After finishing the video, it wasn't hard for me to believe that some people have a hard time with Christians. As humans, we set stereotypes...perhaps especially after seeing a video such as the one I watched. It's no different for anything else! If a Mormon, atheist, evolutionist, homeschooler, etc. were to go on TV, we'd probably come to believe that all Mormons, atheists, evolutionists, homeschoolers etc. believe exactly what they do! But that's not true! Not all Christians believe the exact thing, nor do all Christians act the same way. I know people who judge others a lot and out loud and have often felt judged by them myself. But not everyone is like that.
Sometimes, on Pinterest, I'll run across a pin that sort of has a controversial saying...or people think it does. It's interesting to read the comments on the pins (although you have to be careful of language sometimes). Recently, I was scrolling through comments on a pin about a specific person. There were a few people commenting who claimed to be Christians yet the words which followed after that claim included curse words along with very rude and unChrist-like statements directed towards that person and also a group of people. Again, after seeing those comments, it's not hard to imagine that people have a hard time taking Christians seriously. If we're claiming one thing, and then acting another way...should we be taken seriously?
The following four verses/passages often remind me how important it is to not judge others.
"When they kept on questioning Him, He straightened up and said to them, 'Let anyone of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.'"
~John 8:7
And then comes this verse which puts it all to rest.
"As it is written: 'There is no one righteous, not even one.'" ~Romans 3:10
And in Matthew,
"For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
~Matthew 7:2
And another:
"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 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? 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."
~Matthew 7:3-5
Now, I do not claim to never cast a judgement on someone. This post is a reminder to me just as much to anyone else.
Today, I saw this quote and it inspired me to write this post:
"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."
~Gandhi
Honestly, I wouldn't be too open to someone who claimed to believe one thing and saw their actions said otherwise. Not everyone, but a lot of people know what's in the Bible. They know that the Bible says to not judge others. So when they hear or see us making a judgement, it isn't lost on them that we just went against the Word that we claim to be our life book! When they see how we are rude to others, strangers or acquaintances, they recognize that we've gone against the Lord's second greatest commandment.
"Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"
~Matthew 22:37-39
The last verse I want to share pretty much sums it all up:
"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children."
~Ephesians 5:1
Let's strive together to show the world how Jesus would act towards them. He loves them just as much He loves you and I. Let's be imitators of Christ.
In Christ's Love,
Sierra
Very good thoughts, Sierra. This encourages me all the more to be representing Christ WELL!
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