Why are Christians so Judgmental

[Tanaya Mays]

I quit being a Christian AGAIN. Why do Christians and religious people always have something negative to say about someone when they are trying to be good, then they talk about global history, then say be reborn again and don’t think on the past. Like sheesh what is it?

 

[Fervent]

I don't think this is an issue that is exclusive to "Christians and religious people", it's just that when we agree with judgments about "those people" that we don't personally identify with it doesn't feel judgmental even though it is.

 

[SavedByGrace3]

I quit being a Christian AGAIN. Why do Christians and religious people always have something negative to say about someone when they are trying to be good, then they talk about global history, then say be reborn again and don’t think on the past. Like sheesh what is it??

First observation.
You are saying negative things about people who are trying to be good.
Anyways.
In many cases, people are not being judgemental. They are simply making obvious observations. If I see someone run into a store, grab a rack of expensive clothes, and run out of the store with a security guard in pursuit, am I allowed to state a fact: "That guy just stole a lot of stuff!" That is not being judgmental; it is just saying what I saw happen. So when does it cross the line into being "judgmental." As with the case of the woman caught in adultery, the religious people only became judgmental when they picked up rocks to stone her. Even then, Jesus did not rebuke them for preparing to stone her... the law of Moses allowed for that! He rebuked them for judging her and preparing to stone her while they were guilty of their own sins. In other words, "let those who have no sin cast the first stone." That is what they missed. They were told not to stone people unless they were ready also to be stoned for their own sins. That would include everyone, including me, you, and everyone else.
So what is a loving person to do? If I see you heading down a foggy road that ends with you driving off a collapsed bridge, can I point that out to you as you drive by on your way to disaster? Am I being "judgmental" for acting in love and trying to save your life? "Stop, stop, stop... don't go that way.. you are going down a road that leads to your own demise!" I imagine the driver yelling back at me, "Mind your own business and stop judging me! This does not affect you, and I have the right to do what I want!" Well, yes, you do. But do not accuse me of being unloving and judgmental as you plunge to your doom. The same is true for Christians who see the path the sinner is on and try to warn them. Telling a person the danger they are in is sometimes interpreted by the hearer as "judging" them. This is an error on their part, and they are misinterpreting the intent of the Christian. In other words, they are guilty of the very thing. So what will I say to the diver who plunged off the bridge? Will he be angry at me for trying to warn him? What if I failed to warn him, and as a result, he plunged to his doom? What would he say then? He could accuse me of being unloving because I did not warn him. What if I had a friend who rebuked me as I warned the driver about the danger he was in? "Leave that driver alone... love him, accept him and the path he has chosen!" Perhaps after the driver plunged, he would ask my friend why he did not warn him. Perhaps my friend would reply, "Oh, but I loved you and accepted you and the path you were on!" Is that the truth? Did he really love him? No, he did not.

 

[Tanaya Mays]

I don't think this is an issue that is exclusive to "Christians and religious people", it's just that when we agree with judgments about "those people" that we don't personally identify with it doesn't feel judgmental even though it is.

I don’t understand what your trying to say

 

[Tanaya Mays]

