Judge, lest you be judged...

There has been a lot of talk on my social media sites lately about judgement, judging, and passing judgement, etc. People I know have been arguing back and forth for weeks now about whether it's right or wrong and exactly what the definition of it is. I have joined in on quite a few of these conversations and many of them have really got me thinking about my position on this topic. If you want to spark a quick fire of anger and argument call someone out for their sexual immorality, or the abortion they had, or the idols in their lives, or the addiction they refuse to break free from. I promise you that "don't judge" will be the very first thing that comes flying out of their mouth. 

The first time I ever really hard the expression, "don't judge" was from my sister-in-law. I don't remember the exact conversation now but I remember being somewhat put off by her saying this to me because I didn't feel like I was passing judgement or putting something/someone down or trying to make someone feel bad, I was simply speaking the truth as I saw it. Over the years I have heard this phrase said in many different ways and many different contexts. The most popular I see are:

Don't judge someone just because they sin differently that you. 
Don't judge me by my decisions if you don't understand my reasons.
Keep calm and don't judge.
Don't judge me until you know me.
Don't judge someone's choices without first knowing their reason. 
Don't judge my path if you haven't walked my journey. 

Gaaaaaa!!! This judge word, its just so over used and so misunderstood that to the normal every day me, it all gets so confusing and frustrating to see and to be told. I do know two things....I know the minute you make someone feel bad or uncomfortable you are accused of judging them and  I do know that Jesus wants us to judge, but He wants us to do it based on the will of God. 

Lets take a look at the origination of this phrase...

"Do not judge so that you will not be judged". Matthew 7:1.  If you point out someone's sin this is the first verse that will be slapped across your face but the problem is, this is usually where people stop.

Like with so many versus or chapters of the Bible, people tend to just pick one thing they like and they stop there without further interpretation or research. So, let's not be them. Let's go a little further..."For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you". Matthew 7:2. Makes a lot more sense and ties things together when you keep reading huh? 

There are several other versus in the Bible that reference judging; Luke 6:37 talks about not condemning and that you should forgive so that you can be forgiven. Luke 6:41 speaks of how you should remove the plank from your own eye before you try and examine the speck of dust in your brothers eye. John 8:7 is the famous verse where Jesus says that if you are without sin to throw the first stone. Romans 2:1 is basically parallel to Luke in which is says you will be judged to the same point as you judge someone else. Romans 14.10 says that you pretty much should watch out and not treat someone with contempt because you will stand in the same judgement seat as your brother or sister. Romans 14.13 is a great one that speaks about instead of judging that you should make up your mind that you will not put any stumbling blocks in the way of your brother or sisters walk with Christ. 1 Corinthians 4:5 speaks of how you don't need to point out someone else's flaws because God will bring to light everything that we have been trying to hide in darkness and expose the motives of the heart. James 4:11 is where we are told not to slander each other and that if we speak out against our brother or sister we are speaking against the law and when we speak against the law, we're not keeping it but sitting in judgement on it.  I think that 1 Corinthians 4:5 is probably my favorite and I think it's the most telling and easiest to understand on this topic. "Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God." 

If Jesus doesn't want us to judge each other then why in the world are there so many versus in the Bible about this topic? 

Society often takes all of these versus out of context and they use them to condemn and accuse the Christian of being "judgmental" when they speak out against sin. What I believe that Jesus is saying in all of these versus is that we are not to judge according to appearance, but we are to judge in righteous judgement. If someone steals, lies, commits adultery, or murder, Christian's can make a righteous moral judgement and say that these actions or sins are morally wrong and that there will be eternal consequences. 

Chuck Colson said, "True tolerance is not a total lack of judgement. It's knowing what should be tolerated- and refusing to tolerate what which shouldn't". - The evidence Bible. 

No one wants to be made to feel uncomfortable in their sin. People are sinful in nature and they want to be left alone to do what they want, when they want, without someone trying to make them feel guilty about it. That's when the ol "Don't judge me!" will come flying out. People will tell you that if you call them out on their sin that you are not being tolerant of them and they will say that what you're telling them is hate speech, that you are judging them, and that you are not treating them fairly. 

It's also funny to me what we as a society choose to say is ok to judge and what is not ok to judge. I read a story about a woman that was in line to vote for President and she made a remark saying, "Well, we aren't supposed to judge". I thought wow, choosing NOT to judge a political candidate on election day?! No wonder our nation is in such a mess. 

My opinion on these versus, or my interpretation is that we are to judge ourselves first, and then we can judge other's behavior. I get this from Luke 6:41. To me this means that I need to check my own behavior before I go out and start telling other people how to behave. I need to get my heart right with the Lord before I can go out and teach other's how to get their heart right.

