An Admission

An Admission

“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,  because judgement without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgement!” 
                                                                      James 2:12,13.

I am the first to admit there are many Christians particularly in North America who at the very least don’t seem to be showing mercy to those outside what they consider to be Christianity.
I’ve heard the words spouted by some evangelist and pastors“homosexuals are going to hell” “people on welfare are lazy bums” “mental illness is a crutch” or worse “demon possession”.
In my opinion the people who are saying these things while they may be Christians by the slimmest of margins are not showing mercy.
Some Christians like to say hate the sin but love the sinner. Sadly when they express such a thing it is heard by the person as “I hate your sin therefore I hate you.”
Unfortunately Christians are human. They have human frailties and prejudges. Thus they have used the bible over the years to justify everything from slavery to war to capital punishment.
Sadly they have forgot the words of James quoted above,
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,  because judgement without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgement!” 
It is the mercy of God Christians are called to present to the world. As a Christian I would ask the none-Christian world to forgive those who are constantly judging.
One day those who judge others will be judged by God. They will be held accountable for everyone they turned away from God.
I would ask however that those who are not of the Christian faith to take a good look at the Bible. Read particularly the New Testament.
The New Testament is truly a book of mercy. It is God reaching down to mankind and offering mankind a free gift of Eternal life for simple faith in His one and only Son Jesus Christ.
The apostle Paul wrote,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” 
                                                                Ephesians 2:8,9 
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” 
Romans 5:8.
All Christians will admit they are sinners, be they the pope, Billy Graham or the person sitting in the pew of some small church.
Jesus said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16,17
If God did not send his Son into the World to condemn the world then no evangelist, preacher or priest has the right to judge the world.
What I would say to the non-Christian is to ask questions of Christians. Take time to go to a Church and engage the pastor in discussion about his or her beliefs.
I know Baptist churches, Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada Churches are willing to answer any questions you might have.
Think about it.
Post script
For the record I do not attend a Baptist church or a Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada Church at this time. I attend a small non-denominational church. However over the years I have attended churches from both groups and find them for the most part to be very open and honest with people who are truly searching for true spiritual truth.