Christianity and Judgement

[Warrior Monk]

"Judge not lest ye be judged."

How are we to interpret and make sense of these words?

I think it is impossible to be a Christian without using judgement and judging, how do we deal with this seeming contradiction?

 

[Breetai]

don't judge.

 

[Warrior Monk]

don't judge.

If I can't exercize judgement how am I to tell right from wrong? How am I to judge the meaning of Christ's words if I don't exercize judgement. If I'm going to go to heaven as long as I believe in Jesus and I repent for my sins, why can't I judge all day? Are Judges of the Devil?

 

[Flynmonkie]

"Judge not lest ye be judged."

How are we to interpret and make sense of these words?

I think it is impossible to be a Christian without using judgement and judging, how do we deal with this seeming contradiction?

Correction, Judgment Only if it is Righteous and treated with Discretion and Discernment -IMHO

Matthew 7:1-6 from what I see is one of the most used and often abused passages in the Bible. Using this passage as a pretext, it is often said, "It is wrong to judge under any circumstances." But what does this passage and others like it really teach? Can the child of God judge another child of God without disobeying the scriptures?

Matthew 7
Judging Others

1 "(1) Do not judge so that you will not be judged.
2 "For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and (2) by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.
3 "Why do you (3) look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?

We must First and most importantly, realize that we are not ultimately the judge of anyone’s salvation, because you cannot see anyone’s heart. Only God can do that (1 Samuel 16:7). And people express their love for God and faith in Christ in different ways.

1 Samuel 16
7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, (1) but the LORD looks at the heart."

But on the other hand, you must hold firmly to the truth of God’s Word concerning salvation and not offer false assurance to people who may not be truly saved. Three extremes to consider and we have to be very careful not to mix the actual intent of the scripture for each situation.

Matthew 7:15 says that we are to "beware of false prophets" and we are told to judge them "by their fruits" at Matthew 7:20. Later at Romans 16:17 we are instructed to "mark those who cause divisions and occasions of stumbling, contrary to the doctrine which we have learned: and turn away from them." Such obviously requires some form of judging. What then is the case?


Jesus condemns critical judgment: Never at any time, is it proper for a Christian to be quick to criticize another brother without first considering their own motives. Regardless of what another has done, we are not to exhibit a spirit of harsh condemnation. Those who display this type of hyper-critical judging can expect the same kind of condemnation for themselves, "for with what measure you use, it will be measured back to you." That is to say, we need to be careful when we judge others especially when we are guilty of the same things, or of some other sin that is just as damning as the one we condemn our brother for.
Jesus had this type of judgment in mind when he urged that we "first cast the beam out of our own eye." Before we are qualified to engage in helpful judging, we must first engage in self-correction. We do not have to attain perfection before we can help others, but the nearer we are to perfection the more likely we are to "judge righteously" (Matthew 7:24).

Jesus sanctions helpful judging: While we are not to be harsh and critical of others, we can and should help each other. Galatians 6:1, for instance says, "If a man is overtaken in a fault, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of meekness considering yourselves lest you also be tempted."

Galatians 6
Bear One Another's Burdens

1 (1) Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are (2) spiritual, (3) restore such a one (4) in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Further we are instructed by Paul at II Thessalonians 3:14,15, "If any man does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person, and do not keep company with him, that he might be ashamed. Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother."


2 Thessalonians 3
13 But as for you, (1) brethren, (2) do not grow weary of doing good.
14 If anyone does not obey our instruction (3) in this letter, take special note of that person (4) and do not associate with him, so that he will be (5) put to shame.

Before we judge another, it would be wise and prudent to re study the words of Jesus recorded at Matthew 18:15-20. This, by the way, is the only way we should deal with our brother for whom Christ died.

Discipline and Prayer
Matthew 18
15 "(13) If your brother sins[2] , go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.
16 "But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that (14) BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED.
17 "If he refuses to listen to them, (15) tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, (16) let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
18 "Truly I say to you, (17) whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.
19 "Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, (18) it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven.
20 "For where two or three have gathered together in My name, (19) I am there in their midst."