First observation.
You are saying negative things about people who are trying to be good.
Anyways.
In many cases, people are not being judgemental. They are simply making obvious observations. If I see someone run into a store, grab a rack of expensive clothes, and run out of the store with a security guard in pursuit, am I allowed to state a fact: "That guy just stole a lot of stuff!" That is not being judgmental; it is just saying what I saw happen. So when does it cross the line into being "judgmental." As with the case of the woman caught in adultery, the religious people only became judgmental when they picked up rocks to stone her. Even then, Jesus did not rebuke them for preparing to stone her... the law of Moses allowed for that! He rebuked them for judging her and preparing to stone her while they were guilty of their own sins. In other words, "let those who have no sin cast the first stone." That is what they missed. They were told not to stone people unless they were ready also to be stoned for their own sins. That would include everyone, including me, you, and everyone else.
So what is a loving person to do? If I see you heading down a foggy road that ends with you driving off a collapsed bridge, can I point that out to you as you drive by on your way to disaster? Am I being "judgmental" for acting in love and trying to save your life? "Stop, stop, stop... don't go that way.. you are going down a road that leads to your own demise!" I imagine the driver yelling back at me, "Mind your own business and stop judging me! This does not affect you, and I have the right to do what I want!" Well, yes, you do. But do not accuse me of being unloving and judgmental as you plunge to your doom. The same is true for Christians who see the path the sinner is on and try to warn them. Telling a person the danger they are in is sometimes interpreted by the hearer as "judging" them. This is an error on their part, and they are misinterpreting the intent of the Christian. In other words, they are guilty of the very thing. So what will I say to the diver who plunged off the bridge? Will he be angry at me for trying to warn him? What if I failed to warn him, and as a result, he plunged to his doom? What would he say then? He could accuse me of being unloving because I did not warn him. What if I had a friend who rebuked me as I warned the driver about the danger he was in? "Leave that driver alone... love him, accept him and the path he has chosen!" Perhaps after the driver plunged, he would ask my friend why he did not warn him. Perhaps my friend would reply, "Oh, but I loved you and accepted you and the path you were on!" Is that the truth? Did he really love him? No, he did not.

Ur judgmental too. Obviously idk why I came to a religious forum to remind the religious pple they are judgmental.

 

[Fervent]

I don’t understand what your trying to say

You don't identify with Christians, or at least not those Christians so it's easy to look at what they do wrong and not see many of them are just trying to figure out how to be good. The reality is that judgmentalism is a problem for people in general, its not exclusive to the religious of any stripe. But if you're part of the group doing the judging, its easy to not see how judgmental you are being. There are just as many judgmental atheists as there are judgmental Christians, its just the things they're judgmental about are culturally reinforced so the judgmental attitudes appear righteous instead of hateful. If your faith depends on the behavior of other believers, then I wonder if you really ever were a Christian at all.

 

[SavedByGrace3]

Ur judgmental too. Obviously idk why I came to a religious forum to remind the religious pple they are judgmental.

Well... I spent the good part of an hour trying to help you understand the difference between loving people to safety and loving them to doom.
There was no judging here. You saw something that you wanted to see, that you needed to see. I am praying that you are OK.
Peace.

 

[Tanaya Mays]

First observation.
You are saying negative things about people who are trying to be good.
Anyways.
In many cases, people are not being judgemental. They are simply making obvious observations. If I see someone run into a store, grab a rack of expensive clothes, and run out of the store with a security guard in pursuit, am I allowed to state a fact: "That guy just stole a lot of stuff!" That is not being judgmental; it is just saying what I saw happen. So when does it cross the line into being "judgmental." As with the case of the woman caught in adultery, the religious people only became judgmental when they picked up rocks to stone her. Even then, Jesus did not rebuke them for preparing to stone her... the law of Moses allowed for that! He rebuked them for judging her and preparing to stone her while they were guilty of their own sins. In other words, "let those who have no sin cast the first stone." That is what they missed. They were told not to stone people unless they were ready also to be stoned for their own sins. That would include everyone, including me, you, and everyone else.
So what is a loving person to do? If I see you heading down a foggy road that ends with you driving off a collapsed bridge, can I point that out to you as you drive by on your way to disaster? Am I being "judgmental" for acting in love and trying to save your life? "Stop, stop, stop... don't go that way.. you are going down a road that leads to your own demise!" I imagine the driver yelling back at me, "Mind your own business and stop judging me! This does not affect you, and I have the right to do what I want!" Well, yes, you do. But do not accuse me of being unloving and judgmental as you plunge to your doom. The same is true for Christians who see the path the sinner is on and try to warn them. Telling a person the danger they are in is sometimes interpreted by the hearer as "judging" them. This is an error on their part, and they are misinterpreting the intent of the Christian. In other words, they are guilty of the very thing. So what will I say to the diver who plunged off the bridge? Will he be angry at me for trying to warn him? What if I failed to warn him, and as a result, he plunged to his doom? What would he say then? He could accuse me of being unloving because I did not warn him. What if I had a friend who rebuked me as I warned the driver about the danger he was in? "Leave that driver alone... love him, accept him and the path he has chosen!" Perhaps after the driver plunged, he would ask my friend why he did not warn him. Perhaps my friend would reply, "Oh, but I loved you and accepted you and the path you were on!" Is that the truth? Did he really love him? No, he did not.

