"Do not judge" is a prevailing mantra in our society whenever someone is confronted with the truth regarding their sinful behavior. The mantra is repeated by many within the church, as well as many that want no part of Christianity. It is frequently based on Bible verses taken out of context and used as ammunition to endorse a "live and let live" mentality. Two of the more popular verses are Matthew 7:1, "Do not judge, or you too will be judged," and John 8:7, which quotes Jesus saying, "Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her" (speaking of a woman caught in adultery). The mantra effectively serves as a slam-dunk against anyone who renounces sin; that is, until the one caught in sin is a high-profile professing Christian. At that point, it is perfectly acceptable, even celebrated in the eyes of many, to pass judgement on their hypocrisy.
I can understand such paradoxical reasoning from those who do not buy in to the truth of Christianity. The gospel of Jesus Christ is offensive to those who reject him because it confronts their sin as the principle that condemns them. The gospel says that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and we can only escape condemnation through faith in the resurrected Jesus Christ as Lord. This means that we turn from our sin and look to Jesus for salvation. The Bible teaches that those who have done so have been made new. We have been enabled by the Holy Spirit to pursue the things that please God. In the eyes of those who have rejected this gospel, the moral failure of a Christian validates their rejection of Christ. While I reject such a premise, I get it.
But Christians should never rejoice in or make fun of the moral failure of a Christian brother or sister. The most recent high-profile moral failure is that of Hugh Freeze, the head football coach at Ole Miss who resigned yesterday amidst accusations of immoral behavior. He was a successful high school coach at a large Christian school, and made the jump to a high profile SEC program. He is married and has three daughters, whom I'm sure have been devastated by the exposure of his behavior. He has actively proclaimed his faith in Christ and has made a positive impact on the lives of many young men who now feel the pain of his hypocrisy. He is experiencing the shame and embarrassment of letting down those who loved and respected him, and of his failure to live out the faith he has so publicly professed. In such a time as this, we who are his brothers and sisters should come alongside him and pray for him. The last thing we should do is join in the chorus that mocks him on social media sites. This is not a laughing matter, and college football rivalries are irrelevant in this circumstance. The apostle John says that those who belong to Christ will love others who belong to Christ. We show love by building each other up, not by tearing one another down.
A Christian's moral failure is tragic evidence that we who belong to Christ are still susceptible to the influence of sin that dwells within us. When we choose to allow sin to fester in our heart and mind, and refuse to confess it and repent of it, God will expose it. He does this to bring us to repentance so we can return to walking in the light of his love. We should all take this opportunity to examine our own hearts and repent of the sin we have refused to confess. We should pray for Hugh Freeze and his family, that they will experience God's grace during this time, and bask in his love and forgiveness. They are in a world of hurt right now. Don't become a part of that world.
