JUDGING

You have heard this before, “God is my judge and when I get to heaven, He will judge me.” I heard it yesterday as I left our Church service. I said to the woman that Christians are told in Scripture to judge but we are not to make those judgements that belong to God alone.  It seems that the only Scripture that she knew was Matt. 7:1, but she did not know John 7:24.

While hearing our conversation, another lady responded, “But doesn’t the Scriptures say, “Judge ye not?”, to which I gave this reply from the notes in the commentary on Matt. 7:1 from my study Bible:

“As the context reveals, this does not prohibit all types of judging (v. 16). There is a righteous kind of judgement we are suppose to exercise with careful discernment (John 7:24). Censorous, hypocritical, self-righteous judgements are forbidden, but in order to fulfill the commandments that follow, it is necessary to discern dogs and swine (v. 6) from one’s own brethren (vv. 3-5)”

Sometimes it is a misunderstanding of Matthew 7:1 and other times people just don’t want to be corrected, so they say, “Who are you to judge?”

Some of that friction can be snuffed out by remembering that the purpose of the conversation on this subject is not to win an arguement, but to improve a life and sometimes, to save a life.  When we stay in touch with the real purpose of the conversation, it keeps us in touch our passion for the lives that we engage, and we also tend to approach those conversations, lovingly, Biblically, as well as with authority.  I know that my own life was eternally changed when someone pointed out the error of my ways and I humbly listened and then later thanked God for them.

The next time someone accuses you of judging them, keep John 7:24 in view which clearly encourages us to judge. Then explain to them that Matthew 7:1 cannot possibly prohibit us from judging at any time, based on John 7:24 and then ensure them of your commitment to their good.