Judge the behaviour, don’t condemn those responsible

IN the Bulletin on June 4, Ann Wason Moore had an article basically saying that if Christians stood up for their beliefs, they need not to judge and condemn others. She made the point that “if we were following Jesus, the friend of prostitute and outcast, then we should not discriminate” against people who saw life differently.

I couldn’t agree more. Jesus taught and lived love and so should we. But Jesus also upheld certain basic values which had been in place since the beginning of mankind.

God set certain guidelines, not to be mean or bossy but to protect us. The Ten Commandments are not arbitrary rules but a summary of things that if we humans practise, will hurt ourselves, others or God.

These things are listed because they hurt people. If I cheat on my partner, they are hurt. Boom boom. That is the way it is. If you steal my stuff, I am hurt or suffer loss. If you don’t respect your parents, you hurt them and ultimately yourself. If you are envious of what other people have you hurt yourself. If you have other Gods, you hurt God.

These things have been called sin because they hurt. They are boundaries to protect us and society. Many lifestyles are detrimental to our well-being and so should be challenged. The lifestyle challenged, not the person condemned. But just because the lifestyle is challenged, this doesn’t automatically condemn the person. They have choices, as do we.

Jesus taught love and acceptance but only within the parameters of no longer sinning. He still loved the person whose behaviour was hurtful; He still treated them well, as should we, but He called their behaviour for what it was.

He loved the sinner but would not accept the sinful behaviour.

Just because a Christian, or anyone else for that matter, says certain behaviours are not beneficial to people or are unacceptable does not imply judgment or discrimination of the person. It is simply putting the point of view that is different from theirs. No one condemns the medical profession when they tell us not to smoke. The behaviour, not the person, is condemned.

Surely our point of view is just as valid as yours. Surely, just as you need to state your position without condemnation and judgment, we should have the right to state our values without condemnation and judgement. BARBARA ELDRED, WORONGARY