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Terrible advices from the bible Part 2.

Opening statement: If Christianity were a poker game, then saying 'don't judge me' would be having pocket aces (in poker) or top 5 suits (in euchre).

Alternate opening statement for those who don't play cards: The phrase 'don't judge me' is like a 24/7 get out of jail free card when caught in uncomfortable conversations about self-issues. 

I know we don't wanna admit this out loud but saying 'don't judge me' or 'stop judging me' or 'you're being too judgmental' is the ultimate trump card isn't it? 

When someone pulls this on you, there is no come back. There's nothing you can do except walk away. Unless you want to argue with Jesus. 

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven..." Luke 6:37

See. Jesus just said don't ever tell me what I can or cannot do. You can't ever call me out or confront me on anything. 

Right? 

No, not really. Not exactly what he meant. 

Jesus was referring to judgment in terms of condemnation. He was instructing us not to pass final judgment or declare people irretrievably guilty.

It's the kind of judgment that devalues others as a means of elevating ourselves. A sort of we're up here and you're down there attitude. That's what Jesus was speaking against. 

What Jesus wasn't doing was giving us a loop hole to avoid accountability. 

So, friends, can we please stop using 'do not judge' as a trump card whenever someone calls us out? 

If you don't like someone confronting sin or an issue in your life, then please say just that but don't put it on Jesus. 

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:1-2)

How do you restore a person from sin if you can't ever acknowledge that someone has sin in their life? 

You can't. 

Speaking into each others lives and having difficult situations about character flaws and shortcomings is biblical. In fact, judging each other (as used above in a context of love and gentleness) is sometimes the most loving thing we can do. 

So, next time someone calls you out, don't use the trump card. Instead, respond in humility. Look in the mirror. Pray about it. Ask a few other trusted friends if they see the same thing in you. 

If after all those things, the person who called you out was way off, then guess what? You 'win' cause you responded in humility and love. 

If they were right, well, you also 'win' cause you not only now know what everyone around you likely already knows but you have a great opportunity to grow to be more like Jesus, which is the goal.

Either way, you win. 

Unless you pull the 'stop judging me' trump card. Then you always lose.  

I usually don't pull this card but I do have a tendency to get really defensive when confronted. Something I'm getting better at. What about you? 

How do you typically respond to being called out?
Can you think of a time when you called someone out or you were called out on something? What did you learn from that experience?