SPSA Church Giving (opens in a new tab)

Questions & Answers

Judging

Faith Q&A › Metropolitan Youssef › Spiritual Life › Judging

The question

It is hard for me to listen and obey our church youth leader, when he himself doesn’t do the things he orders us to do. I feel a lot of insincerity in him. Could you please give me some spiritual advice regarding that matter?

The answer

You have to differentiate between judging a person and judging his actions. It is not our place to judge the person himself but it is OK to judge his actions. This person might be teaching the right teachings but is not applying them to himself. It is crucial, especially for youth leaders and Sunday School servants, to live what they teach; unfortunately this is not always the case. Do not let his actions be a stumbling block to you. Instead of judging him as insincere, pray for him and follow what our Lord Jesus Christ commanded the multitudes and His disciples saying, "The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat, therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do" (Mt 23:2-3).

Answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab)

Related questions

Questions answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab) of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. Question 269 on the Diocese’s Q&A site. Questions and answers © Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. All rights reserved.