In today's day and age, everyone is so quick to judge. Some people don't have a filter and say the first thing that comes to mind in any given situation. People are pointing fingers constantly and belittling their own actions because someone else out there has done far worse. When someone doesn't agree with the opinion or action of another person, hateful words and condemning statements flood the air.

But I just want to set one thing straight...

You can't change a sinner. You do not hold the power to condemn someone let alone tell them they are undeserving of heaven. God's Word is the powerful message that changes hearts. Jesus laid his life down on the cross so that our blackened hearts would be purified. Everyone's sinful hearts.

You can't judge a person soley on one act. Or several for that matter. You don't know their story and you definitely don't know their reasoning behind their actions. None of us are perfect. None of us are 100% confident in our decisions. No one really has it all together and knows exactly what they're doing. We all make mistakes and trying to keep score about whose sins are worse is a mistake in itself.

Arguing about what's right or wrong with a person will not help. We're all stubborn and guilty of not listening to others, so what makes you think that condemning someone's sin is going to stop them? Most of the time, getting angry or defensive about one's beliefs will only make them want to keep sinning more, just to spite you.

The law is harsh and unforgiving, and for some people it's terrifying and upsetting to talk about. Some people don't want to believe in an ultimate power, let alone a jealous God who deals out punishments for every sin committed. Most of us don't want to be held accountable for our slip-ups. And most of us don't want to be told that the way we're choosing to live our life isn't the right way. No one likes having their beliefs and personal choices attacked.

Everyone's a saint when they talk about someone else's sins. Your self-righteous attitude comes off as condescending and no one is going to listen to a word you have to say. They'll fight back and begin targeting all of your slip-ups. Pretty soon it'll just be a hateful game of "Who's Sin is Worse?" and that's not going to help any of us. Fighting hate with more hate does not cancel it out. It only fuels the fire. You're not helping, you're making it worse.

Whether it be gay marriage, tattoos, alcohol, lying, stealing, or whatever else one person finds sinful, another might believe to be perfectly acceptable. No matter what your religion, it's not right to accuse someone else of sinning without first taking a look at yourself. You are not free from blemish or flaw. You sin every day. You keep dark secrets too. Condemning a fellow sinner to hell is not your job.

Bickering about who's right and what's a sin is not proactive. We should be filling our lives with love, not hate. Instead of exclusion, we should be accepting. Instead of pointing fingers, we should be helping each other up. Instead of dismissing opinions because they don't align with your own, we should be open to discussing other world views.

If there's anything you can take from this article, just remember that it's not up to you. Whatever you think about someone is not who they are. Whatever you say will happen to them isn't within your power. God is the only one with the power to truly change someone's heart. Sure, you can aid in that process and lead by example, but you are not them. You don't get to make their decisions and you definitely don't get to judge them.