In 2022, the American Bible Society conducted a poll and found that only 39% of Americans have read the Bible.  About 23% of those have only read one or two sentences. It used to be that if there was a scripture passage that people knew, it was John 3:16.  Now the only passage that people come close to quoting is “don’t judge.”  Matthew 7:1 says, “Judge not, that you be not judged.”

Unfortunately, many have taken that to mean that we cannot make a critical statement about anything. Critical here does not mean necessarily mean expressing adverse comments or simply disapproving of something.  Being critical means that you make an analysis of something as to its merits or faults, its goodness or badness. To say something is not good or not the best way to live is not being judgmental.

Jesus never wants us to turn away blindly from something that God says is sinful and refuse to point out error. If we did this, no one could be saved. In order to repent of sin, we have to first believe that what I am doing or how I am living is sinful. What Jesus wants from us is not to have a harsh, unkind, judgmental spirit that condemns the sins in others without condemning the sin in our own lives. As Christians, the biggest sinner we know is the one we see in the mirror every day. We are to speak the truth in love and help people understand that God can forgive their sin as much as continues to forgive my sin every day. Remember, every time I point my finger at someone else, I have three fingers pointing back at me.