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One of the common criticisms I hear about Christianity is that people often feel as if Christians “hate” people, and are very judgemental. This, in some ways, is true. However, in some ways, it isn’t true. In this article, I will attempt to explain why Christians give off this vibe, and are sometimes mislabeled as “hateful or judgemental.” I will also explain why sometimes we are (admittedly) very judgemental.

Why Christians Hate People? Do They Really Hate People?

Whenever we say the word “Christians, it is hard to define each individual that claims to be a Christian. After all, one Christian may behave very differently from another. We are all unique with our own beliefs and personalities. I have known some amazing Christians, who made me want to work harder to be like them because they set such a great example.

In contrast, I have known some not-so-great Christians who made me feel disappointed in their actions or behaviors. So there is a very broad group of people within the Christian community, and it is important not to impose labels on Christianity as a whole, based on one person. In fact, Christianity should be based on one person’s actions alone: Jesus Christ. If you want to know how Christianity SHOULD be, and what a true Christian is, look at Jesus and only Jesus. Don’t look at me, your friend, or your local church.

But sometimes a Christian may seem as if they are hating against a certain group, or certain belief. Why is that? I’ll explain. Do you remember being in school, and there was always a “teacher’s pet?” You know who I am talking about, that person who always followed the rules. Who did everything by the book. Who also probably told on people who didn’t follow the rules….you get the idea.

Why did they do this? The answer is that there is simply something in human nature, that makes us all feel that when someone isn’t following the “rules,” it is wrong (especially when we take effort to follow them ourselves). When we work hard to live by a standard, we often expect others to do the same. It isn’t just Christianity, EVERY person and EVERY religion does this.

It doesn’t matter what it is. Imagine you go to work and plan on working really hard. Then, you see a fellow employee slacking. It probably frustrates you doesn’t it? You are holding yourself to a very high work standard, and when you see someone slacking off, you get frustrated and judgemental. In that same way, Christians are trying to be as “spiritually” hard working as possible. When they see someone slacking spiritually, they often want to help correct them, or may even make judgements about their behavior.

Christianity often sticks out in this regard. Why? Because many Christians have a very high level of morality defined in their mind. When they experience something in society that goes against this morality (and thus goes against God), they see this a very negative thing. Considering we are inundated with immorality, it makes for a frequent dynamic of criticisms from Christians.

You probably do the same thing on a daily basis, regardless of your own personal beliefs. For example, if I told you that a man down the street was molesting kids all the time, how would you feel about him? You would probably be disgusted wouldn’t you? You would look at him differently, and probably think his actions are highly inappropriate. Most people in society would.

Since Christians have a very strict moral code in mind for humanity, they do this same thing. Only, things like adultery, sexual promiscuity, homosexuality, pornography, and other things that are accepted as “normal” by many secular society members is believed to be “immoral” and wrong by Christians.

So Christians often allow this morality to affect their actions and beliefs in life. If they hear someone is doing something immoral, or trying to legalize something immoral, they can become quite vocal and express their opinion, sometimes pass judgements, and so forth.

So Do Christians Hate Non-Christians or Sinners?

God hates sin. Christians hate sin.

I hate the sins I have committed in my life. I absolutely hate them and regret them all. I am very judgemental towards my past sins, and realize how foolish I was. But does that mean I hate myself? Of course not.  Sins aren’t fun, and nothing good ever comes from sin. Sin leads to misery and death.

But that doesn’t mean that we hate people who sin. We hate the sin they do. We hate the affect of sin in people’s lives and in society. But we don’t hate the sinning people, per se. We have all sinned at some point. The bible says all men have fallen short of the glory of God.

One of the most famous sermons of Jesus gave was, “love your enemies.” That is powerful. Christians aren’t taught to “hate” sinners or hate people like some suggest. We are taught to love even our direct enemies! Wow. That is difficult.

But Christians are also taught to be wary of sin. To avoid sinful behavior, and stay on the narrow path in life. We are even told to avoid close associations with sinners, and to be a “light” for the world.

Because of this, we don’t think sin is cute, funny, or appropriate. We don’t tolerate sin being paraded around or celebrated. We also tend to look at any and all sins in the same way a non-religious person looks at a deranged serial killer. We think all sins are wrong and totally inappropriate. We struggle daily to resist the temptation to sin, and sometimes, fall short ourselves and we must then repent and turn away from sin.

Because we are so “aware” of sin, we often pass judgements and discernment’s on people, actions, and so forth.

