explain it as eloquently as we can (the difference between veneration and worship, that asking for intercessions from saints in heaven is not the same as seeking the redemption that only comes from God, the difference between a Crucifix and the Golden Calf)... they literally refuse to get it. It is almost prideful in the way they point at me and say "I'm a better Christian than  you. I refuse to even identify you as a Christian".

I again admonish them, Catholics have been around CENTURIES longer than their "Christian" religions.

In fact, before Christians identified themselves with various sects... they were called Catholics. Catholic is a term that means "Universal", so when fellow believers in Christ spoke about one another, they called themselves Catholics. (All who believe in Christ) When the first two sects of Christianity came into being during the Easter/Western Schism, The Roman Catholics were the ones who remained more true to the dogma originally set by the earlier Christians.

It was from the Roman Catholic Church that the other sects of "Christians" came into existence. So Most religious Christian sects are nothing more than born from the arm of Catholicism. They are children who deny their parents.

However, when you point this out to them, "You are prideful, the sin that caused Lucifer to fall. You act as if you're superior when we're all followers of Christ and are equal in God's eyes."

They look and reply, "Who are you to judge? Don't you know you're bible? God says "Thou shalt not judge"." (Which makes me giggle considering they just spent the better part of the interaction saying I am not a Christian because I am a Catholic and baring false witness against my beliefs.)

But it brings me to my next blog. "Judgement."

Constantly I hear, "Who are you to judge?" when one rebukes something that is a sin.

I've seen "Christians" stand up for adultery, homosexuality, the breaking of marriage vows made to God, those who would commit abortion. There are many "non-judgmental" Christians who welcome all the above. After all, we are all sinners, so who are we to judge? Even our Catholic anti-pope who sounds more protestant by the day, asks this question. "Who am I to judge?" (No offense padre, but you're the freakin' pope, as one Catholic comedian once joked.)

Then of course there's the "Where did Jesus rebuke x, y and z (usually homosexuality)? It's only mentioned in the bible in the old testament. If you were to go by those laws, you are sinning by eating shellfish. So who are you to judge when you're sinning every time you eat Shrimp on a Friday during Lent?"

When Christ came, he came as the new Covenant with God. he made some new rules, but that didn't mean he changed all of the old. Not mentioning homosexuality does not mean Jesus didn't think it was a sin. In fact, if anything, the lack of mentioning certain sins is confirmation that the view on those sins were unchanged.

When a law from the old testament was made anew with this new Covenant in Christ, Jesus brought it up and explained how it had changed. Example:

"If you follow the old laws, then obviously eating Shellfish is a sin!"

Nothing that enters one from outside can defile a person; but things that come out from within are what defile. (Mark 7:15)

When he got home away from the crowd, his disciples questioned him on the parable. He said to them "Are you likewise without understanding? Do you not realize that everything that goes into a person from outside cannot defile, since if it enters not your heart, but the stomach and passes to the latrine? But what comes out of a person is what defiles. From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile." (Mark 7:17-23)

So Christ specifically changed the rule about unclean foods. Nothing we eat can defile us because it does not enter our hearts. It's the evil that comes from within our hearts that defiles us. This was a law from the old testament that he felt was important to change under the new covenant.

Then about judgement? Look at the adulteress who was about to be stoned to death. Jesus told those who gathered, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." They all dropped their stones and left. He truly was without sin, So he could have fulfilled the old law where she'd be condemned, but he merely said to her... "Go, and sin no more." (In other words, no one is left to condemn you for your sin. Now is your chance to be redeemed. What you did IS a sin, but if you repent and stop the sin, you can find redemption rather than condemnation.)

Thou shalt not judge is often misused, especially by the "Catholics aren't Christian" Christians. They Judge judge judge Catholics... but then say "Thou shalt not judge, ever read your bible?" when it's aimed at them. Atheists also love to use the "Thou shalt not judge" argument against Christians.

Jesus reminds us several times in the bible that we are also sinners, and we should look hard within ourselves to be sure our judgement is righteous before casting it. Ours is to forgive, and show sinners the path of the righteous. Not to condemn. Condemnation of the soul is something for God alone. He is the final judge of us all.

