Matthew 7:1 says, "Judge not, that you be not judged." That's a very powerful, if oft misquoted statement from our Savior, Jesus. Lately, I've been hearing some of the most dreadful judgments coming from Christians about other Christians, citing some Christian artists as being "occult" followers, declaring them to be lost souls who are using Christian music for enrichment rather than sending messages of hope and love. I've heard so many saints over the years say that because someone is seen hanging around a sinner they cannot be saved, or have backslidden. Really? Whom did Jesus hang around? Where was Jesus found? Whom did Christ seek out?
Because a Christian artist is seen with someone YOU may perceive to be lost, first of all that doesn't mean that person is not a Christian, secondly, we are supposed to tell the world that is lost and dying without hope about the love, the hope and salvation of Christ. How do we do that if we're not around those who need Him? Do you honestly believe sitting in a pew on Sunday morning is going to get you brownie points when you don't witness to a single lost soul about the hope and love Christ has for them? Seriously?
Why are we, The Church of the Living God, allowing ourselves to wallow in our fleshly desires to tear people down? That's our humanity creeping in and taking control, and it allows the enemy to get in and make us think badly of everyone, not just one or two! I fight that battle daily, myself, but I have learned that I am to leave the judging to Christ and all I'm supposed to be doing is loving people, helping people and telling every single person I encounter that Jesus loves them so much He laid down His very life to save their immortal souls from eternal damnation! That's my only purpose on this planet! To help others and show the love of Jesus to everyone! Not just those I assume to be saved, but to every single person I come into contact with!
Why do we qualify our help to others by asking if they're saved? Or demand that they attend services at a service of our choosing before we help them? I don't recall a single person that Jesus asked if they would do anything for Him, afterwards, before He saved them, healed them or raised them from the dead! I know for certain He didn't ask me any qualifying questions: He merely asked if I wanted His love, His help and His salvation! I said yes, and everything I've done since that day is not to qualify myself or to earn what He gave me so freely; it's so that others can have the same hope, the same joy and the same salvation that I enjoy! My responsibility ends when I tell them about Him; their relationship with Him from that point on is not my focus; yes, I will help and encourage them, but I will not micromanage their behaviors because that's not my job! That's Holy Spirit's job and I am definitely not qualified to handle His responsibilities!
Let's all stop searching for every little fault in someone else's life and look at our own more closely; let's encourage and strengthen one another rather than tear one another apart and criticize what we don't understand! Let's live for Jesus and encourage those who don't know Him to find His love, His mercy, His grace and His salvation the same as we have. This world is dying and we're not doing enough to save them! Let's look inward rather than outward and just do what He commanded us: feed the hungry, give shelter to the homeless, give drink to the thirsty, visit the sick and dying and imprisoned and tell every single person we meet that Jesus does, indeed, love them and wants to spread His mercy, grace, love and salvation over their entire lives! When we do those things to the least, we do it unto our King and Savior!
