The Case For a Double Standard

One of the biggest criticisms leveled at Christians by non-Christians is that we are too judgmental. For many years I have rejected this criticism because it is not our judgment of sin but rather God’s. It is not man who wrote the law but God. While I still believe all of this to be true, I do think that we have missed the point. You see many Christians including myself have made the incorrect assumption that non-Christians should be held to the same standard of morality as Christians, and while this may seem just and fair it is not practical. To ask people to deprive themselves and to be willing to endure the difficulty of living a moral life without providing them with motivation to do so is foolish. The Apostle Paul seems to agree

If from human motives I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, what does it profit me? If the dead are not raised, LET US EAT AND DRINK, FOR TOMORROW WE DIE I Corinthians 15:32

If there is no resurrection and no reward then even Paul is ready to live a life of gluttony and drunkenness so why should we expect people who have not been given the hope of eternal life to sacrifice pleasure when there's nothing "in it for them"?

Additionally, this is not how Jesus did things. For example, when he told the rich young ruler in Matthew 19:21 

Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”. 

Jesus didn’t tell him to go sell all he had and give it to the poor because he should or because it was the right thing to do but rather he gave him the promise of treasure in heaven. Unfortunately for this young man he failed to see the value of treasure in heaven and he left Jesus and “went away sorrowful because he had great possessions”. 

Christians Have a Reason to Live Moral Lives 

Christians have been given promises much like the rich young ruler. Jesus always gives us a reason to hold to the higher standard of morality that he calls us to. Without these promises there would be no good reason to hold to the standard or to take up our cross and follow him, but that is exactly what we expect non-Christians to do. Clearly the apostle Paul instructs believers that there should be a distinction between the standard we hold outsiders to versus believers. He outlines this in I Corinthians 5:9-13  

“I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people;  I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world.  But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? But those who are outside, God judges. REMOVE THE WICKED MAN FROM AMONG YOURSELF.”

Christians Are Held to a Much Higher Standard  

So, if we follow Paul’s instructions, we as Christians will be more focused on ourselves and cleaning up the church rather than focusing on cleaning up the world. Doing this will result in a more authentic picture of Christianity and will allow non-Christians to live without feeling judged by Christians. Paul is very clear that judging outsiders is God’s job and NOT OURS. I wonder if Christians have truly run afoul of the parable that Jesus tells in Matthew 7:3-5 

“Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? “Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. 

It's Time For Judgment to Begin With the Household of God  

I really think that it's time for Christians to look inward at our own morality and our own holiness and stop focusing on the world’s lack of morality. If we are the light of the world then we affect the darkness by shining our light more brightly. It is only by becoming more authentic and more like Jesus that we will be able to penetrate the darkness. Rather than just sit back and curse the darkness we should be allowing our lights to shine so that God will be glorified because of our morality. As the apostle Peter says in I Peter 4:17

For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

Perhaps if we follow the advice of Jesus, Paul and Peter and turn our judgmental stares back onto ourselves we will stop alienating people in the world, clean up our own hypocrisy and make Christianity more attractive.

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