To Judge or Not to Judge

I've been reading 2 Corinthians and something that has been a bit confusing to me in the past has come to the surface again. It is about judging. God had revealed to me recently just how judgmental I can be and has been working on this in my life (among other things). While that is something I need to work on, I often wonder, are we truly not to judge in any way at all?

I'm part of a Christian email distribution group at work, and this very often comes up. Someone will make a comment which in effect judges the actions of someone in the media. What always follows is a debate (sometimes very heated unfortuately) about whether or not we are to judge others and if so, how exactly do we do that? What exactly are we to judge? Some will say that we can't judge a person's heart but we can judge their actions/fruit. Others say we should not judge at all.

Many on the list and elsewhere in the world will fall back on verses that say we are not to judge others, that only God can judge. I do believe that only God can judge a person's heart - however, is that the end of it? Is it accurate to say that as Christians we are not to judge others in any way, shape or form?

If the answer is yes, isn't Paul in the wrong then? If you read 2 Corinthians he is judging the actions of the Corinthian church and those he labels as "super apostles". He makes it clear, in my opinion, that he is making his observations because he cares deeply for the church. But some of his words are pretty harsh when you read them.

The more I think about this the more I realize this is one of those things that goes round and round and round. By noting that Paul is judging in 2 Corinthians, aren't I judging him and his words? On the email distribution list, those pointing out that others should not judge are actually judging as well, arent' they?

Oh my, I think my brain is going to explode! Seems like every time God reveals something to be addressed in my life, I end up with more questions than answers. But then I guess that is a good thing. As Paul says in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

What Fragrance Are You? - Part 2

For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life.

~ 2 Corinthians 2:15-16

Since my last post I've been thinking about this verse quite a bit. What does it mean exactly to be the smell of death to those who are perishing?

In the past I was very exuberant about my relationship with the Lord. To be honest, I was a bit pushy and annoying. Not at all Christ-like. At that time though I probably would have told you that if my beliefs annoyed you, it was because you did not have a relationship with God. I've learned the hard way though that being obnoxious is not what God has called us to, nor does it draw others to Him. Only His Love will do that and we can't show that Love to others when we are being annoying. We are only promoting ourselves and our own self-righteousness.

Looking back to the years before I came to know the Lord, I realize He was pursuing me the entire time. I think I experienced that smell of death during those years. I could talk the talk with many "religious" people and actually enjoyed doing so. But when I found myself in the company of true Christ-followers things changed. Those whose focus was on Jesus and letting His Glory and Love shine through them, rather than trying to prove their own righteousness put me on edge. It was nothing they did themselves, as they always treated me with nothing but love and respect, but I always felt like I was on the hot seat. Like they could see right through me to who I really was, to the person I did not even want to see.

I know now that they did not really have this "power", but the Holy Spirit who lived within them does have that power. It was His voice calling to me that made me so uncomfortable. His voice was the smell of death to me because I was not yet ready or willing to hear Him.

So, is that what this verse is speaking of? The fragrance that we give off is the Holy Spirit living within us who speaks to those we come in contact with?

I think those who are perishing are not necessarily those who don't know the Lord, but those who don't know Him and are not seeking Him. I believe the Spirit living within us is Life to those who have the same Spirit in them and Life to those who are truly seeking the Lord, though they may not yet know Him. He is only death to those who are still convinced that they are not in need of His Grace and Love.

What Fragrance Are You?

I'm reading through 2 Corinthians right now and came across this verse the other day. Made me start to think - what kind of fragrance am I to others?

For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life.
~ 2 Corinthians 2:15-16

I had never really thought of it in this way before. Something to meditate on - am I truly a fragrance of life to those who know God and the smell of death to those who don't know Him? If I can't say "Yes" I may need to re-examine how I am living my life. Am I truly letting the fragrance of Jesus, my Savior, flow through me to the world?