But what’s the logic behind judging people who don’t follow Jesus for behaving like people who don’t follow Jesus?
Why would you hold the world to the same standard you hold the church?
Before you judge a non-Christian for behaving like a non-Christian, think about this:
1. They act more consistently with their value system than you do.
It’s difficult for a non-Christian to be a hypocrite because they tend to live out what they believe.
Chances are they are better at living out their values than you or I are.
Jesus never blamed pagans for acting like pagans.
But he did speak out against religious people for acting hypocritically.
2. Your disapproval is destroying the relationship (if you even have a relationship in the first place).
Some of the most judgmental Christians have zero non-Christian friends. Is that a surprise, really?
I mean, on a human level, how many people have you made time for this week that you know disapprove of who you are and the way you live?
Exactly.
3. Judgment is a terrible evangelism strategy
People don’t line up to be judged.
If you want to keep being ineffective at reaching unchurched people, keep judging them.
4. Judging outsiders is un-Christian
Paul told us to stop judging people outside the church. Jesus said God will judge us by the same standard with which we judge others.
Paul also reminds us to drop the uppity attitude; that none of us was saved by the good we did but by grace.
So what can you do?
1. Stop judging non-Christians. Start loving them.
Very few people have been judged into life-change. Many have been loved into it.