Well... I spent the good part of an hour trying to help you understand the difference between loving people to safety and loving them to doom.
There was no judging here. You saw something that you wanted to see, that you needed to see. I am praying that you are OK.
Peace.

Not praying for you. So don’t pray for me. Thanks. Have a good day.

 

[Jo555]

I quit being a Christian AGAIN. Why do Christians and religious people always have something negative to say about someone when they are trying to be good, then they talk about global history, then say be reborn again and don’t think on the past. Like sheesh what is it??

Can you elaborate? I don't understand your example.

Overall i see as most people being judgemental. Most of that comes from thinking we are better than others. That is often why God allows us to go through hard stuff in life, to keep us humble for for God resists the proud.

Even Paul needed a thorn in the flesh. Being judgemental is part of the fall.

There are things we are permitted to judge, but there is only so far we are permitted to judge because none sees all the fabric of our lives but God and only He can fully judge appropriately.

 

[public hermit]

I quit being a Christian AGAIN. Why do Christians and religious people always have something negative to say about someone when they are trying to be good, then they talk about global history, then say be reborn again and don’t think on the past. Like sheesh what is it??

Not every Christian or religious person is judgmental, but I get what you are saying. There is a lot of negativity with judgmental people. Faith, of whatever kind, has to be your own. And it matters if it is rooted in your own experience. If your faith in a particular religion rests on how some in that religion act, then it will rise or fall with your perception of them. The sad fact is, lots of religious folk give their particular religion a bad name by the way that they act. My suggestion: seek God in your own heart, and if you can find God there, then it won't matter so much what other people do. If you want to follow Christ, then do that regardless of what others do. Make it your own, and no one can take it from you.

 

[Aaron112]

I quit being a Christian AGAIN.

Good. God WIlling.
-------------------------------------------------
Why did /do/ religioius leaders seek to kill Jesus and His children ?

Why do Christians and religious people always have something negative to say about someone when they are trying to be good,

 

[Tanaya Mays]

Good. God WIlling.
-------------------------------------------------
Why did /do/ religioius leaders seek to kill Jesus and His children ?

Right idk why we even here

 

[Tanaya Mays]

Not every Christian or religious person is judgmental, but I get what you are saying. There is a lot of negativity with judgmental people. Faith, of whatever kind, has to be your own. And it matters if it is rooted in your own experience. If your faith in a particular religion rests on how some in that religion act, then it will rise or fall with your perception of them. The sad fact is, lots of religious folk give their particular religion a bad name by the way that they act. My suggestion: seek God in your own heart, and if you can find God there, then it won't matter so much what other people do. If you want to follow Christ, then do that regardless of what others do. Make it your own, and no one can take it from you.

Oh I like this. Thanks

 

[FreeinChrist]

I quit being a Christian AGAIN. Why do Christians and religious people always have something negative to say about someone when they are trying to be good, then they talk about global history, then say be reborn again and don’t think on the past. Like sheesh what is it??

People will invariabily let you down.

So I try to keep my eyes on Jesus and not on the words and behaviors of Christians who disappoint or fall short of what you expect.
Don't give up on Jesus as he is not giving up on you.

 

[Paul4JC]

I quit being a Christian AGAIN. Why do Christians and religious people always have something negative to say about someone when they are trying to be good, then they talk about global history, then say be reborn again and don’t think on the past. Like sheesh what is it??

Yes, they will let you down. It is a sad reality, but that is what they do. Often we can be self-righteous 'know it all's" and not learners aka disciples.

4 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? 5 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. [Mat 7:4-5 NIV]

A friend used to say, "If I depended on Christians for my salvation, I'd probably go to hell!"

Thank God salvation is from God in Christ. Keep your eyes on Jesus.

 

[Palmfever]

We are told to judge those in the church. God judges the world.

