Are We Being Judgemental?

Matt 7:1 gives us this admonition, "Judge not that ye be not judged". Last Summer we once again enjoyed watching the Olympic Games as countries from around the world came together to compete. And, as usual they were not without their share of controversy. For instance, there was some discussion on the eligibility of the participants and complaints about the judging of the events among other things. It kind of reminds me of the world in which we live today and it's association to Christianity. Part of the problem with the eligibility issue was that some of the people didn't look like they were eligible. Maybe that is part of the problem with our testimony today as Christians - we don't look like what the world thinks a Christian should look like. Now, before you begin to criticize the world and say that they don't know what a Christian should look like. let me just say that their standards for us are usually higher that our standards for ourselves. I know that we are not to live our lives to please man, but if the world doesn't see a difference in us then there may not be any. Now, concerning the matter of judging. It seems like the world is often accusing the Christian world of being harsh and critical simply because they do not believe as we believe. Just like the Olympic judges have a set of rules that they are to go by, so do we - it is God's Holy Bible. It is not up to us to condemn anyone to a devil's hell because the world is born heading there on their own. It is up to us to show them how to escape that horrible condemnation and show them it is not our methods but God's one and only way. I think there is one thing that will help alleviate both of these problems. It is Love. If the world sees that we love them for who they are, with no strings attached, that is certainly different from them. If we are able to show them God's criteria for eternal life then they cannot argue with us because it is God's Word and not ours. So, are we being judgemental? No, that is for God to do and He will do it quite well.