BluePhantom
Educator (of liberals)
A common criticism about Christians is their intolerance for things such as divorce, homosexuality, drinking, and...well....just about everything else. I am going to argue that scripture teaches that such condemnation and intolerance is contrary to the lessons of Jesus and Paul and are thus in contrast to Christianity.
First a word about self-righteousness and being judgmental from Paul:
"You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2 Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3 So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? 4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? 5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed." (Rom.2:1-5, NIV)
Next a word about judgement and hypocrisy from Jesus according to the gospels.
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 “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? 4 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? 5 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." (Matt. 7:1-5, NIV)
Taken together, this suggests that we have no place judging others until we are blameless. Yet according to Paul, no one is blameless.
"As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; 11 there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. 12 All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." (Rom 3:10-12, NIV) Paul is quoting Psalms 14 and 53 in this verse.
Thus since no one is blameless, none have any justification to judge. What are we commanded to do? Jesus answers that.
"28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” 29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:28-31, NIV)
So what is love? Paul chimes in.
"If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." (1 Cor. 13: 1-7, NIV)
So according to Paul and Jesus we are to treat all people with patience, kindness, compassion, tolerance, humility, forgiveness, and respect no matter their choices or lifestyle. As such, condemnation of people who have divorced, who are homosexual, who are atheist, who embrace other beliefs, etc is prohibited by scripture and is therefore, against Christian teaching. Christians should walk their own path, worry about their own sins, and let other people walk theirs.
First a word about self-righteousness and being judgmental from Paul:
"You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2 Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3 So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? 4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? 5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed." (Rom.2:1-5, NIV)
Next a word about judgement and hypocrisy from Jesus according to the gospels.
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 “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? 4 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? 5 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." (Matt. 7:1-5, NIV)
Taken together, this suggests that we have no place judging others until we are blameless. Yet according to Paul, no one is blameless.
"As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; 11 there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. 12 All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." (Rom 3:10-12, NIV) Paul is quoting Psalms 14 and 53 in this verse.
Thus since no one is blameless, none have any justification to judge. What are we commanded to do? Jesus answers that.
"28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” 29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:28-31, NIV)
So what is love? Paul chimes in.
"If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." (1 Cor. 13: 1-7, NIV)
So according to Paul and Jesus we are to treat all people with patience, kindness, compassion, tolerance, humility, forgiveness, and respect no matter their choices or lifestyle. As such, condemnation of people who have divorced, who are homosexual, who are atheist, who embrace other beliefs, etc is prohibited by scripture and is therefore, against Christian teaching. Christians should walk their own path, worry about their own sins, and let other people walk theirs.
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