While sitting in a men’s study one night I felt some displeasure for the type of questions that seemed to originate too much in the world. They wondered why religious people are "judgmental" against such things as homosexuality. They didn’t seem to know the Bible specifically defines such acts as sin (along with adultery, fornication, stealing, murder, etc.). Why is any sin less wrong than another? All sins are wrong. All sins will be judged at the last. Why didn’t they know?
Maybe these men were at the beginning stages of a deeper journey with God. Maybe they had not yet read, or carefully considered God’s prohibitions. It is natural to love God’s mercy and forgiveness yet forget his severity. We overlook the consequences of sin. We perceive our own sins as somehow less serious.
It would be good to be in a fellowship where all brothers are those that we agree with an approve of. But we are not all the same. Some are less advanced and some are more advanced. Some are so "advanced" they have become hardened and crusty to the extent no one knows better than they. They have less room for forgiveness than God.
We “seasoned” Christians should never be that way. We ought to be available for example, teaching and consultation of the “less seasoned” Christians. Helping in their process of sanctification may be part of our own sanctification. What use is an “advanced position” if it is only to notice and annunciate the faults of others. Is not this “sitting in the seat of the scornful”? Let us be sources of direction, health, godliness and instruction in righteousness.
When making judgements we should remember, all of us are holding the position of “Learner”. We all have something to learn from another.