The Judging that is written about in Matthew 7:1-2 can easily be confused with the other two forms of correct judgment. That is why I think that we should Remember ours is a ministry of spiritual restoration, not defamation. For someone whom is new in Christ it is very easy to have some misconceptions about scripture. I know I am there and I am sure many of you were at one time. I have also had this same struggle, when are we judging correctly and when are we simply out of line. I think we should practice caution with those that are new and still in the process of learning. Offer encouragement not pious discouragement. By not doing so you put yourself in the position to be a stumbling block. We can, and often we do, twist the scriptures so that they will teach otherwise, but such is neither Biblical nor loving and we do so at the expense of our own souls (II Peter 3:16).

II Peter 3
16 as also in all his letters, speaking in them of (1) these things, (2) in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and (3) unstable distort, as they do also (4) the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.

All in all I believe God is asking us to guide others rather than correct them in their walk with him. If there is correction it should be approached very cautiously and probably better to be done initially, for as long as you can in private. As the scripture calls for.

I have been witness to many situations where guidance turns to judgment and it steers many away from their path. Just something to think about. Each case should be treated differently, as that there are many examples to call upon.
First we must determine what type of Judgment is needed. If at all the correct judgement in the first place. Then we should consider approach again using Discretion and Discernment and of course just basic respect if for another one of Gods children.

 

[Crazy Liz]

This saying is not about judging between right and wrong, but about judging people. Luke 12:57 says something different about this.

Read this saying in context - at least the whole verse:

Luke 6:37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

There are several other places in the gospels (such as Matthew 5, Matthew 7 and Matthew 18) where Jesus says similar things. Expect to be judged or forgiven by the same standard you use when you judge or forgive other humans.

 

[Breetai]

If I'm going to go to heaven as long as I believe in Jesus and I repent for my sins, why can't I judge all day? Are Judges of the Devil?

Well, you could judge all day, but why? You'll only have people mad at you. Judges are not necessarily of the Devil.

FYI, you only have to believe in Jesus. He covers all your sins. You don't have to repent of each individual one, just repent in general. If you believe in Jesus, you won't even have to think about it.

 

[Blessed2003]

"Judge not lest ye be judged."

How are we to interpret and make sense of these words?

I think it is impossible to be a Christian without using judgement and judging, how do we deal with this seeming contradiction?

"And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not notice the LOG that is in your own eye." Matthew 7:2

It is my estimation that we are naturally judgemental of situations that we are unfamiliar with, as human beings. For instance, Anything we do, we tend not to judge in others, but heaven forbid if we have not fallen into that particular "sin trap" it is ON.....We naturally "catagorize sin" We can't help it..but, if we first examie our own lives, ie..taking out the LOG, (by implication a log is bigger than a speck?) then we can indeed see clearly to gently, lovingly set our brothers and sisters on the "right path" (and sin is sin is sin compared to the right one, GOD)
The really tricky thing is, we have to first be on that path....Brothers, Sisters, remember this, when we begin to see others through our own eyes, (this takes an effort, it is not natural) then we will change, Christians will be known for thier LOVE as they should be, not their HATE..........

God Bless All, may we all See and Hear.......
Praises to the Almighty God.....

 

[TwinCrier]

Notice it doesn't say to ignore the mote or the beam. "Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye." This is talking about hypocrisy, it is not condemning using your good judgement.

John 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

 

[Blessed2003]

yes. I don't disagree, but so many (including me) have ignorantly judged without first examining themselves..Which IMO is critical to being able to "rightly divide" or "judge."

 

[LynneClomina]

don't judge = dont judge that a person is good or bad, or that they are stupid or foolish, dont judge them as being beyond redemption. condemning. labelling.

judge for yourselves = judge between right and wrong... discern.... weigh. for the purposes of bringing understanding, reconciliation, forgiveness, etc. to instruct, correct, exhort, edify. to not be pulled into something wicked because we don't dare "judge".

ppl in sin often throw out "who are YOU to judge ME???"
well, if i am truly judging THEM, then they are right, as, to me, it always has condemnation. if i am judging their SIN, then no, they are not correct - i am discerning not condemning.

two kinds of judging

the good kind, judging = discerning
the bad kind, judging = condemning

IMHO