But that does not mean, we accept sin and we do not judge it nor rebuke it.

We should love the sinner, rebuke their sin and we should pray for their redemption, we should show them the right path, just as we would hope other would pray for us, poor sinners in our own right. But that does not mean, "Who am I to judge?"

Stop Judging by appearances; but JUDGE JUSTLY (John 7:24)

Be on your guard! If your brother sins, REBUKE HIM; and if he repents, forgive him. (Luke 17:3)

Reprimand publicly those who do sin, so that the rest also will be afraid. (1 Timothy 5:20)

Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness; rather expose them. (Ephesians 5:11)

So "Thou Shalt not judge lest ye be judge" is often misused and misinterpreted. We are told that we should reflect on ourselves and our sins... But it also says we should expose evil, rebuke sin and judge justly.

Back to homosexuality... Christ never actually used the words "homosexual" or "Homosexuality". However, a lack of mentioning homosexuality should not be looked at as acceptance. Sin is still sin. Just like adultery is still considered a sin. Promiscuity, thievery, lying, taking God's name in vain. They're all still sins.

What Jesus did when he saved the adulteress from being put to death, (and this act encompasses other sins he either didn't mention, or that he mentioned but didn't make the bible, as I'm sure there are things Christ said that were not added to the good book.) is he changed the laws about the punishment for those sins, and condemnation by fellow sinners for those sins, because he came to redeem and save. But he did not say those were no longer sinful. Those sins are still sins.

Basically, it is our job to rebuke the sin, but it is God's job to decide the fate of the sinner's soul should they continue to sin.

We are to lead all sinners back to the right path, forgive them IF they are repentant and leave them to God to judge if they are not.

Because we are sinners, we must make sure we are not being hypocrites when we judge a sin. For example: If I have taken the Lord's name in vain, I should not be pointing my finger at someone else in righteous indignation for the same sin. That does not mean I should turn a blind eye to the person committing the same sin, but to confess my own shortcomings and lead the way to forgiveness if they are willing to follow. We must rebuke sin, including our own.

Do you know that the unjust will not inherit the kingdom of God?  Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor boy prostitutes, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God. that is what some of you use to be, but now you have had yourselves washed. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

Fornicators, adulterers can encompass those who are married and have affairs, or the unmarried who are promiscuous without the benefit of marriage in the eyes of God. Boy Prostitutes and Sodomites is often translated to Homosexuals in some bibles. So even the apostle Paul states these acts are still considered sins, and God will revoke their inheritance to the kingdom of heaven. (He's basically judging these sins and giving them the fair warning of God's just judgement. He's not condemning, he's rebuking and warning.)

But like any sinner, they can be redeemed through Jesus Christ if they go forth and sin no more. That means if you are a single woman, you give your body and soul to Christ until such as the time of your union blessed by God. If you are unmarried, your body remains the temple of Christ. If you have homosexual tendencies, you should sacrifice yourself unto Christ and live for him without giving to sin. Seek forgiveness if you do fall into the sin, and turn away from that sin. If you are a thief, change your life, stop stealing, stop breaking the law, and devote your life to God.

Thou shall judge... but thou shall also get your own house in order. Love, Forgiveness, redemption, that is what Christ is about. That does not mean we turn a blind eye to the evil leading God's children off the right path. We must speak out against sin, yes... judge sin. If we accept sin, if we excuse it, if we hold up our hands and say 'Who are we to judge"? then we are culpable to that sin. We can not condemn, but we must expose the evils lurking in the dark, to the light.

Love the sinner, detest the sin. Pray for the conversion of sinners so they may find redemption in Christ. I will pray for you as I hope you will pray for me, a poor sinner, that God may forgive me my trespasses and help me be a better person each and every day.

And Pray that God may grant me the patience and love to deal with the constant judgement that "Catholics aren't Christian", that I deal with daily.

Further Reading

Judgement - A Christian's perspective

Judge not - The Truth