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Should we judge others?

"Judge not, and ye shall not be judged." (KJV Luke 6:37)

That's what the Bible says. It's very clear, we should not judge others in any way. We should be TOLERANT of everything and anything someone else wants to do -- as long as they are not harming others.

NOT! - That's not right. That is not what the Bible says.

So that means Christians are intolerant bigots.

NO - That also is not right.

Let's take a look at judging and tolerance.

What did Jesus mean when he said, "Judge not, and ye shall not be judged"? (KJV Luke 6:37). He said this as a part of teaching about love and forgiveness. He tells us to love everyone, including our enemies, and that we should not judge them. We should forgive them.

First, we need to note that Jesus is talking about our personal relationships with other people. Our one-to-one relationships.

Second, we need read the entire BIble, not just one verse. Note that in the above verse Jesus is talking about loving and forgiving other people. He does not say we should love what they are doing (or saying). In the Bible there is a distinction between people, and their behavior.

The Bible also tells us there are things that we are supposed to hate -- sins.

Sins are behaviours and thoughts that separate us from God.

"--your sins cut you off from God." (NLT) - Isaiah 59:2

"Don't you know that those who do wrong will have no share in the Kingdom of God? Don't fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, who are idol worshipers, adulterers, male prostitutes, homosexuals, thieves, greedy people, drunkards, abusers and swindlers--none of these will have a share in the Kingdom of God." (NLT) 1 Corinthians 6:9-10

God hates sin and so we are also to hate sin.

"There are six things the LORD hates--no, seven things he detests: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord among brothers." (NLT) Proverbs 6:16-19

As Christians we are to love the sinner, but hate the sin.

This means Christians are to be tolerant of others, but intolerant of sin. We are to love other people, and treat all other people with love, but that does not mean that we accept their sinful behavior. On the contrary, we are to detest and hate all sinful behavior and thoughts.

Judging - Page Two