Politics and Religion - Don't Judge Me!

There is a brand of religion that's infused with what passes for conservativism in these end days, I refer to it as Fox news Christianity. Followers of this religion tend to twist scriptures to mold them to their political and or personal beliefs. Some examples are a hatred of entitlement programs, like food stamps. Devotees of this mixture of scripture and politics throw out scriptures like if you don't work, you don't eat (2Th 3:10). Most recipients of the food stamp program do work, they just don't earn enough to buy food and pay for all the other inflated bills they have to pay every month. There are many tenets to this religion, too numerous to go into in great detail, suffice it to say followers besides detesting entitlement programs, generally believe that people who don't agree with them are liberals. And to them liberals are socialists, perhaps even communists, worse, they hate their country and most likely God as well.

On the other end of the spectrum are those who mix politics and the Bible from the left or liberal point of view. They can be as opinionated and hostile as the right wingers, except their causes are more like tolerance of homosexuals, more social programs to help the poor, more regulation to protect "us", more political correctness. They too use scriptures to support their line of thinking.

A left/right paradigm exists, the examples above are extremes, but it's all designed to obfuscate the truth and important issues. The truth is usually found somewhere between two extremes. The problem being, when you take up one side or the other, you tend to go the extreme and end up having to support the extreme positions of each side. Thus creating opposition and strife and distraction from the real truth. Divide and conquer, hate, not love, conformity to the world and not to scriptural truths. The truth of the Bible, which instead of being used as God's lamp to our path, is used to justify opinions to harm the other side. Not edification, but self-justification.

We often hear that we should not be judging others and that to point out other's trespasses is hurtful. Use the words of Jesus as your guide:

Mat 18:15 - 17  Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.  But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

Read this post from Junia Mark for more on the "Don't Judge Me" false doctrine so popular today:

“Only God Can Judge Me!”
Have you heard anyone say this lately? A quaint saying made popular by Tupac Shakur back in the day, has now permeated the psyche of those who call themselves “the church.” Holding onto a (false) belief that “freedom in Christ” means “doing whatever I want” without judgment from others within the Body.
This is a lie.
The Scriptures make it clear that “only God can judge” the non-believers, but the Body of Christ is commanded to judge, reprove, and “put away from among” us those within the Church who are living in blatant sin.
“11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.” - 1 Corinthians 5:11-13
“3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.” - Ephesians 5: 3-12

Well said sister J!

Daniel Mark