 I see it all tying together with hypocrisy. How can I be addicted to some sort of substance and in the midst of my addiction go out and try and tell other people that they need to get off of drugs or alcohol? How can I tell someone not to steal when just the night before I stole? 

I think if one verse in the Bible best describes my generation and the society we live in its Isaiah 59:7- 8, "Their feet run to evil, And they hasten to shed innocent blood; Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity, devastation and destruction are in their highways. They do not know the way of peace, and there is no justice in their tracks; they have made their paths crooked, whoever treads on them does not know peace". We have screamed at each other DON'T JUDGE ME so much that this is no peace. We have succumbed ourselves to sin so much that we don't even recognize what is right and just any more and we allow the sinner to be comfortable in their sin because we just want to get along. But we're not really getting along are we? But how can I live in peace and harmony with Christ if I don't discern between what is sinful and what is not sinful? What about Revelation 2:2? "I know your deeds; your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false". Why would God be please with these people if judging sin was wrong? Is it not impossible to find someone a liar without judging them? I think it's important to judge on a regular basis so that we are properly serving and honoring God. 

I think the problem is with most Christians is that they are afraid of someone accusing them of being mean, or being uncharitable. The danger there is that they are bending on their moral teachings. My dad has a saying he uses quite a bit, "How do they know they are in need of a Savior if we do not point out their sin". As Christians I think we are far to fearful of the PC police and we are bending and twisting to the morals of this world instead of standing on the Word of God and condemning sin for what it is. Sex outside of traditional marriage is wrong, killing the unborn is a sin, stealing is a sin, murder is a sin, lying....is a sin. I don't want to sin by being a liar and I am lying if I don't judge sin for sin. If I don't call you out on what you are doing wrong, then I am doing an injustice to you by not allowing you to be convicted by God, and I am lying to you. Wisdom is being able to discern good from evil and we're in trouble if we as Christians refuse to do it because we're afraid we might lose a few friends. 

So the question is then...how are we supposed to judge? I think there is quite a bit of guidance in the Bible for judging. Going back to my favorite verse on this topic, 1 Corinthians 4:5 is where I see the real heart of the matter of judging and where I get the most upset with people. Let's review that verse one more time...."Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God." 

 I am all for judging sin. I am all for "Love the sinner, hate the sin". I think that God wants us to judge sin, I think it's required that we judge sin, and I think if we don't judge sin we are actually living in sin and sinning against God. I just don't think that we should place ourselves in a position where we are above someone else and I don't think that we should try and take the authority of God and judge someone's heart or their hearts intention.

 You see, we are all not finished yet. We are all clay in the Potter's hands. He is not quite finished with us yet. I personally have a lot of growing and learning left to do. I many sin but in my heart I desire Christ and I am still learning my path and I'm still being rebuked by Christ. He will get me where He wants me, in His time. And he will do the same with all of you.  

So when we judge we need to make sure that we are judging:

1.  Scripturally. Our standard is flawed, it is not God's standard so we have to use His word as our standard. 

2. Don't judge when God's Word is silent. If God is silent about the subject then we don't have to judge it. God will. Don't make more out of a topic than God makes out of it. 

3. Pray for good judgement ability. When Solomon received his kingdom, he asked God to "Give therefore they servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad; for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?" 1 Kings 3:9. We should pray for good judgement ability so that we don't sin against God. 

4. Be fair. A truly fair judge is blind and deaf to outer influence so all parties should be treated fairly such as family members or friends. 

5. Judge in truth. Don't judge someone or something without all the relevant facts. A Japanese proverb says to "search seven times before you judge."

6. Judge mercifully. If you are quick to judge others harshly, then I truly believe that God will see to it that you receive the same from others. You reap what you sow. Has God not been merciful to you, even though you didn't deserve it? 

7. Don't forget to judge yourself. 1 Corinthians 11:30-31, "For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged." If you take your own accountability first and set yourself straight, there isn't a whole lot others can say about you. If you refuse to judge yourself and improve yourself as a child of God then you are leaving it in His hands and everyone else's hands to judge you. You cannot secretly be sinning, or outwardly be sinning and try to call someone out because it will come back to bite you. 

**One more thing of great importance about judging. There is a huge difference between judgement of someone's sin and judgement of someone's appearance. I get really irritated with this one. You can form a perception or an opinion of someone based on how they look or dress or how they style their hair, or what music they listen to or the type of car they drive. This is completely different than "judging". This is more commonly called, "Don't judge a book by it's cover". Just because someone looks different that you doesn't mean they are a bad person. It doesn't mean that you have the right to put them down, insult them, or make assumptions about their life or their morals. Be careful about this because some of the nicest and most kind hearted people you will ever meet look completely different that you do. 

I want to know what you have to say. What is your opinion on this hot topic or what is your experience with it? Leave me a comment and let me know!