Judging someone from the out is WRONG!!!!!!!!

[natasha]

i don't know about y'all, but i believe that judging someone by the way they dress, the things they do, or their life style is wrong! I remember at my school, there are alot of goths and emos and kinda gay people. Everyone used to tell me that they are mean, cruel, whatever...yet they turned out to be my best buddies.
Everyone tell me that i will soon be like them, but i won't because i came from where they are right now and i am NOT going back there. Yet is there something wrong being friends with a goth or emo are kinda gay dude? i mean 98% of my friends are goths and emos......yet all of them have given their life to God. their parents don't allow the Bible so they are still struggling? Yet why do people judge emos and goths the way they do?

[Phabs]

Hi Natasha

Judging by outer appearance can be wrong, but I don’t think that it’s always wrong. Judging subjectively is wrong, that is to say if your own opinions or prejudices are what you judge by, then that is indeed wrong. Now if you judge someone’s outer appearance/behavior by what the bible, the ultimate authority, says then I do not believe it’s wrong.

I do not know what “emos” are to tell you the truth. But I do know that goth and “kinda gayi” is wrong. Does it make a statement about the person’s character? I would not say so. I don’t think that just because someone is a goth or kinda gay it means that person is mean, cruel or whatever. I think it means that our world is fallen and said person is lost and needs Christ, as do we all.

I wouldn’t say not to be friends with them, the bible does say in James that friendship with the world is enmity towards God; I don’t think it’s meant to say that you can’t be friendly towards the unsaved, more so that the things of this world should not be your focus/your desire/what you take pleasure/have fun with. I think it’s great that your friends are giving their lives over, praise God; Maybe God has called you to be a witness to them.

It’s a bit of a tough issue because on one hand sometimes just showing Christian love and kindness to the unsaved will get them curious about what you possess, on the other hand, bad company corrupts good character. I would say know what you stand for and know what the bible says about certain behaviors, pray, be mindful that they are absolute wrongs and rights and do not conform to their ways.

Now as far as other Christians being judgmental, in a perfect world, when we see someone who’s in need of Christ, we would empathize remembering when we were lost, but it doesn’t work that…unfortunately

[natasha]

true. well, about you friend.. i think that she should be worried. seriously.
thanks.
tasha

[natasha]

sorry wrong replier! but that was for paige. sorry.
yeah i understan that they are wrong, i mean to be gay and stuff. but if God wants you to help them... he will tell you

[Paige Robertson]

Hello Natasha!
I just wanted to let u know that this topic is a big one for me. But before I get into why, I just wanted to mention that my best friends daughter, Heidi, is 15 years old and considered gothic. My friends siblings and mother are warning my friend about gothics and how terrible it is for Heidi to be one. For one, Heidi is very dear to me and a really good person. Anybody that KNOWS her know that she is smart enough not to get in trouble. She isnt a rebelious child, and the fact that she wants to be gothic, for her, is not terrible. My friend isnt too worried about it because she knows her own daughter. Now, we all know that no one is perfect, and she may rebl from time to time, but thats the best way we learn to grow up! My friend, Heidi and the rest of thier family is saved, so if and when Heidi CHOOSES to start getting in trouble, God will draw her back to him.
Now, I wanted to add that I wasnt gothic in High School. There were alot of them at the time. I didnt get too involved as to what they believed in or anything, I didnt know, nor did I care because I didnt know God. Anyway, they had thier groups and they were labeled, but who wasnt labeled in High School? I mean, come on. I wasnt Gothic, but fitting in was hell for me anyway. I could not fit in anywhere. I tried to be in the popular crowd,the "rocker" crowd,the "cheerleadr and dance crowd" the "west Parking lot crowd," the "hippies'', and the Cowboy crowd. I could not fit in. So gothics may "look" different, but so does everyone else. I myself had to come a long ways before I accepted myself as who I was in Christ or for any other reason. It wasnt just high school that was hard, it was hard my whole life. I was "different" and that destroyed me. So what Im trying to say that just because Goths dress in black, wear certain jewelry, or do thier hair different or whatever, doesnt mean that they are any different than the rest of us who are just trying to make it in this life. In fact they probably know a heck of alot more than anyone else who isnt Gothic. Hey, find out for yourselfs! Talk to a gothic, they may be able to teach people something!
Paige

[Janet]

I know that I use to dress goth, when I was into all that stuff .. the occult.. but ever since I have my life to Jesus I slowly came out of all that and today I dress "normal" compared to dressing in black all the time. I wear cloths that have color in them and to show that I have changed in Jesus.. I still sometimes get temepted to dress in black but I have to remember I am New in Jesus and that the old has passed away! It is a process and the more the person gets in God that more your old life style fads in the distance.

