Well, I am sad to see that this is your conclusion. But alas, this is the majority wide gate view that most churches share. “
Don't judge” me appears to be the theme in most of Christianity. I mean, would you not warn your friend and even get into a heated discussion with them so that they would not to drink and drive? Would you not shout to someone to stop and turn around because the bridge is out up ahead and there is a fog covering the bridge? Telling them what to do when they are going down the wrong path is not wrong or judgmental, but it is done out of love for their life. Would you not want to talk someone out of committing suicide? They all could say, “Don't judge me.”
Most likely, you think the wages of sin are all paid for by Jesus by having a mere belief alone on Him. You believe Christ paid it all. So you don't need to worry about sin and or warn others about sin and how it can destroy them. Jesus warned against certain sins and how it can lead to hell fire or condemnation (Matthew 5:28-30) (Matthew 6:15) (Matthew 12:32) (Matthew 25:31-46) (Mark 8:36) (Luke 9:62). In fact, loving God and loving your neighbor is a part of inheriting eternal life (Luke 10:25-28). For anyone who does not righteousness is not of God and neither he that loves his brother (1 John 3:10). The apostle Paul even listed how certain sins can cause one to not inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21) (1 Corinthians 6:9-11) (Ephesians 5:3-5) (Colossians 3:5-6).
When Jesus referred to not judging in Matthew 7:1, he was referring to hypocritical judgment (See: Matthew 7:1-5). In John 7:24, Jesus tells us that we can judge righteously. Paul says, “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove
them.” (Ephesians 5:11). What do you make of John the Baptist when he said the following?
7 “Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
9 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” (Luke 3:7-9).
If John the baptist was alive today, would you be saying to him, “
Don't judge me”?
In fact, Paul judged the Corinthians and called them infants back in 1 Corinthians 3. He said to kick out the one amongst them who was committing fornication in 1 Corinthians 5. This is just 1 letter away from the letter of the verse you are focusing on for this thread (i.e. 2 Corinthians 3).
In 2 Corinthians 3: The letter that kills is clearly in reference to the Law of Moses (the 613 laws) and not the commands that come from Jesus and His followers. For the context of the letter that kills mentioned in 2 Corinthians 3:6 is 2 Corinthians 3:7 that says,
“But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:” (2 Corinthians 3:7).
Clearly verse 7 is referring to the Law of Moses. This is not referring to the new commands given to us by Jesus. In fact, Jesus gave us new commands.
Jesus said,
“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” (John 13:34).
Problem is that most Christians today will say you can sin and still be saved on some level. They will say, “Jesus paid it all.” “Don't judge me.” That is what many of them say in popular Christianity. But Jesus said narrow is the way that leads unto life, and FEW be there that finds it. I would rather be more cautious with my own soul and take all of our Lord's words very seriously instead of to disregard them. Why? Because Acts of the Apostles 3:23 says all who will not hear that prophet (i.e. Jesus) they will be destroyed. John 12:48 essentially says that the person who does not receive His words (i.e. Jesus' words) those words will judge them on the last day. What words of Jesus can we not receive that will judge us? Matthew 5:28, Matthew 6:15, Matthew 12:37, etc.; In addition, Matthew 13:41-42 says,
“The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 13:41-42).
What is this passage saying? The Son of Man (JESUS) will send forth his angels and gather out of HIS KINGDOM all things that offend (i.e. those things that make others to sin), and them that do iniquity (those who commit sin) and they shall be cast into the furnace of fire (i.e. the Lake of Fire).
So Christians who were once saved, can be cast into the Lake of Fire because they later turn out to justify a sin and still be saved type gospel. Any believer who justifies sin is not going to make it. That is what Matthew 13:41-42. They can be in the Kingdom of our Lord and not be saved because Jesus is going to send forth His angels and gather out all those in HIS Kingdom who offend and who do iniquity and they will be cast into the furnace of fire.
Jesus warned about how certain sins can destroy our souls unless we confess and forsake them. Proverbs 28:13 basically says that the one who confesses and forsakes sin will obtain mercy.
I mean, if we are not to judge others, then what do you make of Jude 1:23 that says the following?
“And others save with fear, pulling
them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.” (Jude 1:23).
I mean, everyone judges even silently. If you believe certain sins are really wrong and unacceptable in this life, you are judging. If you believe a person must accept Jesus, and everyone else will be condemned by not accepting Jesus, you are judging. I remember one unbelieving family member one time calling me up and out of the blue in the conversation they said how can I judge a certain type of people who commit a particular sin (i.e. that is considered normal by many in the world). I did not tell him anything about this sin previously. But they knew I believed the Bible. They knew I stood behind the morals of God's Word. They knew I silently judged those who commit such sins. It is not that I want to see anyone perish. 2 Peter 3:9 says that God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. So people have to reform and change, and they cannot continue in sin. A belief alone in Jesus does not mean anything if a person does not change or repent. To tell others to repent is not wrong. The letter that kills is the Old Law and it is not just any of the New Testament Scriptures we do not like.