Why are we so judgmental?

Once again, the Christian community has shown itself to be the most judgmental people on planet earth.  Frankly, I'm so done with this.  Having seen this post talking smack about Granger Community church, I'm just shocked at how rude Christians can be in the name of being right.  People, if you don't have anything nice to say, __________________________.  We can probably fill in the blank...I think. 

My deal is this: If you don't agree with the way someone is doing something, fine.  This is America and everyone is entitled to an opinion.  But can we please stop shooting people that are in our own camp.   I pray that someday we will learn to disagree  in such a way that people who don't know Christ would not find it a stumbling block.  In moments like these, I can simply quote Charlie Brown, "UUUUGGGGGHHHH!" 

Comments

[Doug]

Hey Bob,
I'm with you on this one. I don't usually post comments, but I did comment on Ingrid's site. It saddens me to see those in the church spending more time tearing down the efforts of others trying to win the lost instead spending their time actually winning the lost. Keep up the great work in Miami. Looking forward to getting your book.
Doug

[Ben]

Wow. I can't believe it. I am pretty surprised that folks of that persuasion know about blogging and are doing it. I would think that somehow, in some way blogging would be considered unbiblical and of the "Laodecian Church Age". Crazy, hateful, nonimportant drivel in my opinion.

[Tony Myles]

Here's my comment on that blog.

--------------------------

If God is present in a movement of people...

and people are coming to Jesus...

and lives are changing as repentance and discipleship kick in...

and again, God is present in this movement in even the smallest way...

and you speak against it...

is it a form of blasphemy?

[BryonM]

Frank: I agree with you. I like Gamaliel's advice:(Acts 5:38,39) "So my advice is, leave these men alone. If they are teaching and doing these things merely on their own, it will soon be overthrown. But if it is of God, you will not be able to stop them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God."
Christians of all spots and stripes would do well to live by the words of this wise old Pharisee.

[BryonM]

A slight retraction from my previous post. It should be addressed to "Bob", not "Frank." Sorry I messed up your name, bro. Love reading what you've written. Thanks for keeping us tuned into the Catalyst conference last week.

[Bob Franquiz]

Bryon,

You'd be surprised how many times I've been called Frank.

[Bob Franquiz]

Tony,

At best it's elitism. At worst, it may be blasphemy. I just think Christians should be very careful in their criticisms of other churches. I personally think these "discernment" types of ministries are just havens for Christians to talk smack about other believers and churches.

What's interesting is that I went through some of this site and could not find 1 positive post about something God is doing. Everything was about how every outreach idea was wrong and not honoring God. This is just sad...

[Bill LaMorey]

Is Ingrid really Jack T Chick in disguise???
I can see the new tract title in my mind: "Seeker Sinsitive." Of course, the end of the tract will end with all the congregation at one of the seeker churches carrying their NLT Bibles into hell wondering what happened until the "pastor" pulls off his mask and reveals himself to be Lucifer.(Yes, I have the whole JTC collection...)

[BryonM]

Bob:
Thanks for the grace :).

[Tony Myles]

Odd... my post was never approved to their blog. Hmm...

[David Russell]

James very vividly illustrates the power in the tongue.

This is why I choose to speak positively and remain very careful about the way I speak about other ministries. Who am I to say that God cannot speak into someone's life or bring conviction to the heart of someone in ANY circumstance?

I am a vapor, a mist--that's who I am. I'm so humbled by God every day.

God, help ALL of us reach the lost and broken. That's our Commission.

[Michael Lukaszewski]

the problem with people like this is that they will say that they are in different camps. they don't consider distasteful comments like as shooting their own.

it's a sad commentary that we can't even agree on the definition of "the main thing" anymore.

how much more simple can it be than loving God and loving others. people with critical posts like this may honestly believe they are loving God, but they exhibit very little of the mercy and grace that was shown them when they fight battles over strategy and style, putting it up there with theology and the character of God.

[muel]

Hey,

I found you Bob through Scott Hodge, and the first post I read was about Ingrid's blog so I had a look and was really fired up to comment on some of the things people say. As it turns out I've got myself into some little dialogues with other commenters, which has been interesting to say the least.

Just to say though, that perhaps in the same way that they need to learn to extend some grace to us, we do to them also. We, as people, are individuals who make our own minds up about what we do or do not believe. It's a complete waste of time, as you say, to spend our efforts bashing down other people when there are unreached nations.

So I think we should stop ourselves from picking their theology apart, even if we disagree with it, and try to show the love and grace that Jesus did time and time again to those around him who just ddidn't 'get it' (which includes the disciples on so, so many occassions!).

Do you know what I mean?

Thanks for allowing a newcomer here to post such a long comment! All the best guys.

Sam