“But they said, ‘Stand aside.’ Furthermore, they said, ‘This one came in as an alien, and already he is acting like a judge; now we will treat you worse than them.’ So they pressed hard against Lot and came near to break down the door.” (Genesis 19:9)

The response of the people of Sodom to Lot when he attempted to protect his guests from the immorality of the city is very revealing — and unfortunately very typical of our own age.

The residents of Sodom said about Lot: “already he is acting like a judge.” Perhaps you have heard this kind of response before? Perhaps you have uttered it? It is so often the response of the worldly person to anyone who confronts them about their sin: they claim that the person is “judging”! But think about WHO is saying it here: people who were clearly sinning, and who very shortly, in fact, experienced the fiery judgment of the Almighty! In light of this passage:

— If someone accuses you of “judging”, don’t take it to heart. Know that was exactly what SODOM said about a righteous person too.

— Don’t be quick to pull out the “you’re judging!” card yourself, lest you be found responding just as the sinners of Sodom did! It is self-condemning!

— And don’t be so afraid of others saying it about you, that you back down and start compromising with the standards of the world around you. You don’t have to be a very discerning judge to see that it’s becoming a lot more like Sodom every day.