Would you?

Would you?
The apostle Paul writes,
“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.  
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” Colossians 4:5,6.
Are you wise when you deal with those around you, especially when it comes to your faith. I have found over the decades that I have been a Christian that there are many claiming to be Christians who are not wise.
They are as one friend aptly put it “bible thumpers”. They point out the sins of the world. They point to groups they disagree with and call them sinners. Worse still they try to take away or restrict the rights of some groups they disagree with. This should not be so.
Screaming and yelling at people telling them they are sinners is a waste of time. It will only push people away from God. Trying to restrict or take away rights of those you disagree with will push them away from Christ closing all dialogue completely. Not only that it may lead to a backlash that will cause the rights of Christians to be restricted.
No one wants to be told they are a sinner. And frankly I don’t believe it is our job as believers in Christ Jesus to tell people they are sinners. That is the job of the Holy spirit.
Billy Graham the American evangelist once said,

“It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God's job to judge

 and my job to love,” 

                                  Billy Graham.

Another American evangelist Tony Campolo said,
“We ought to get out of the judging business. We should leave it up to God to determine who belongs in one arena or another when it comes to eternity. What we are obligated to do is to tell people about Jesus, and that's what I do.” Tony Campolo.
The apostle Paul tells us,
"What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?” 1 Corinthians 5:12.
It is the job of believers in Christ Jesus to present the gospel to anyone who will listen. Jesus said,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”Matthew 28:18-20.
Jesus told us,
"For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”Matthew 7:1,2.
We as believers in Christ Jesus need to remember this.
Think of it this way Jesus said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:12.
If someone came to you and tried to restrict your rights, or told you bluntly you were wrong and they were right and wouldn’t listen to your explanation, would you listen to that person. Probably not.
Thus we as Christians are called to present what we believe and not to judge anyone, especially when it comes to where anyone will spend eternity.
Please think about it.

Words

Words
In the book of Proverbs we read,

“Reckless words pierce like a sword, 

but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” 

                                                      Proverbs 12:18.

Over the years I’ve been a Christian I’ve seen many things done in the name of Christ that should never have been done.
I’ve seen men and women both in the pulpit and in the pew that have said things that turn people away from God.
I’ve heard well meaning Christians say Atheist are going to burn in hell and expect to win Atheist to Christ. Hell being something an Atheist could care less about since they don’t believe in Hell.
I’ve seen Christians standing in front of Abortion clinics with signs condemning the practice.
While this may at first glance seem a good thing. It isn’t. If anything it will push people away from Christ.
Billy Graham the American evangelist wisely said,

"It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God’s job to judge

 and my job to love," 

                                 Billy Graham.

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.
The reason for Christ’s coming to this earth was to save individuals. To offer them eternal life with God. This is what Christians should be doing.
We have no right to judge anyone outside the church. The Apostle Paul said,
"What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you." 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
         Jesus said,
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:1,2.
While I am not in favour of abortion it unfortunately is allowed in our secular governed society.
It perhaps is also a failure of the Church. That for many years heaped condemnation on women for getting pregnant out of wedlock, instead of showing them the unconditional love and compassion of Christ and providing them with help when they most needed it.
Likewise I cannot condemn an Atheist who’s turned further from God by hearing some Hell fire and brimstone Christian. A Christian who should have been sitting down and reasoning with him or her in good faith.
Sadly for a multitude of reasons Christians forget the words

“Reckless words pierce like a sword, 

but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” 

                                                      Proverbs 12:18.

Do you?
Please think about it.

Closes doors

Closes doors
Jesus said,
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."Matthew 7:1,2.
Let me state here that there are certain circumstances when we must judge people. Particularly when it comes to our personal safety or the safety of others. The apostle Paul even says,
"What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you." 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
Paul here makes it clear we can judge someone inside the church but this only extends to judging whether or not they who claim to be brothers and sisters in Christ are teaching the truth about Jesus. We have no right to judge anyone with respect to where they will spend eternity.
If we choose to judge those outside the church we will get backlash and doors will close, preventing us from presenting the Love of Christ to them.
We have no way of knowing why the person is the way they are. Only God knows that.
Billy Graham the great American evangelist said,

“It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God's job to judge

 and my job to love,”  

                         Billy Graham.

If we look in the book of acts at the apostle Paul presenting the gospel message in Athens at no time does Paul call those present sinners. He mentioned that God will one day judge the world, but he doesn’t call his audience sinners. That wasn’t his job. His job was to present the gospel of Christ to them.
Which is what we are to do.
Thus my question, if you consider yourself a believer in Christ Jesus are to judging people or are you in love presenting the gospel of Christ to them?
Please think about it.