Man! Do we love to see people get saved! Depending on the specific theological perspective, the moment a person utters a prayer, or repeats the good confession, or climbs out of a baptistry; we Christians assure them their name is written in the book of life and the angels are dancing in Heaven. We do not hesitate to declare the lost sheep found and the old made new.

Then, a few seconds (or weeks, or months, or years) later, these people we believe to be indwelled by the Holy Spirit of God act like they’re demon possessed. They start identifying as toaster ovens, selling narcotics, punching toddlers, setting nursing homes on fire, and voting for Democrats. That’s when we Christians decide we’re not qualified to judge anymore.

“John, you jerk!!! Who are you to judge??!! God alone knows a person’s heart!!! It’s not your place to tell anyone they’re lost!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Certainly, you are correct. God alone knows a person’s heart. Deciding who is excluded from the Kingdom of Heaven is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay above my pay grade. The Holy Spirit may be softening any given heart at any given moment and the vilest criminal may be seconds away from becoming a new creation.

But if you’re going to scold me for telling people they’re lost, it’s a little hypocritical for you to tell people they’re saved. God alone knows a person’s heart. Who are you to judge? It’s not your place to tell anyone they’re redeemed.

Now before you start firing bible verses at me, I believe mankind was offered redemption through Jesus Christ. I’m certain that Jesus is the way to God. I’m not doubting the power of Almighty God to triumph over sin.

I’m just wondering if you’ve noticed your double standard. There is some evidence in the bible that not everyone who claims to be a disciple is telling the truth. We should be just as careful about calling people ‘found’ as we are about calling them ‘lost.’

(Hebrews 6:4) For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.