Judge Not: Pt. 4: Actions might be louder than words

Introduction
In this series, we've dealt with Matthew 7:1-2 head on. The phrase "judge not and you will not be judged" refers not to a blanket statement made by Jesus to not judge. It is a statement that, through the interpretation of the original Greek, means that we are to not judge the ETERNAL DESTINATION of another person. While later verses also indicate that statements of judgment may be made within specific parameters, here Jesus refers to the ultimate form of judgment, made all too often even today, unfortunately.
In part three, we examined one way in which judgments may be made, through the lens of current events. In part four, this trend continues to focus upon social and racial equality, which was demonstrated by Jesus himself on many occasions, not the least of which was his direct and loving confrontation with the Samaritan woman at the well, as recorded in John 4.

Jackie Robinson Day
April 15th 2007, marked the 60th anniversary of the first regular season game played by Jackie Robinson in Major League Baseball. So what, some may say. Sure, this had to do with baseball, but it goes beyond that. At the time, the military was still segregated. When Jackie and other African-Americans served our nation during World War II, mere years before this game, they had to serve in separate units from their Caucasian counterparts and comrades.
These same men, when they returned home from service, still found that they couldn't stay in many of the same hotels, eat in the same sections of restaurants or even see a movie in the same theater as Caucasians. These practices weren't simply limited to the South Jim Crow states. They were also, shamefully, practiced in sections in the North, as well.
By setting foot on a professional baseball field, Jackie Robinson was taking one of the first of the civil rights movement, which was still about 15 years away. It's been recorded that at this time, Jackie was harassed on and off the field, even receiving death threats. Imagine that! He received death threats for having the "audacity" for wanting to play baseball! Yet, as bad that sounds, at least Jackie was granted the right to do so. He had no such option in the NBA or NFL. Baseball, likely Jackie's worst sport, was the only major sport to give him a chance at all.
It's been recorded that some of Jackie's "teammates" didn't want him to play on the Dodgers. One of the more vocal opposers was named Dixie Walker. Apparently though, it was made clear by Branch Rickey, the man responsible for signing Jackie, that anyone opposed to Jackie playing would be traded. In a related show of solidarity with Jackie, one day when playing in Cincinnati, the fans and others were being particularly cruel. In order to help dissuade the crowd from their actions, local hero and future Hall of Famer Pee Wee Reese went up to Jackie and put his arm around his shoulders, as if to show to the crowd that Jackie was a man and Dodger, just like the the rest of the team was, no more, no less. Reese was judging the behavior of the crowd as being incorrect, but he chose to respond to that same incorrect behavior in a loving manner. Reese's actions were clearly louder than any words might have been!

Application for the Christian
It is this action by Reese that I would like to apply to the Christian life. Few of us will have the opportunity to make a stand like Jackie did. He shouldered some the most difficult and frankly despicable treatment another human being could suffer. When the opportunity arose to show support and to voice a type of judgment against such behavior, Reese's actions spoke even louder than words.
This is the type of attitude that we as Christians are to display. Perhaps not through picket signs and protests, although situations may warrant it, but through our words and loving displeasure, we may make it clear that the Bible sends a different kind of message to the world. Racism can't be allowed to exist. Sexism is incorrect. However, we are not to employ the same methods as some in the world have employed in order to get these points across.
Judgments are needed at times, but not through a pursuit of an "any means necessary" type of approach. Our stance must be like Dr. Martin Luther King or even Mahatma Gandhi's approach of peaceful resistance. Remember, we are called to not only love or friends and fellow Christians, but to love our enemies as well. It's hard to love when you are throwing rocks! It is important for our Christian witness to be seasoned with love, for we must remember whose name we carry. If our actions, even in righteous judgment, are contrary to those of Christ, we defeat ourselves outright.

Conclusion
I'd like for us to remember that there are occasions that warrant our involvement. Judgment needs to given when we are faced with clear attacks on Biblical principles. However, even when our action is mandated, what we do must always be in accordance with the very Word that we are defending. After all, how effective would Reese have been if he had chosen to go up into the stands to verbally and physically confront those who assaulted Jackie? If we are told that a gentle answer turns away wrath, we need to remember that. There is a way to get your point across while maintaining your witness for Christ, I assure you.
Our judgments need to be seasoned with love. They need to have the purpose of not tearing down the person who has displayed the wrong behavior, but they need to have the purpose of removing the malignancy from that same person. In other words, we want to remove the cancer and leave the patient intact.