To Quick To Judge

The following article is reprinted in its entirety from Central Truth Ministries. I could not get in touch with this organization to see if it was copywrited material and the site gave no indication that it was. If it is copywrited, please get in touch with me.    Too Quick to Judge.... by Dr. Don Dean     It seems to be a common practice among professing Christians to automatically react when various people's names are mentioned, like Jeffrey Dahmer. Most people experience some type of reaction at the mention of that name. There are even sick jokes circulating in relation to Jeffrey, his past actions, and his ultimate demise in prison. What most people do not seem to realize is that there is a woman by the name of Mary Mott who sent him Bible lessons while he was in prison. Sadly enough, most professing Christians would never have considered such an act of sacrifice and kindness, regardless of his past actions. As a result, Dahmer dedicated himself to studying the Bible with Roy Ratcliff, whom eventually baptized Jeffrey in May of 1994, after being convinced of his repentant heart. During the course of their study together, Jeffrey demonstrated considerable spiritual growth. It was not long after, however, that Jeffrey Dahmer was murdered by another inmate. This event, and the reaction since, has shown most Christians for what they truly are. Usurping the throne of Christ seems to be a favorite religious pastime in the thinking of many, almost as if it were a duty. The appetite of many professing Christians today seems to be directed toward dominating (authoritarianism), judging (in areas where we are not to judge), rejecting (seemingly on minor issues that should never divide), and consuming other believers whom are their brothers and sisters in Christ -- all, of course, in the name of the One in whose footsteps they claim to walk in. Love is suffering at the hands of many other man-made principals, such as congregations squabbling over petty doctrines they hold so dogmatically dear. Dominating others serves only to snuff out the love we should all have for one another. "But if you bite and devour one another, take heed that you are not consumed by one another." (Gal. 5:15) This illustrates unspeakable attitudes and actions that the Lord cannot be pleased with. Jeffrey Dahmer confessed his sins and received the truth, while at the same time his brothers and sisters were, and are, out in the world damning him and each other. Claiming to defend what is good and right, they only destroy and bring ill repute upon the name of Christ in the eyes of many. We are to be salt and light unto a dark world, not help to shield it from the Light from above by our being so diabolically opposed to even the basics of His teachings to us. Standing against, for instance, ecumenicalism is one of the few dividing lines a Christian is called to stand for since it sacrifices foundational truths on the altar of unity. We are not called anywhere in the Bible to embrace believers of such false belief systems such as Roman Catholicism, Mormonism, Jehovah's Witnesses, et al. We can certainly share Christ with them so long as it is without any measure of condemnation toward their eternal destination and their heart, since that is reserved only for the Lord Himself to judge when the time comes. The problem arises when true believers become judgmental and then condemnatory. These things speak of a lack of love rather than standing upon the foundation of Christ, Who IS love. A refusal to enter into fellowship with those of diverse faiths is not condemnation, but prudence stemming from a Biblical foundation. There are other dangers in Christendom for true believers to watch out for, but ecumenicalism calls for a fellowship between light and darkness, and the scriptures clearly teach that such cannot exist as a pleasing practice in the eyes of God. Division and rejection based upon the unholy appetites of the flesh rather than being based upon the truths of the Spirit and what is contained in God's word are clearly wrong and more ruinous than most people are aware. "Who has better prospects in the judgment, a penitent Dahmer or a proud partisan?" CH