JUDGING OTHERS - Judgmentalism drives more people from church than anything else - humanity, in its brokenness, seems to beset with a critical spirit - Christians need a discerning, not a critical spirit. A discerning spirit is what will preserve unity within the body of Christ - “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you. Quite a few people leave the church because they were criticized by others or feared being criticized after something happened for which they felt they would be judged.

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“Judging Others”

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Judgmentalism drives more people from church than anything else - humanity, in its brokenness, seems to beset with a critical spirit - Christians need a discerning, not a critical spirit. A discerning, not critical, spirit is what will preserve unity within the body of Christ, without sacrificing the integrity of the Christian faith 

Robert McKenney

“Judge not, that you be not judged. ² For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. ³ Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? ⁴ Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? ⁵ You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.

⁶ “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you. - Matthew 7:1-6 English Standard Version (ESV)

What drives more people from church than anything else? 

Well, my own experience tells me it’s judgmentalism. 

I’m sad to say, I’ve seen quite a few people leave the church because they were criticized by others or feared being criticized after something happened for which they felt they would be judged. 

I’m not picking on any one particular church. 

And, really, I’m not picking on just the church. 

Humanity, in its brokenness, seems to beset with a critical spirit.

Often, it is our way of feeling better about ourselves. 

John Stott said, “We have a fatal tendency to exaggerate the faults of others and minimize the gravity of our own. We have a rosy view of ourselves and a jaundiced view of others.” 

Isn’t it true that we are quick to find fault in everyone else except ourselves? 

None of this is what Jesus wants from His disciples. 

Christians need a discerning, not a critical spirit. 

A discerning, not critical, spirit is what will preserve unity within the body of Christ, without sacrificing the integrity of the Christian faith. 

As we continue our journey through the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives us three instructions for cultivating a healthy spirit within the church. 

They’re sure to fuel church growth, if not in numbers, certainly in depth.

This is a place for me to share thoughts, articles and insights that help to equip God’s people at our local church for living the Christian life and serving Christ.

https://holdfirmly.com/2015/12/02/judging-others-matthew-71-6/