God is your judge.

[inpeaces]

Hey there... I am new.. Basically I joined this forum just to make this post, let's start with a little background...

I am 20 years old, I was raised in an assembly of God church, I consider myself Christian but I just had a question...

I work as a server (waitress) and I work with a very kind gentleman in his late 30's who is an Orthodox Christian, I will tell you now the main thing I notice about him oppose to any other Christian I have met is that he is VERY non-judgemental, He seems to genuinely care about EVERYONE he comes in contact with, a lot of my co-works will curse and such around him and he doesn't even blink an eye, now he doesn't partake in the language and activities we talk about but it doesn't phase him and he loves us for who we are, no matter what mistakes we make.

When I started my first serving job I happened to wait on a woman I went to church with since I was a young child.. I KNOW she knew who I was, she knows me and she knows my parents, but she seemed to look down upon me and not recognize who I was, then left me a measly tip.. I waited on her several times and the same story repeats itself. I was shocked that she would treat me that way, although she'd known me she still chose to act as if I were a stranger just be cause of my job title, or maybe because she didn't feel like she was being "watched" by our pastor or fellow church members... Whatever the case may be I have seen this a lot in "Christians"

My intent is not to judge any of you, in fact that is exactly what this post is about; NOT JUDGING.. In the bible says that God is your only judge

"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? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
Matthew 7:3-5 (NIV)

This simple fact right here is why I do not go to church anymore. Do christians not realize how many people they are turning off to christianity because they judge one another so harshly, not to mention how they judge non-members of the church? You cannot gain more souls for Christ if you are judging those very souls for every move they make... I understand that there are a lot of wrong things people do that could keep them from the Kingdom, but are we not all sinners? Do we not all fall short of the glory?

 

[Mike]

inpeaces, if your intent is to swoop in for this point and be done with this board, I hope you'll reconsider. I believe if you spent some time here, you'd find it very meaningful.

First, welcome to CFnet! :waving

Here again is an example where you shouldn't let the actions of certain people determine you attitude toward a church in general, or worse yet, effect your faith walk. People will inevitably disappoint if we are expecting Christians to be Christ-like all the time. It's sad that this lady would have this attitude toward others. But within every congregation, there will be people who disappoint us. We can't look for perfection here, as we are human in our condition.

I understand your frustration, but in keeping with the title of your thread, they will have to account for how they've treated other people. I'd keep my focus on He who will NEVER disappoint me and also consider the good in people more than the bad.

 

[l'Chante]

I tend to do what you are doing at the moment. We focus on the Christians who treat us badly, yet we seem to overlook the ones who don't. In your case it is your co-worker.

Not all Christians are like this lady from your church, but we all make mistakes. I tend to judge very quickly as well. The good Lord has been very patient with me in this regard because often I will find myself thinking things like; ...and he calls himself a Christian... What should the Muslims at work think about Christians now that she has done that...? Vanity is definitely her Achilles heel...

I have spent a lot of time in prayer about this and I have to admit the Lord has helped me tremendously in this regard. Please be patient with the 'less than perfect' Christians out there. We all sin, and Jesus died for her sin the same way He died for ours. Just keep on being nice to her. She might change her attitude.

 

[Pard]

It is a mistake most people the world around make. You assume that the Christians you have at hand are a representation of the body of Christ. Don't worry, they are not. 73% of America professes Christianity, but look at the social order of the country. If we were truly 73% Christian than I doubt we would have this many social problems (abortion, divorce, ect.). Basically, I am trying to say that many people use the name Christian to define themselves, but in reality they only are Christian on Sundays between the time of say 10 and 12.

Don't make a choice for or against our Lord because of these people. Don't make a choice for or against our Lord because of any person, actually.

Now, we are not called to judge others, but we should be willing to point out the sinful nature of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

1st Corinthians 5

11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

 

[lovely]

I don't think we are ever suppose to judge people who aren't Christians. I don't know if the lady you mentioned truly had bad motives, but if she did she is not perfect...none of us are.

I think Jesus is just absolutely gracious, because He tells us that if we are not ashamed of Him, He will not be ashamed of us before His Father...He knows we will mess up in many many ways, and yet He loves even the least of us. That's amazing grace! Thankfully, He also helps us grow and become more like Him. We never know what is happening in another's heart.

As far as christians being an 'advertisment' for Christianity, they will always fall short of that calling...I should say, 'we' will always fall short of that calling. I know I am guilty of quenching the Spirit at times and dimming the Light of God in that exists in me before others, but God will not judge the lost based on the lack of faith and faithfulness of believers in this world...it will be based on them not believing in Jesus.

Jesus walked perfectly and in perfect love, and He is always faithful. If one seeks God, He will find Him.

 

[Sparkey]

The last word given to the Children of Israel prior to the coming of their King is, to me, significant. There was a period of "silence" that followed and that served to give special emphasis to the last almost as much as the emphasis given to first words, "In the beginning - GOD," found in Genesis. Now, here we are in this day thousands of years after, hopefully benefiting from hindsight. I want to point out something (two things, actually):

1. First, God will do it.
2. And second, we, the whole family of those who are in love with God, will be as calves (not full grown).

For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.

But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do [this], saith the LORD of hosts.

Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, [with] the statutes and judgments. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

Mal 4:1-6 KJV

It is good to know that we (the church) are not the primary agent of God's Plan. If it were 'up to us', the plan would surely fail. God's word shows that we will grow and grow speedily, "as calves of the stall" after the "great and dreadful day of the LORD..." Before this day comes we will hear the voice of the Friend of the Bridegroom - the Spirit of Elijah will cry and call to the hearts of the Fathers and children.

Even as the coming of our Lord was heralded by the Cry from the wilderness, "Make straight the paths" - so also, this coming day will be proceeded by the cry, "Make straight and right the hearts." Then comes the day we all look toward with hope and then come His Children, now weaned and growing like calves in the stall. He shall arise as the SUN upon that day with healing in His wings...

Truly, no man shall boast but all shall Praise Him who is faithful and will perform according as has been spoken, ages past, by His servants the prophets.

"The central observance of Rosh Hashanah is the sounding of the shofar, the ram's horn, which also represents the trumpet blast of a people's coronation of their king. The cry of the shofar is also a call to repentance; for Rosh Hashanah is also the anniversary of man's first sin and his repentance thereof, and serves as the first of the "Ten Days of Repentance" which culminate in Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement." --Rosh Hashanah in a Nutshell -- The anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve, a Day of Judgment and Coronation, the sounding of the shofar...

"May you be written and sealed for a good year." (ketiva ve-chatima tovah)