Last week on the MSNBC program: Morning Joe, noted Theologian Willie Geist asked Franklin Graham whether he thought Mitt Romney was a Christian. He went on to ask about Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich and President Obama. Then he assailed Graham with outrage at his presumption.
Christians line up on both sides of this issue. Most taking the same position that Willie does: We should not be judging whether or not someone is a Christian!
What's your opinion? Keep in mind Graham did not come on the show to state his opinion about anyone's salvation. He was asked a pointed, specific question: Do you think Mitt Romney is a Christian? It was in answering this question that the fireworks began. It is a clear 'set-up' in order to discredit anyone who makes a determination. The same thing is done with the issue of homosexuality.
Can I suggest to you that, while we should not go around pointing out who is or who isn't a Christian [in our view], the question is probably the most important question you could ask.
What's more important than a person's eternal destiny? It may be judgmental to assault people with our opinion on this issue, but it is certainly NOT a wrong question to ask or answer. Too many are masquerading as Christians while the rest of us are cowering in the bushes because of the Willie Geists or the Laurence O'Donnells of this world [He delivered a hateful commentary on Franklin Graham, last week. as well].
I want to know if my family is saved, don't you? I want to know who in my church is saved and who isn't, don't you? I want to know my friends and neighbors are going to be in heaven, don't you? How will you know if you don't ask? How will you make your determination if you don't watch and judge?
You see someone in church or someone claiming to be a Christian, but nothing about their public life agrees with their claim. Do you ignore it? Do you assume their heart is right when their mouth isn't? The reality is: we ALL make judgments about people, everyday. We know people we don't trust. We know people we avoid because they are hateful. We just don't go around telling them they're untrustworthy, etc.?
However, if one of your children were interested in purchasing a car from someone you know to be untrustworthy, would you not warn them? In so doing, would you be concerned that this is judgmental?
Why, then, is it so wrong in Christian circles? How do you pray for someone if you assume they're saved, but in reality there is nothing in their life or manner that supports your assumption? Church membership is based on salvation. Prayer is based on salvation. Marriages are based on salvation. But we can't make any judgments?
