Hi
@Eli1
Yes, but it's what we say in answer to these issues that makes the difference. Paul said that we are not to judge those who are not a part of us. I don't know how you read that, but I read that as not judging the sin of the lost. God's instruction to us, through His Son, is that we are to be about proclaiming the gospel of salvation through His Son, Jesus. That for those who will listen and believe, we should baptize them. Then for those who have believed and been baptized...THEN we are to begin teaching them all of the commandments of the Lord.
You have it backwards. You think that your going out and pointing fingers and decrying their sin is somehow going to change them, and it doesn't. That just makes them hate the God that you're using to point your fingers, more. Yes, I've read the book. The vast, vast majority of people who have lived upon the earth will not be partakers in the promise of God. That's what the Scriptures seem to clearly describe for us and I understand that. And when I look around that's exactly what I see. A vast field that is white for harvest, but is presently not being harvested, but condemned as stunted and wicked people. I really don't see that exampled by anyone in the Scriptures, except when God was working through HIS PEOPLE. Now the 'church' is His people and we are to work with the word of God to show them the truth, and He says in love and respect. Do you think you're pointing your crooked finger in their face is showing them love and respect. No! You're showing the strong condemnation of God and that's not what God asks of us under the new covenant.
But each one must give an account of themselves before God. I want to be like Jesus. Do you know that the Scriptures themselves declare that Jesus did not come to condemn us, but to save us. How did he do that? By showing compassion and mercy to the sinners that were all around him every day of his ministry. The only people that Jesus condemned were those who claimed to be on God's side but clearly weren't according to Jesus' testimony in the matter. And we should do the same. For those who are a part of us who are caught in sin, we should, again with gentleness and respect, call them on their sin. For those who are not a part of us, we have to get them to be a part of us before the Scriptures give us any authority to condemn them of their sin. That's how I read the Scriptures and what God asks of us, through His Son, Jesus.
God bless,
Ted