Head full of sermons, mouth full of spiders.

I have always thought about that question. If Judas was obeying what God had ordained/ planned for him, is he then "evil?" Sin is evil. But what I have taken away from my theological education is that once you are justified by Christ, He will not let you go even if you do sin. Thus, if I, a saved Christian, cheated on my (theoretical) wife, or stole money from the Church treasury, or looked at porn today and then got hit by a bus, my soul will still be taken up to heaven to wait for the new earth and heaven because I am saved. I am not perfect. The hope is, at least for me, is that Christ’s salvific work on earth via the incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension (throwing in some Eastern Church ideas in here too) I am graphed onto Him. That from that point on I will gradually be made perfect with the help and influence of the Holy Spirit, thus reversing the negative effects that our first parents bequeathed us. But I also know that I will not reach full perfection until after my death and resurrection.

This has just caused another question to rear its head in my tired mind; can we compare the disciples, including Judas, before the crucifixion to post resurrection Christians? In other words, do the rules apply to them as it does to us? Let’s say Judas accepted Christ’s message. Let’s say he loved Him and saw what He had to say was true but he was tempted by money to betray Him. Is he damned? If so, how often do we, Christians in the Church, betray our Lord on a daily basis? How often do we turn a blind eye to activities that our Beloved would have us speak out against? How often do I not feed the hungry and clothe the poor? I am a hypocrite! How can I call myself a Christian and not do what He wants me to do! I think we deserve the same punishment as Judas. Alas, once Christ Jesus has hold of us, He will not let us go. Now did he have a hold on Judas? Did He let him go? Am I ranting and rambling? I will shut up now.

I like what Carlos has to say, and agree with him, but the fact that Judas was fulfilling his place in God's plan is a bit of a double edge sword, in my head.
On the one hand, it's comforting to think that God has a plan, and that we can, indeed follow it. This suggests a meaningful, orderly existence to me, one where my part in the scheme of things is mapped out and I merely need to follow the directions to find my place. In fact, I often pray for just such guidance: "Help me follow the path, God.... No, really... help!"
On the other hand, is perpetuating such an evil act part of the plan? Is that a valid path and place? I would have to think that there would be backup plans in place (in case Judas didn't, you know, act all Judas-y) that would have achieved the same end. Surely Christ could have saved us all without the sin of Judas.
Perhaps what's bothering me is the old free will/predestination thing. Does it bother me more to think about someone being fated to commit an evil act than a good? Would I rather be automotoned into goodness? You bet your sweet bippy. But perhaps that's a cop out.
At the same time, Judas had to have had choices along the way, and it seems that he chose the wrong way at every step. (Sure, we could get into the often illusory nature of "choice," here. People are often put into horrid situations where every choice leads to something awful.)
Judas' act leaves me with a bad feeling in my stomach, and many different thoughts in my head. Perhaps he continues to serve his function.