Judged or Convicted

There is a fine line that we walk as Christians. It is the place of loving the sinner and hating the sin. It is the place of attempting to live holy but not being “holier than thou.” It is the place of being in the world but not of the world.  

Finding this balance is extremely difficult. You want to follow God and be an example for others but often times your righteous living ridicules them. On more than one occasion I have seen Christians be referred to as judgmental and hypocritical. I am sure in some areas we can be. However, as I graduated to another level of maturity I realized that whenever you attempt to live differently than others you will face ridicule and that may be in the form of being labeled "judgmental." Don’t allow people to make you feel bad for trying to live rightly or addressing something that is wrong. Judgment is a good thing. In order to act accordingly in life situations you must have good judgment. Discernment in its simplest form is the ability to determine what is the best course of action in a given situation. Having good judgment has saved me on more than one occasion. Being a good judge of character has also been helpful to me. However, you must be careful that you are judging the facts of the situation and not the person.

When you attempt to do what is right just the way you live will convict people. Typically, when you speak out about something that is wrong in their life that is often the time when they tell you that you are judgmental. I have discovered that sometimes it is just the Holy Spirit working in them. He gently convicts us when we are wrong to prompt repentance and change. In those moments it is important that you not shrink back. Tell them the truth gently.

Things to keep in mind:

Whenever you get any criticism, don’t ignore it. Go to God and ask him to reveal your heart to you regarding that area of your life. Don’t lose your fish after your bait. God called every Christian to be a fisher of men. You exist to bring glory to God and the unsaved to Christ. That should always be your first priority. (Matthew 4:19)

Stand for what is right. Don’t back down. If something is wrong and you see it happening, speak up. (1 Corinthians 16:13)

Speak the truth in Love.  Love should be the reason we do everything. Correction comes because we love a person and want to see them do better. (Ephesians 4:15)

Pray for the opportunity to address the situation. Being timely is extremely important. It can make all the difference in whether or not what is said is being received. (Ecclesiastes 3:7)

Be prepared for persecution. You would be hard pressed to find a person that was not ridiculed for their faith at some point in life. Persecution will come. Expect it. (2 Timothy 3:12)

Don’t take it personally. They are rejecting Jesus, not you. It is the conviction they feel for doing wrong that has caused them to respond in a way that deflects their issue off of them and onto you. (John 15:18)

Finally, remember that we ourselves are not perfect. God extends new mercies and grace to us every day and we have to be willing to do the same for others.