There is a difference between judging and condemning/passing judgement.

By our own words we will be judged.

Judging is an essential aspect of human existance. We judge our fruit before we buy it.
We judge situations to determine if they are safe, or profitable.

We judge people to find if they are someone we might find commonality with or just move on.

We are always judging.
But, we don't have the authority to condemn any to hell. They can make that decision for themselves.

Scripture does not say don't judge.
It says be careful when you do because by whatever standard you are applying to then, it will be applied to you.

Mercy trumps judgment.

One must have judged before they rebuke, or correct.

"Open rebuke is better than secret love."
"Better the rebuke of a friend than the flattery/kisses of an enemy."

Think of judging as an assessment rather than a condemnation.

 

[Jo555]

We are told to judge those in the church. God judges the world.

There is a difference between judging and condemning/passing judgement.

By our own words we will be judged.

Judging is an essential aspect of human existance. We judge our fruit before we buy it.
We judge situations to determine if they are safe, or profitable.

We judge people to find if they are someone we might find commonality with or just move on.

We are always judging.
But, we don't have the authority to condemn any to hell. They can make that decision for themselves.

Scripture does not say don't judge.
It says be careful when you do because by whatever standard you are applying to then, it will be applied to you.

Mercy trumps judgment.

One must have judged before they rebuke, or correct.

"Open rebuke is better than secret love."
"Better the rebuke of a friend than the flattery/kisses of an enemy."

Think of judging as an assessment rather than a condemnation.

It really is a matter of the heart, isn't it? If we are looking down on another as if we are superior, then that is off, but we can judge certain things coming from the appropriate heart.

 

[Jo555]

It really is a matter of the heart, isn't it? If we are looking down on another as if we are superior, then that is off, but we can judge certain things coming from the appropriate heart.

I believe this is what Jesus speaks of in Matt 7.

We are first told not to judge, but then he says first cast the beam out of your own eye so you can see clearly the mote in your brother's eye and help him with that.

A beam is so, so much larger than a mote. I do believe the beam Jesus speaks of here is the condition of the heart for if we are looking at our brother and judging with the wrong heart, our offense is so much larger than theirs and doesn't let us see properly. Sure, they may have a beam too, but Jesus point was that it may just be that their offense may just be something minor, like a technicality, rather than a wrong heart and we will miss that if we are looking at them with a beam in our eye.

When i know i am dealing with anger, bitterness, ill-feelings for another in my heart i don't trust my vision. I know i must take my heart before the Lord to remove ill-feelings from it.

 

[eleos1954]

I quit being a Christian AGAIN. Why do Christians and religious people always have something negative to say about someone when they are trying to be good, then they talk about global history, then say be reborn again and don’t think on the past. Like sheesh what is it??

Many things in secular society are in conflict with biblical teachings .... as Christians we are to hold to biblical teachings .... because many do this we are seen as being judgmental ... it is the word of God that judges (supposed to be anyways)

Many of secular mindset (those dismissing God) see the hypocrisy in christianity ... and it is most certainly there .... as christians we understand that there will be and is hypocrisy within the christian faith .... even so we pursue towards the righteousness of Christ.

The Secular world expects Christians to be perfect (practice what you preach) .... Christians know they are not perfect and are in need of a savior. We do preach the Word of God even though we often stray from it ourselves and we understand that we do .... secular society don't really understand this. They do not understand the grace, mercy and forgiveness of the Lord ... whereas Christians do.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

I quit being a Christian AGAIN. Why do Christians and religious people always have something negative to say about someone when they are trying to be good, then they talk about global history, then say be reborn again and don’t think on the past. Like sheesh what is it??

Os Guinness has given a good answer as to why a number of claimed Christians are so unjustifiably harsh or superficial in their evaluations of others ... (See his book, Fit Bodies Fat Minds: Why Evangelicals Don't Think and What to Do About It)

Just remember that not all of us are harsh in our judgements and where belief in Jesus is possible, it should be based on His historical existence rather than on the behavior of Christians, even the behavior of those in the U.S., who are inconsistent in expressing love, mercy and grace.