I was judged alot because of the way I use to dress and being a Christian now I would not spend my time around that old life style except to witness to them. But if your friends are really saved and I hope they are they too will come out of their old ways and put Christ Jesus on more.

[natasha]

yeah..but they act like this because they want other emos to kniow that they understand. you know..
but they are full of love inside!

[Janet]

Well that is wonderful if they are able to reach others that way and tell them what Jesus did for them. May the HolySpirit guide them in all Truth!

[journeymanhd]

I would like to to share something I got from the AllaboutGod.com site.
"And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins" (Mark 11:25). "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven" (Luke 6:37).
Many people live with others who are family, friends, who are not Born Again. Should we abandon them? I say this, Jesus spoke to the poor, the sickly, the prostitutes, the criminals, the tax collectors people whom his disciples thought he should not be talking too. Jesu did not pick and choose based on looks,family background or clothing. He spoke to people from all areas of life.
As Christians we should share the Glory of Jesus with anyone. This is what Jesus would want us to do. I do believe we should also pray for the Grace of God to guide in our conversations. Praying for some seems awkward at times. But, a good relationship with God starts with honest and open prayer with Him. Fellowshipping with other Christians can help us keep learning so the devil does not gain any ground with us. But, remember God will not allow the devil to mess with someone doing faithful service. We must believe this. The belief in God's Grace will make the difference not our works at all.
May God Bless you
journeymanhd913

[Paige Robertson]

Amen sister!!!!
I had a hell of a time in school. From grade school on up. I was labeled about everything before anyone even knew me. Even if I did have a group of friends, they were considered the outcasts of the school. It scarred me the rest of my life. So later on in my 20's I decided to act out on my emotions and "show all them" I stole, I wore the "Latest" I wore slutty clothes, I was unfaithful, I drank, but no drugs,) I lied lied and lied, I was never faithful to any boyfriend I had and worked in alot of jobs where you made lots of money, but basically had to rip off people to make anything. I blew off my family and I had no friends but men, and last bu not least, I alomost died right before I came to Christ in 2002. I was on my death bed due to anorexia,bulimia,suicide attepts and severe dehydration because I would just throw up just to throw up, I saw darkness as the pain from my past, and not just the pain from High School, overtook me and cost me my life. All because of the thoughtless words that cut, and ripped apart my heart and will. I tried for years to "blow it off" to just "ifnore it", but couldnt. I was in therapists all my life till I came to Christ trying to figure out "what was wrong with me". I have forgiven a number of those who hurt me, but the Lord is healing me. He healed me of the pull anorexia had on me, and the sexual addiction I had. I am a whole new person.
I guess what Im saying, THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK. THERE IS LIFE OR DEATH IN TH TONGUE. Words are powerful.
"Those without sin cast the first stone"~This is my favorite scripture
Paige

[Bob B]

Page you are awesome to open up your life like this, I heard some one say once that sticks and stones can break our bones, but words can break our hearts.
I was dirt poor as a child and my father was a weekend alcoholic due to the fact that was when he had money. I suffered ridicule because of poverty every day. I was so filled with hate by the time I was 15 that it scared me. I got saved because I was told God could help me to get rid of hate. Words can do more harm than any thing. That is why I have devoted my self to be an encourager. I remember watching Bambi with my kids a hundred times at least. Thumpers was being critical and said something that was critical and his mother , corrected him and had him say; If you can’t say something good, than don’t say nothing at all.

[GoingMyOwnWay]

For me personally, I don't see gothic or emo as one with God, because it's promoting depression, death, the dark side...