"Don't Judge"

As a follower of Christ the phrase "don't judge" is beginning to make me angry. I understand it's concept and when used appropriately it serves a very great purpose - HOWEVER it has been used A LOT lately and always it seems against Christ followers.

(Which in and of itself is strange because they are judging "us" for judging "others" so their argument therefore holds little validity in my opinion)

Don't get me wrong - I know why we get that phrase jammed down our throats - it's because through their eyes "we" don't practice what we preach. We are too quick to judge others and point fingers at their sin which is sometimes true in many situations - sad, but true! I'm guilty of it myself from time to time, it is a human struggle that I pray about often.

Recent events of sin-struggles amongst fellow believers has sparked a passion in me to always side with the truth of God's word - Always! HE is my constant, my hiding place, my security, my hope, my comfort and my peace - everything else in comparison is empty. TRUTH always wins - and He is truth - so I'm on the winning team. SIGH - OF - RELIEF!!! I honestly don't know how anyone can go throughout this life without Him.

If you must know, I WILL go to a place that is very uncomfortable for some to discuss- ok many! I think it needs to be discussed, I think we need to respond to those who point fingers at us and say (no scream) "DON'T JUDGE!!!!"

The idea of homosexuality - I said it! And no I'm not a homophobic bigot. I'm not! The homosexual community is in the forefront of social media and gets a lot of press. Even though it remains a very uncommon occurrence among us, it is forced into our living rooms, our relationships and our minds. It's widely accepted as "normal".

SO - the church is now one of the only places that homosexuals haven't "infiltrated" yet. They are still not accepted in the church - or so they say. Now, I can't speak for any other church than my own but I know ( because my dad is the pastor of my church) that if a homosexual were to enter into our church they would be welcomed with open arms. HOWEVER, if they were to come into our church hand in hand with their significant other and expect to be accepted and worship like anyone else then they would be escorted out immediately. Would you call that judging? NO - and I'll tell you why!

The church is a place for sinners to come and heal from their struggles and downfalls. It is not a place to exploit their sin, practice their sin or pretend that their "sin" is o.k.


Think of it this way: If my dad were to see an alcoholic enter the church on a Sunday morning, open bottle of alcohol in hand, sit in the service and proceed to get even more wasted during church - they would be escorted out. If a drug dealer were to enter our church on a Sunday morning, bag of marijuana in his pocket, smoking pot during church - they would be escorted out. If a person addicted to pornography were to bring their Playboy or Playgirl magazines into church and proceed to look at the pictures during the service they would be escorted out. If a person struggling with bad language and abuse were to come into church on Sunday and proceed to cuss and beat on his wife during the service they would be escorted out.

I hope you understand what I mean! The church is not a place to expose or practice your sin - and as a follower of Christ I believe that homosexuality is a sin - a sin that Christ can heal them from.

The fact that I believe it to be a sin can cause some to draw a quick intake of breath and say, "that is why I'm not a Christian! Because they are not accepting of other people's lifestyle choices."

And to them all I can say is, "I am accepting of everyone, and know that I am a sinner myself, but I do not and will not accept their sin as something that it is not." I'm not going to slip it under the rug and pretend that it's o.k. - when the Bible clearly states that it's not. So, I will love them, pray for them and try to teach them the truth.