Ask a Pastor Column

Q: If I disapprove of someone’s lifestyle aren’t I being judgmental?

A:  Properly responding to the sins of other people is a delicate balancing act, particularly in today’s atmosphere of hypersensitivity. While Christians are sometimes required to share the truth about sin with others, the sins we ought to be the most aware of and concerned about are our own (I Timothy 1:15)! If we are going to avoid the pitfalls of hypocrisy, condemnation and self-righteousness we must examine ourselves carefully in three areas.

First, we must have the right ethics, which we draw from the pages of Scripture. I cannot accurately diagnose another person’s heart if I cannot tell right from wrong. A twisted moral compass will misdirect me and anyone that I address about sin. Secondly, we must have hearts that are free from sin ourselves. An oft-forgotten effect of sin is that it blinds us to our own guilt while making us hypersensitive to the guilt of others. This makes hypocrisy distressingly easy for believers and unbelievers alike, and it is why Christ instructs us to take the log out of our own eye before we try to take the speck from our brother’s (Matthew 7:5). We must learn that awareness of other’s sin is a reminder to check our own hearts.

The third thing we must check ourselves for is a proper attitude towards the sinner. During His earthly ministry, Jesus had many occasions to interact with sin. While He saw all sin perfectly and addressed it frequently, His response was most often tempered by a heart of love and compassion. If we do not experience the same sorrow, pity and compassion that Christ invariably felt towards sinners, then we have a wrong attitude and must confess and repent that sin to God. While we must be on guard against the obvious sins of unrighteousness (lying, stealing, sexual sins, etc.), we must also resist the more subtle sins of self-righteousness (hypocrisy, condemnation, double-standards and pride).

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