“Each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.
Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one other.” (Romans 14:12-13 NIV)
Many people, including Christians, think they only have to
show respect for people with whom they agree. Nothing could be further from the
truth. As a believer in today’s world, there are many activities in our society
that I abhor and actions with which I clearly disagree. But I still show people
respect — even if I know their behavior is wrong. Why?
First, I remember that ultimately every individual will be
accountable to God for their own attitudes, actions, and behaviors. One day God
will settle the score. Each of us will have to give an account for our
behavior.
Second, I’m not God. The people with whom I disagree aren’t
accountable to me. They are accountable to God. It is not my job to be a
policeman, running around trying to make everyone who is not a believer act
like they are believers.
In fact, the Bible says people can’t act the way God wants
them to act until they have a relationship with him. The Bible says, “Each of
us will give an account of ourselves to God. Therefore let us stop passing
judgment on one another” (Romans 14:12-13 NIV). It isn’t judgmental to tell the
truth to people. If someone is doing something the Bible says is wrong, it’s
not being judgmental to tell that person it’s wrong. That’s just telling people
the truth. It is judgmental to take the truth and beat people over the head
with it and then enjoy it and feel morally superior because of it.
You can disagree with someone without being disagreeable.
Honestly, some of the rudest people I’ve ever met were over-zealous Christians
who are so committed to the truth that they don’t really care about people. You
can be right about an issue, but if you’re rude about it, you’re wrong. If you
aren’t speaking the truth to people in love, you’re wrong.
Jesus is watching to
see how you treat the people he died for.
Source:
Originally posted HERE
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