God Calls Us to Love

I recently read something asking if Christians aren't supposed to judge, then what about calling people to repentance? I never looked at that as judging but more as introducing people to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It's not me judging their lifestyle or choices, but more asking them if they have heard of Jesus and then explaining what He can do for them. I got this from the woman at the well story. This story has become my favorite account; although it is short, you can get so much out of it. Jesus never judged the woman at the well or brought her sin up. Instead, the woman brought her sin up. When she did, Jesus admitted that what she said was true and then explained what He could give her. No judgment, but love and acceptance are what He showed her, and as a result, she accepted Him and told others about Him.

It's not our place to call anyone to repentance. That is God's. It's our place to share the Gospel and His love, and then God will call them to repentance in His time. God's number one commandment is to love others more than ourselves. Let's concentrate on sharing God's love and help others develop a relationship with Christ instead of pushing them away with judgement. Afterall, when we judge others for their sin, they will judge us for ours. As Christians, we are not perfect. We sin too. You won't win others by saying their sin is worse than your own.

Also, 1 Corinthians 5:12-13 states that we as believers are to judge the members of the Body of Christ, not the outsiders. God judges the outsiders (lost/unsaved). Therefore, it means we do not judge those that don't know Christ. Instead, we are responsible for setting the example of a Christ-like life and introducing Christ to them in love, not judgement.

For what business of mine is it to judge outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church?But those who are outside, God judges. Remove the evil person from among yourselves. (1 Corinthians 5:12-13 NASB)