Why are you judging LDS when Christ told us not to judge?


The basic problem with this question is that the one who asks it doesn't realize that he or she is making judgments by asking it. One judges that it was really me who was making those statements, and that he or she making the judgment wasn't hallucinating. The one criticizing me must judge that I understand the English language. Most importantly, the one criticizing me is making a judgment that I should not be making a judgment. This is just silly. If this person can get away with criticizing me, then why can't I get away with criticizing LDS or even this individual?

 

Chances are pretty good that Christ had something else in mind in this often quoted passage, "Judge not, that ye be not judged" (Matthew 7:1). The context tells us about the sort of judgments He had in mind. He goes on to talk about taking the beam out of one's own eye before this individual takes the speck out of the other's eye. Jesus calls the one with the beam a hypocrite. So the context condemns those (i.e., Pharisees) who make hypocritical judgments. This is certainly different from condemning the general use of our minds, which He gave us to love Himself with. In fact, Jesus goes on in this context to tell us to make judgments in determining a false prophet from a true one (Mt. 7:15-23). Our Lord also specifically commands us to not judge by mere appearance, "but judge righteous judgment" (John 7:24). He also said through His apostle, "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good" (1 Thessalonians 5:21).

 

So enough of this whining about me using my mind to prove that Christianity is true and warning people about their impending judgment. We are commanded to "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3). We are also commanded to "[p]reach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine" (2 Timothy 4:2). If the word of God isn't good enough for LDS here, then perhaps they'll listen to their own scripture: "Wherefore, confound your enemies; call upon them to meet you both in public and in private; and inasmuch as ye are faithful their shame shall be made manifest. Wherefore, let them bring forth their strong reasons against the Lord" (D&C 71:7-8).

 

R. M. Sivulka


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