7 Years Later, Still a Teachable Moment

I posted this 7 years ago (before I became a Pastor.) It still rings true:

I read someone's post where they were criticizing someone that criticized Christians in public while secretly (in private) confessed to be a Christian. First let me say what follows is NOT a criticism of the poster or the people that agreed with what the poster said about the "closet Christian", it is meant to be an opportunity to look at a differing viewpoint... Again as I admit in the answer I wrote I will catch myself being critical of people and their actions from time to time and I ask God's forgiveness when I do, but I couldn't let this teachable moment pass; I'm going to give a slightly differing opinion:

What you need to understand is that SOME people are not perfect...SOME people are not fearless... SOME people have faults... SOME people are going through things you have no clue of. That being said, are there "Christians of Convenience"? Yes, but in our haste to condemn remember this;

Matthew 7:3 KJV

[3] And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

We as Christians are very quick to criticize, quick to condemn (I am not excluding myself.) Plainly said we are quick to "eat our own". So let us stop and first try to understand what may be going on in that person's life, that they may not have had the support or upbringing to be steadfast in faith, but most of all we need to be encouraging, not condemning because that person may be at a tipping point at which one more condemnation turns them against The Lord and what will you say to God when He asks you: "Why didn't you encourage them, show My Love to them, pray for them and turn them to Me, not away from Me???"

Let me leave you with one last thought, Jesus said "Upon this rock I will build my church!" He was speaking to Peter, one of the greatest men in the Bible, the same Peter whom He knew would deny Him three times at the hour of His betrayal. Our Lord could have criticized and condemned but He didn't, how can we do any less?