Judge Not:: Pt. 2 : The Closed Door Syndrome

Introduction
In part one, we deconstructed the popular social misuse of Matthew 7:1-2. To quickly summarize, the use of "judge not, lest you be judged" is being used today as a means of deflecting any potential judgment being meted out by those who dare make a stand. Yet, the actual words of Jesus were conveying a command against making an eternal judgment against another, not one based on behaviors or actions - when done in a loving and constructive way.
In part two, we'll begin to examine an all too familiar practical application of the dangers of passing judgment upon others too quickly or from a position of supposed moral authority. Practical and common occurrences will be examined. In a similar way, a type of judgmental attitude may be perceived. Please know that this comes from a prayerful and loving place. I love the church and believe in my heart that the church is still and always will be the bride of Christ. I'm just trying to straighten out the train on her dress here, that's all...
Just to address the issue up front: once again, I'm not saying that Christians shouldn't take stands against behaviors that are clearly against Biblical principles. I am saying that discretion needs to be used when doing so. In fact, that discretion needs to come from prayer and supplication to the movings of the Holy Spirit PRIOR to making judgment statements about behaviors. Why? Let's a take a look...

A quick overview of the church
There seems to be two viewpoints on the mission of the church. One view is to hold that the church is a haven for saints. This means that the church exists primarily to build up and edify those who are already Christians. The second view is that the church is a hospital for sinners. This means that a church stays in welcome mode and exists primarily as an entry-level church. I would argue that a third view of the church needs to exist. I believe that a careful mix of both views needs to be incorporated into the church. I believe that a church should seek to build disciples of Jesus Christ. At the same time, and here's where some difficulty lies, the church should seek to welcome in "whosoever will". In other words, the doors to a church need to remain open. How does this tie into judging? Why, thanks for asking!

The First Church of the Closed Doors
In too many churches, and in some I have attended, there is a spirit that could be called either unintentionally or even intentionally disinviting. This means that a church "feels cold". There might be few greeters. There might be little interaction amongst all people in the church, with little cliques being formed here and there. If you haven't seen this, then think about junior high. Imagine that again and you're on the right track. These churches tend to be unwelcoming to "outsiders". Even worse, there may be people who wonder, "What are THEY doing here?"
This question might not be asked out loud, but it becomes apparent to the person who came in. A visitor may actually be a rare commodity in such a church. When one brave soul does venture in, they are gawked out like some carnival side-show freak. They are asked to stand up before the church and give their name, rank and serial number. The only thing missing here is either a spotlight or a large scarlet "V" being placed on their chest. There might be various reasons for this practice, but the message comes through loud and clear: we are us, you are they.
Let's face it, it's already difficult enough for non-Christians to come into a church. The music, although precious to us who grew up in a church or who are well-versed in 18th century music, seems dated. The practices of the church, though known to members and long-timers, can make others feel out of place and on it goes. My point here is that it is HARD for "outsiders" to walk into any church, even for the most confident, normal, well-adjusted person.
Now, let's raise the stakes a little. What if a divorced, mother of three were to come into the church, a little bit late and a little bit noisily? What if a person of another race were to come into a church of one predominant race? What if someone with smoke or alcohol smells came in? A known ex-con? A known and practicing homosexual? What happens then? Are they greeted warmly or must they run the gauntlet of stares and hushed quiet as they slip into the back of the church, unannounced and uninvited?
This is a scene that plays out all too often. And then, many churches who do this will be the same ones who wonder why their churches are dying or are so "inbred" that the a visitor register might be covered in dust and cobwebs. Or in an even worse scenario: they might not even care or wonder why no one new has come in. That church has become a "members only" country club of spirituality. The doors of that church have almost literally rusted closed.

