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Is streaking the 11th Commandment?
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 By
Upcast | Published
07 Nov 2007 | life
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hmm if God wrote a 11th commandment into the bible I’d think it would be “Thou shalt not be judgmental”. Get to know the person before you consider their flaws.
I was reminded tonight of the first person that told me I was too judgmental and closed minded. Her name was Autumn and she challenged me and helped me start my journey of changing the person I was to who I’ve become.
Yesterday I made a comment to paul about Matt from Relient K smoking and paul replied Jokingly “Gosh don’t be so judgemental Jesiah!” and even know I was kidding around it still reminded me how back in the day I would have looked down upon someone who smoked or cursed regulary but now those people are people that I’d like to be a friend too. I try to not judge someone before I get to know them past their flaws.
I still have a hard time dealing with this issue but atleast I know to make the effort.
If someone is tattooed up from head to toe.. they’re a person with ink in their skin.
If someone curses a lot… they’re a person that probably grew up around people that cursed.
If someone drinks a lot… they’re a person that shouldn’t drive haha
If someone smokes a lot… they’re a person who probably wants to stop eventually.
If someone streaks at a football game… they’re probably the same person that drinks a lot.
But one thing that I've realized is that they are all people that are the same as you and myself… sinners and strangers.
You have to be accepting but more so respectful to the things that other people do and believe to a certain extent to gain their respect for the things you do and believe.
I'm also going to add it may be best to not get a tattoo or smoke in some peoples eyes but a sin is a sin and we are all sinners. Unless we preach a gospel of love and forgiveness with open arms... there will be many people unaffected by our "Safe Gospel". I should know pretty well growing up in a sheltered christian lifestyle and then being thrown out into the world and a totally different culture.
We need to be judgmental for the sake of accountability to our friends and family.
Matthew chapter 7 is a great place to reflect on and consider the people that you’ve critisized.
Today I would probably be ready to be a better friend to Autumn and I’m sure many other people over my past. |
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| by Jen M. @ 08 Nov 2007 01:56 am |
Just a personal comment there friend. NOT being judgemental in any way, haha. I am a firm believer that if we are to raise up a new generation we need to be radical. In everything we do! ESPECIALLY when in the public eye, so many people see things and make assumptions, whether they be good or bad. If I am going to represent something I am going to make darn sure that I am representing correctly, afterall, that is what we are right, representers of Christ!
Loved the post by the way!! |
| by Nicolasa @ 17 Nov 2007 04:00 am |
| Thought i would let you know I really like this. It is very true. The whole judgemental thing has been something i have been working on recently. |
| by Sonia @ 17 Nov 2007 04:00 am |
I know what you are talking about.
I too used to struggle with this alot.
I too, am guilty of just this today.
It is especially hard when we feel like we have been wronged by a brother or sister...
Jesus Himself said,"Let him without sin through the first stone."
It is so easy to look at someone and judge them just from what we see on the exterior.
I want a heart of gold.
May God find that in us when He searches.
Prayers and Blessings~
Sonia 8) |
| by Laura @ 17 Nov 2007 04:01 am |
| Love the sinner, hate the sin. |
| by Paul Wright @ 17 Nov 2007 04:02 am |
good stuff j-bone.
forgot the candy bar |
| by Doreen @ 17 Nov 2007 04:03 am |
i think the judgment made should be considered right or wrong depending on the motive behind it. yeah everyone sins and nobody is perfect, but our brains are suppose to be used for smarts, and taking into consideration the fallen state of the human race (myself included), it would be irresponsible not to think about a few things that go on in our world. even the bible, in many places, encourages a certain level of judgment to be made...
1 Thess.5:20-22, "Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good."
Matthew 7:15-16, "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits…"
Acts 20:29, "For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock."
