Judgemental

Genesis 19:1-9

1The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed himself with his face to the earth 2and said, “My lords, please turn aside to your servant’s house and spend the night and wash your feet. Then you may rise up early and go on your way.” They said, “No; we will spend the night in the town square.” 3But he pressed them strongly; so they turned aside to him and entered his house. And he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.

4But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house. 5 And they called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them.” 6Lot went out to the men at the entrance, shut the door after him, 7and said, “I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly. 8 Behold, I have two daughters who have not known any man. Let me bring them out to you, and do to them as you please. Only do nothing to these men, for they have come under the shelter of my roof.” 9But they said, “Stand back!” And they said, “This fellow came to sojourn, and he has become the judge! Now we will deal worse with you than with them.” Then they pressed hard against the man Lot, and drew near to break the door down.

Lot refuses to allow the men of Sodom take his guests out of his home so that they can have sexual relations with them. This infuriates them and they say “This fellow came to sojourn, and now he has become the judge.” Post modernism at its best.

People want to do what their evil hearts tell them and when anyone suggests that what they are doing is wrong they play the judgement card. “Who are you to tell me how I should live?” “How dare you judge me?”

This is still how people who live live away from God react to others who say that certain behaviours are wrong. The charge of “don’t judge me” is a cry to continue on doing whatever one wants.

It is not judgemental to say that something is wrong. However, if someone were to maintain that he was a better human being than the one doing the wrong that would be judgemental. This is where we are most likely to fall. We see people doing wrong and dare to think that we are better than they are.

We are sinners saved by undeserved grace. We are not better than the sinners around us. And what it took to save us from the punishment that we deserved is the same thing that can save them – the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The story of Sodom and Gomorrah is a testimony of what will happen to all of us if we do not repent of our sin. It is a reminder that we need great grace. And it should remind us that people need to hear the Gospel from sinners (us) who have already been saved.

Today, do not call good evil or evil good. And do not think that it took less grace to save you than it will take to save other great sinners. And pray to know how God can use you to save them.