Doesn’t the Bible Say Not to Judge? Why Do Christians Judge People?

It is true that Jesus told us the following:

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?—-Matthew 7:1-5

From the reading of this passage, it is clear that we shouldn’t be hypocrites when judging. In other words, if we say homosexuality is wrong, we should NOT go home and then engage in a homosexual relationship. If we say adultery is wrong, we better not be cheating on our spouses. And yes, there are some hypocrites in Christianity. But not all Christians judge hypocritically. Many judge appropriately.

The bible actually commands that we don’t judge HYPOCRITICALLY. It doesn’t say that we shouldn’t judge and discern behavior and people. In fact, it actually suggests that we should several times.

Matthew 7:15 tells us to do the following:

 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.

How would we know if someone was a “false prophet” unless we make judgements and discernments about their teachings and actions? We couldn’t! So must be able to judge people’s actions and teachings.

Again, in Romans 16:17 we find the following:

I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.

And in 1 Colossians 5 we see:

 9 I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—  10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world.  11 But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.

What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”

In the verses above we see that again we are supposed to exercise caution, and a discerning judgment against all people, and even a stronger judgement for actual believers. Otherwise, how would we know if they were sexually immoral, greedy, or anything else unless we made that judgment about them in our mind?

Notice how Paul says that “God will judge those outside the church.” He is referring to the “Great Judgement” here. He is not saying we should not exercise caution and discerning judgment ourselves from ALL people. We should. He is simply saying that God will deal with those who reject him in the judgment, and Christians should help keep Christians in line by constantly encouraging, judging, and correcting each other when necessary. It is also important to judge ourselves.

Conclusion: All People Make Judgements, Not Just Christians. We Hate Sin, but Not Sinners

In conclusion, Christians hate sin, not sinners. We are told to love our enemies. At the same time, we are told to stay away from sinful behavior, to stay on the narrow path, and to keep God’s laws in our hearts and minds.

Thus, because we strive to do this, we must constantly judge ourselves and others’ behavior. We must correct sin in ourselves, and help instruct others of sins they may be doing.

This often gives Christians a label as if we are judgemental. Of course we are. I have yet to meet 1 human being of any religion that isn’t judgmental about something or someone. And the bible actually commands us to judge (just not hypocritically). Discerning things is a part of the human experience. We all think and reason, and because of this, we all make judgements daily, hourly, sometimes by the minute.

So yes, we judge sometimes. People have judged me in the past, which really made me upset. Until I had a reality check and realized they were right. Then, I was glad they pointed it out. It allowed me to improve myself, and become a better Christian.

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Posted under general questions, sin

Gambling is big business for some cities, and for a good reason: People spend lots of money trying to get rich quickly. Unfortunately, most people tend to get poorer instead of richer when gambling. But an interesting question can often arise in the minds of people trying to do God’s will: Is gambling sinful? Is it a sin to gamble or place bets?

Is It a Sin to Gamble or Place Bets? What Does the Bible Say?

First, the word “gambling” is not actually listed in the bible. This is because gambling wasn’t as big as it was today, and there certainly weren’t big casinos with neat machines and fancy playing cards (can you imagine someone playing poker with a stack of clay tablets?).

But just because something isn’t listed in the bible by a specific name (or because it didn’t exist as largely as it does today), doesn’t mean it is perfectly fine to do (hence, abortion would be a great example as it is obviously wrong but the bible never mentions “abortion” by name).

While the bible does not mention gambling, it does mention “casting lots,” which is somewhat similar to gambling (it is like drawing straws or flipping a coin). People in the bible are often recorded as “casting lots” in order to make a decision. This isn’t necessarily condemned in the bible (although it is associated with a few very bad events such as the crucifixion of Christ). Here are a few verses regarding casting lots:

Proverbs 16:33
The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.

Jonah 1:7
And they said to one another, “Come, let us cast lots, that we may know on whose account this evil has come upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah.

Luke 1:9
According to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

Matthew 27:35
And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots.

So it is quite clear that this was used by many (even Godly men) to make decisions, much like you may flip a coin for a simple decision of what you want for lunch today. But again, this is somewhat different than going to a casino or waging huge bets.

Aside from the technical aspects of gambling, we should ask what we are trying to achieve, and all of the things surrounding the actual gambling. Then we can make a clear decision on whether or not it would be sinful.

So let us use biblical reasoning, and try to understand the “spirit” of scripture to see how God may feel about activities such as gambling, and if placing bets is a sin or not.

