Judge not, lest ye be judged...

Matthew 7:1-5
1"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you..."

Ryan Detzler, author of the very popular blog "this is reverb" asks his readers this - "what frustrates you most about Christians?" Well there is a loaded question right there. I know lots of people that have lots of reasons for being frustrated with Christians. (This includes believers of other faiths, atheists, agnostics, and other Christians alike). One of the recurring themes I noticed as I read the comments of others was "judgement" so I will start there.

This is a big area that causes me to feel embarrassed that I am a Christian as I hear this complaint from so many. I'm not perfect by any means, I try not to judge others, but I am human... what I do NOT do is judge anyone from a place that says I'm better than them BECAUSE I am Christian... "and if I am a Christian, I am the least of all". I am in no position to make others feel bad because they are not. I believe Christianity and having a personal relationship with Jesus is about showing others love, nothing less than love.

Jesus spoke of love the most, and SHOWED that love to EVERYONE. So many are turned from even exploring the faith, or chased from faith, because Christians have told them they are bad people... Where is the LOVE?!?... It is one thing to approach someone lovingly because you know of blatant sin that may separate that person from God... It is quiet another to tell them they are going to hell just because they listen to a certain style of music, or whatever... ughhh, I could go on with this soapbox but it frustrates me so much I don't even know where to start.

My other, "pet peeve" of Christians, if you will, is those that have lead perfect, sheltered Christian lives and have no understanding of those that have gone through hell on earth and back... (this behaviour stems, I feel, directly from the place of standing judgement over others)... I was not raised Christian, I do not have Christian parents... I knew about God, I was introduced to Jesus by a very loving neighbour/landlady, but I did not know the Truth... I had faith, but knew nothing, and had to downplay even that...

My life was painful, wrought with molestation, abuse, neglect and rape... but I found comfort, even then, in a God I did not know... But when those that grew up Christian look down at those of us that are "baby" Christians, from their ivory tower and act like they do not have sin because they grew up in Christian homes, with holier than thou parents... when they look down their noses at those of us with less than perfect backgrounds... when they treat us as though we are not quite "as" Christian as they are...

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?"

...then I get frustrated, hurt and yes, sometimes even angry... and if you are not Christian at all, forget it, you are completely hopeless in their eyes... No, I have to agree with Ghandi at times, “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” But, I am not perfect...

When I was a seeker
I sought both night and day
And I asked the lord to help me
And he showed me the way

Oh, go tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born

He made me a watchman, upon the city wall
And if I am a Christian
I am the least of all

Is there a time when you felt judged by a Christian? Or that you weren't as "real" a Christian because of your past? Or has there been a time when you were embarrassed to admit you are Christian... not because you wanted to deny Christ, but because of the way other Christians behaved?