2 Pet.2:1, "But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction."
(emphasis mine) |
| by Doreen @ 17 Nov 2007 04:04 am |
not to say that matt from relient k is a savage wolf or anything of the sort. but if we just went around not measuring right and wrong with everything, then hedonism would be running more rampant in the world than it already is.
as a fellow sinner, i understand the struggles of life that can be associated with things such as smoking. maybe he thinks its wrong and struggles with it, and maybe it's no worse to him than drinking coffee (i LOVES me some coffee) is to me. but from a parental perspective, if someone from the youth group talked about wanting to smoke because his hero matt from relient k smoked too, i think i would seriously consider writing to him and asking him to prayerfully consider his choice to exercise that freedom for the sake of his very young and influential fan base.
we are responsible to teach our children right from wrong (prov 22:6). with that comes a certain amount of judgment. i don't want my daughter taking candy from strangers that call to her from behind tinted windows because there truly are evil people in the world. i want her to have wisdom, discernment, good judgment when it comes to situations that might compromise her safety weather it be physical, emotional, or spiritual. |
| by Doreen @ 17 Nov 2007 04:04 am |
i don't know what all those right and wrong things are myself, but that's where prayer and waiting on the Lord comes in. He is, after all, a weigher of the heart (Proverbs 21:2) so no matter what we think is right or wrong, He considers our motives. if we tell someone they're wrong for the sake of ourselves being right, there is no glory going to God in that. but if we render a certain amount of judgment on someone by telling them not to be so judgmental, i think in that particular circumstance there is motivation to lovingly exhort and edify; something we are called to do... something i wish i was better at! make sense?
accountability was already mentioned above, but here's a scripture to go with it...
Proverbs 27:6 "Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy." |
| by Doreen @ 17 Nov 2007 04:05 am |
i'm sorry sorry sorry! at the risk of making you want to shoot me because i'm talking even more... i just wanted to change what i said about writing to matt over the smoking thing.... i just realized that i tried that before and just ended up feeling bad about some of the stuff that i said.... so yeah. would have to just turn that one over to the Lord.
ok, i'm sorry. i'm not crazy, just a spazz.
i'll shut up now. |
| by J-bone @ 17 Nov 2007 04:06 am |
Haha took me awhile to find time to read your "novel" lol.
A few of those verses deal with Judging yourself rather than other people.
I think when you've never done something that you are judging someone else for doing you can come off sound critical and then if you've done that and stopped yourself you can give words of wisdom in a more encouraging way.
I think we'd have a best seller book if we could come up with the do's and don'ts of the bible.
The thing is that God's cool in the way that the laws are somewhat pricipals to live by.
For instance Jesus said that if you look at a woman and lust in your mind, you're guilty of adultry. The thing is when do you cross the line of lusting ect... There is that general understanding of what is wrong but I feel God is the only one that can Judge that point when you get convicted. |
| by J(esiah)-bone @ 17 Nov 2007 04:07 am |
Ok where was I... One thing I do have to say for myself is that I see something as smoking as a bad thing for my body as well as the people around me. I was a youthleader and still am to a bunch of awesome teens who look up to me for advice and friendships. Now 1 Corinthians 8 comes to mind about not causing your brother to stumble. They will eventually grow up and have a better grasp and understanding of what scripture talks about when it comes to laws and pricipals, but until then it would be a stumbling block to them. So my biblical option would to be to abstain from doing it. I'd just like to add that this is hypothetical speaking I've got going on here and I don't smoke lol.
I've got a long way to go on this topic for improvment.
I'm just starting. It's always a wonderful place when we can come to God so humble.
I don't think that I do that enough. |
| by Melody @ 15 Jan 2008 11:32 pm |
| I'm just curious why you mentioned by name a "Matt from Relient K" in this article instead of having a bit more ambiguity and saying "A member of a well know Christian crossover band smokes and after mentioning it I was told to not be so judgemental." It's like you are outing him for smoking, so that those who didnt already know, now know. And for those who havent mastered 'not judging' will judge him. The sad thing is, is alot of band members smoke and some of them even drink. But the Bible says, "All things are permissable, not all things are beneficial." So smoking is not beneficial but it still amazes me that you would call him out in an article like this. |
| by Kadida @ 15 Apr 2008 12:30 pm |
Good Stuff, Jesiah!
I was impressed by how not judgemental you were the first day we talked. Not casting me aside as some old fuddy duddy.
Keep up the good work!
Kathy D.(I used to live on Susan St. at the house with the SCaRyYY mailbox.) |
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