Non-Judgmental

Jesus accepts all just as they are. Jesus did not come into the world to condemn the world, He came to save the world. While you were yet sinners Jesus died for you. Jesus accepts everyone, just as they are, sinners. For all have sinned.

As Jesus does not pre-judge so we as his followers should not pre-judge individuals as they come into the body of Christ. As one comes into the body as a new believer in Jesus, the individual should experience transformation. Part of salvation is repentance, turning from sin, refusing to live the old life.

If a believer fails to produce fruit, evidencing spiritual growth, continuing to live as the world, the body of Christ is responsible to love them and encourage them. Jesus taught that he was the vine and we are the branches. If the branches fail to produce fruit they are to be cut off and thrown in the fire. "Better is open rebuke than hidden love." (Proverbs 27:5)

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. Galatians 6:1 The mature believer is responsible to keep fellow believers accountable for their actions. My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, Colossians 2:2 Let believers encourage our brothers and sister in love to live a life that is holy. It is better we openly confront an individual that they might be transformed than to secret love them doing nothing.

Non-judgmental does not mean we fail to encourage others to be accountable. When believers live piously in self-righteousness they tend to condemn non-believers by their actions alone. When you determine to live a life of humility remembering the spot from which Jesus saved you, you actions will not be judgmental. If we fail to make room for the outcast and rejected in the body we fail to love as Christ loved us.

Once a non-believer becomes a believer the discipling process teaches them how to live a life in Jesus. Jesus said, “If you love me keep my commandments.” If we truly love Christ we will live a life that reflects the character traits of Jesus rather than the wickedness of the world. Encouraging a new believer to live as Jesus is not being judgmental.

The act of encouraging a brother is an act of love and is to be approached in love. As individuals are drawn to Jesus through his body of believers they should be embraced in love. When the individual makes a declaration of Christ as his Lord, and Savior change is inevitable. Old things are passed away, behold all things have become new. As believers experience a new believer struggling we are to encourage them in love.

If an individual proclaims Jesus as Lord, this declaration is evidenced through the production of fruit. Jesus said, You have not chosen me, I have chosen you that you might go and produce good fruit. My neighbor recently came to the Lord, I see real change in her life. God is doing a work in her. She has also began a Bible Study in her home sharing Jesu with her friends and family.

She struggles with old habits. She has shared these issues with me, rather than condemning her I try to encourage her to change as the Holy spirit prompts her. As we come to Christ, the Holy Spirit will prompt us to making change.

I could have condemned her from the beginning due these bad habits. That could turn her from her decision to follow Christ, what benefit would that be to the body of Christ? Reaching out in love has encouraged her in her new found faith and provided an outlet for her to share the love of Christ through her ministry.

Non-judgmental applies to the unbeliever, encouraging transformation in a new believer should not be viewed as being judgmental. I welcome fellow believers to be crtical of how I am living my life if done so in love. A Body of Christ that sees no transformation has to question if they are teaching a false Gospel. The Truth will always be accompanied by transformation. The number of people in attendance is not necessarily reflective of the proclamation of Truth.