[Podcast] Judgementalism

judgementalism

It is more important now than ever that the church stand for the truth. In our standing, though, it is very easy to move into judgementalism. It can be a hard line to walk.  What is the difference between standing for truth, and being judgmental?

Lifegroup discussion questions after the jump.

When I was a youth pastor, I had a close friend named Marty, who always had permission to speak truth into my life.  I knew Marty loved me, and that he wanted the absolute best for me. He knew my successes and my failures.  He would encourage and support me.  He would also challenge and rebuke me.  His words would often stretch me, push me, and sometimes even hurt a little… But Marty always spoke the truth in love, and I was a better person as a result.

The tongue can bring death or life
-Proverbs 18:21

Marty could tell me “you are wrong in what you’re doing,” and though it might have hurt, I would listen. I would usually change my behavior as a result. Later, I would be thankful.  But this isn’t because Marty’s words were somehow magical… Imagine if Marty walked up to an unknown transgender person at his favorite restaurant and said “you are wrong in what you’re doing.”  He could use the exact same words with this stranger as he did with me, but he would probably get a different result, right?  What do you think that result would be?

What is the one key context that that makes the difference?

The key difference is a relationship.  Marty was there for me in thick and thin. He had my back.  He was a friend that helped in time of need. How does the relationship make the difference?

And within the context of our relationships, what should our language be like?

Gentle words are a tree of life
-Proverbs 15:4

Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing.
-Proverbs 12:18

A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.
-Luke 6:45

If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.
-James 1:26

On Sunday, I talked about the difference between the “crossed-armed” and the “open-handed..” Have you ever noticed how it is a lot easier to be “crossed-arm” when you don’t actually know any of the people you are “crossed-arm” about?  AND, knowing someone makes it harder and harder to keep your arms crossed?

how does our posture effect our ability to express the gospel?

Maybe this issue would feel a lot less “us vs them” if we could get out of our religious boxes, step into our community, and love our neighbors? Have we become “so heavenly minded, that we are little earthly good?”

If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.
-1 Corinthians 13:1-3