So Is Gambling or Placing Bets a Sin or Not?

My personal opinion based on the scriptures is “yes and no, but mostly yes, it can be a sin.” What I mean by that is just like all things (money, sex, etc.) it is fine in the proper context and in careful moderation. But when things go overboard, it can become sinful very fast.

Take something as simple as money. We all need it, right? There certainly is no sin in making an honest living. But when people go too far, we can become greedy and hoard millions while people starve, and that certainly is a sin. The same is true with gambling. When done at random times, in reasonable amounts, and for honest reasons, it is fine.

Placing a simple wager, flipping a coin, casting lots, or even playing a game for fun with the potential to make a small gain is not a sin in itself. These activities would be fine in a proper context.

To determine if gambling is a sin, let’s break down all of the possible variables that occur with gambling:

1. The Motivation–What is your reasoning for wanting to gamble? Is it to get rich quick? Or is it just for fun? Being a compulsive gambler is certainly just as sinful as being a drunk, drug addict, or being greedy. If you gamble to get rich, you may be loving money more than God (a sin). However, if you just have a wager on occasion for fun, it may be okay. Again, moderation and motivation is key. Some churches even have raffles, contests, and other things which resemble gambling, but it is all done in fun and to help raise money for Godly purposes. This, in my mind, would be a perfectly good example of an appropriate form of gambling. The motivation or reasoning behind why you want to gamble can help you realize if it is appropriate or not.
2. The Context–Where will you be gambling? In a casino filled with women in skimpy clothing with lots of alcohol, prostitution, smoking, swearing, and so forth? If so, I think we can all agree that this is no place for a Godly person to hang out. Or is this a simple wager with a few friends at home while playing cards or a game of chess (just to make it a little more fun). If that is the case, I don’t see anything wrong. Just as long as everyone does it for fun, and people really don’t care if they lose (and only a little money is wagered).
3. The Amount–Are you gambling away your child’s college fund, your 401K savings account, your house, or other valuable items? If so, I would say that is a sin for sure. Instead, a very small amount should be used. If you buy a $2 lotto ticket on occasion for fun, that is fine. If you bet your kid $5 that they won’t make a basketball shot from across the court, that is fine too. But if you are mortgaging your house and buying lotto tickets or hitting up the casino in hopes of hitting the jackpot, you have a serious problem and it has become sinful.
4. The Frequency–Do you find yourself wanting to place a wager daily, or even weekly? Do you make a trip to a casino every month, or bet on every big sports game? If so, you may be addicted to gambling (a very serious problem). In this case, you should avoid all gambling just like an alcoholic should avoid all alcohol. If you gamble too frequently, it can be sinful and addictive. But if you place a random wager every few months or so, and don’t really mind losing, then there is no sin in that. Again, you may never know ahead of time if you will become an addict, so it may be best to avoid it all-together.
5. What if You Win?–What will you do if you win money or other valuables? What will you do? Is your goal to get rich and retire? To covet other people’s possessions so you don’t have to work? Do you just want to prove you are right about something, or that you are better at something than others (pride)? If so, this again can be a problem which is sinful. What would you do with any winnings? Would you manage them properly and do good, or evil? Would they be spent on Godly purposes? Or just excessive luxuries such as gold fountains in your house?

When you ask those questions above, it should make it clear what is appropriate and what is not. If you are ever in doubt, don’t do it at all. Always ask, if God came down right now, would I be doing this? Would God approve of this? What about Jesus? Would Jesus have enjoyed hanging in the casino with you?

Also, who will you be gambling with? A business (casino)? A bunch of Mafia thugs? Or a few friends or relatives? Again, this can be a factor as well as to whether or not it is appropriate.

Conclusion: Gambling Can Definitely Be Sinful In Many Cases, and All Should Use Caution

Do you know the best way to never be an alcoholic? Never take the first drink. Do you know the best way to avoid sinful gambling? Never gamble in the first place. That is the best way to ensure it isn’t a sin.

Again, I don’t think there is anything wrong with betting a  family member on a game of checkers for a few bucks (or the loser has to do chores or something). There is nothing wrong with flipping a coin to decide what to eat for lunch. But when people gamble large amounts of money, it can be very sinful, and wrong. People have lost homes, been killed, and much more all over gambling.

Ask yourself your motivation, context, amount, frequency, and goals for gambling, and that should reveal whether or not it is Godly or sinful. If in doubt, don’t do it.

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Posted under bible questions, money, sin