The First Church of the Open Doors
If you weren't born into the church, how did you enter in? How were you welcomed? Did it take many churches to find a good fit? These are questions that pastors and parishioners alike need to be asking themselves. We have to remember that as the church, WE are the representatives of Jesus Christ here on Earth. As children of the king, we carry the family name, so to speak. Therefore, we need to carry ourselves in that manner. With the privileges of sainthood come great responsibilities.
Jesus tells that whatever we do to the least of these, we do to him. This means that we as a church have got to become not only more welcoming INSIDE the church, but OUTSIDE of it as well. We need to walk across the street and talk with others, people that others might walk past.
If we don't, if we sit back and pass judgment on a godless world WITHOUT even lifting a finger to spread the Word lovingly, why should we expect the world to act any differently? Shouldn't we as a church, a body that has not an answer to the world's problems but THE answer in Jesus Christ, act like it?
Jesus communed with tax collectors. He ministered to and was accused of being a drunkard, a demoniac, of being insane, of being anything other than what we would think of as being a Christian. And yet, who accused him and judged his actions in such a way? Was it those who were healed? What is the woman caught in adultery or Mary Magdalene who accused him? It wasn't the Samaritan woman at the well who failed to bring people to him. She didn't put off evangelizing because she was hungry. It was the disciples, the very people who should have known better in the first place who did that. Read John 4 for more details. The Pharisees, the religious leaders of the day were the ones who were throwing the rocks of judgment at Christ. WOW!
See, Jesus mirrored for us what the church should look like. He welcomed in ANYONE and EVERYONE who wanted to be in. He reached out to those who were outcasts and social pariahs. Those who had blown their last chance were given another chance in him. Jesus welcomed in everyone and I'm confident that he'd do it today. Yet, this is only half of the story. While Jesus welcomed people in, like the overzealous Peter and the tax collector Matthew, yet he was never content with letting them stay in the condition that they were in when they walked through the door, so to speak.
This means in practical and clear language that we need to spend less time in judging and criticizing today's society. The critic's chair is the easiest one to occupy. It's safe and must have big cushions or something. What we need to do, and what I need to do, is to reach out INTO the world and at least try to reach out in LOVE and in the name of Jesus. I'd make this challenge to you. Are there any people on your friends list here on myspace or at work or in your neighborhood who do NOT profess to be Christians? If not, perhaps, you've become so insulated FROM the world that you have lost contact WITH the world. This isn't meant to be a slam. It's an admonition. It's an admonition that is directed towards myself as well. I need to be brave and to do a better job of reaching out to the very ones who need the ultimate life preserver that is Jesus Christ.
By judging the world instead of loving it, we miss out on the purpose of our lives here on Earth. If we were intended to live out our days solely in the presence of our brothers and sisters, might we all be transported directly to heaven upon salvation?

Salt and light
If we are to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, isn't it so that we can spread the Word of God? It's tough to love and to reach out to others when both of our hands are clinched around a sword. While we have a moral imperative to make stands, should we do it at the EXPENSE of ministering? What I'm saying here is that in too many cases people have been wounded and injured forever by judgmental Christians. Have these people then really be able to make an informed and responsible decision to either accept or reject Christ? The turn or burn mentality tends to place us in a position of superiority rather than in the position of sinners saved by grace. I'm not saying that we shouldn't speak of both the reality and consequences of hell. We should, but it should be tempered with the reality and beauty of heaven.

Is your faith based on do's or don't's?
People are looking for and needing love. People want to see a person who is authentic in their faith and who genuinely wants to present a gift, not one who wants to judge or to force someone to take a bath before they can be cleaned. What I mean is people want to see lives that are characterized by do's. Do love. Do witness. Do read your Bible, pray and become an involved part of your local church. Few people today are looking for a list of don't when they walk through a door. By focusing on the do's of Christianity, the don'ts become fairly evident. I urge you to strive to love before you judge, to minister and to help before you speak out and to become a part of the solution rather than a part of the problem. Christians are called to be known by our love, not by our judgments. Is your faith based on a list of do's or dont's?