Thou Shalt Be Judge-mental
Thou Shalt Be Judge-mental
“Only God can judge me” just might be the motto of the Christian who has no idea what they are talking about. Or maybe it’s the cry of the non-religious person to get all the religious people off their backs. Either way, it’s not biblically accurate. And if it was, it should scare you to your very core. Why? Because man’s judgement may be uncomfortable, but it isn’t final. God’s judgement is final and I assure you it will be uncomfortable.
Christians certainly don’t make the rules (although many of us love to act like we do), but we sure do love to point them out to everyone. And when I say everyone, I mean everyone. And while I’m not making a stance against morality, I think morality is different from outright judgement.
Morality is telling or explaining to people what the “rules” are. Again, the Bible isn’t a rule book of do’s and don’ts, it’s a love letter on what’s the best way for you to live your life for the best outcome of life. And if morality is explaining the “rules,” judgement is telling someone what is going to happen to them because they broke the rules. And forget about grace. The judgement is going to happen to them no matter what (sarcasm, obviously).
What’s always been interesting to me is that these “rules” some Christians place onto others never apply to the person placing them. Or, there’s many we just don’t talk about. Like gluttony, for example. How many sermons have you heard on that topic? This is most certainly why Jesus wisely told us to remove the giant log out of our own eye before we remove the tiniest speck from our neighbors. I like to think that a reason why He said that was because after all that work of taking the log out of your own eye, the speck in your neighbor’s might not be such a big deal after all. Or maybe their speck was your log from your perspective.
I think we also live in a society that loves judgement. We’re enamored with it. We have countless tv shows with judges judging contestants in them, shows about judges, shows about judges judging judges… It’s an endless list. Everyone has an opinion. Everyone has a final judgement.
And for everyone who ever reads this, please understand, just because you have the right to an opinion doesn’t mean you have the right to give that opinion. Yes, you should have an opinion. In fact, the Bible says in 1 Peter 3:15 to always be ready to give an answer for the hope that is within you. Meaning always have an opinion about society from a biblical perspective, but don’t always give that opinion. That’s what the Hold Spirit’s job is, to tell you when to give your answer/opinion.
And by the way, your opinion isn’t always right. Opinions are not facts. That’s why we call them opinions.
So then why is our society so obsessed with judgement? Well, I think it’s because judgement equals control to some degree. And if it’s not that, it’s certainly a level of superiority that one can feel during or after the judgement against someone else. I think we are a society that loves control and superiority. Why? Because it makes us feel we are more like God. Or that we are gods to ourselves.
So then why did Jesus tell us not to judge others? Well, He didn’t tell us not to judge as much as He warned us not to. He gave us the information, and also gave us the decision. Towards the end of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), Jesus teaches about judging others. This is where He teaches about removing the log out of your own eye so you can see clearly to remove the speck from your neighbor’s.
In verse 2 of Matthew 7, Jesus states, “For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the same measure you use, it will be measured to you.” This is the warning that Jesus gives if or when we choose to judge others. The measure you use will be measured against you. To me, this is both sobering and challenging.
And to take it a step further, Paul gives more clarity about judging in 1 Corinthians 5:12: “What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside.”So while many people say “only God can judge me” to avoid responsibility, I think that right there at the end of the chapter Paul clearly tells us to judge those inside the church but not outside.
The trick here is understanding the meaning of the word “judge.” It’s not to condemn with finality, but to hold others to the standard that they claim. It doesn’t condone, but it holds people responsible. It really goes along with the scripture in Proverbs 27:17 about iron sharpening iron. That’s holding a standard. That’s “judging” those who claim Christ. Which we are called to do. We are called to hold each other up, yes, but we are also called to hold each other accountable.
So is it biblical to judge? I’d say that it sure is. Just be very careful who you judge and how you judge. Make sure you hold a biblical standard. But make sure you also show and give grace when and where it is needed. And if what goes around comes around, then make sure it’s grace. You never know when you might need some to come around to you.
“Only God can judge me” just might be the motto of the Christian who has no idea what they are talking about. Or maybe it’s the cry of the non-religious person to get all the religious people off their backs. Either way, it’s not biblically accurate. And if it was, it should scare you to your very core. Why? Because man’s judgement may be uncomfortable, but it isn’t final. God’s judgement is final and I assure you it will be uncomfortable.
Christians certainly don’t make the rules (although many of us love to act like we do), but we sure do love to point them out to everyone. And when I say everyone, I mean everyone. And while I’m not making a stance against morality, I think morality is different from outright judgement.
Morality is telling or explaining to people what the “rules” are. Again, the Bible isn’t a rule book of do’s and don’ts, it’s a love letter on what’s the best way for you to live your life for the best outcome of life. And if morality is explaining the “rules,” judgement is telling someone what is going to happen to them because they broke the rules. And forget about grace. The judgement is going to happen to them no matter what (sarcasm, obviously).
What’s always been interesting to me is that these “rules” some Christians place onto others never apply to the person placing them. Or, there’s many we just don’t talk about. Like gluttony, for example. How many sermons have you heard on that topic? This is most certainly why Jesus wisely told us to remove the giant log out of our own eye before we remove the tiniest speck from our neighbors. I like to think that a reason why He said that was because after all that work of taking the log out of your own eye, the speck in your neighbor’s might not be such a big deal after all. Or maybe their speck was your log from your perspective.
I think we also live in a society that loves judgement. We’re enamored with it. We have countless tv shows with judges judging contestants in them, shows about judges, shows about judges judging judges… It’s an endless list. Everyone has an opinion. Everyone has a final judgement.
And for everyone who ever reads this, please understand, just because you have the right to an opinion doesn’t mean you have the right to give that opinion. Yes, you should have an opinion. In fact, the Bible says in 1 Peter 3:15 to always be ready to give an answer for the hope that is within you. Meaning always have an opinion about society from a biblical perspective, but don’t always give that opinion. That’s what the Hold Spirit’s job is, to tell you when to give your answer/opinion.
And by the way, your opinion isn’t always right. Opinions are not facts. That’s why we call them opinions.
So then why is our society so obsessed with judgement? Well, I think it’s because judgement equals control to some degree. And if it’s not that, it’s certainly a level of superiority that one can feel during or after the judgement against someone else. I think we are a society that loves control and superiority. Why? Because it makes us feel we are more like God. Or that we are gods to ourselves.
So then why did Jesus tell us not to judge others? Well, He didn’t tell us not to judge as much as He warned us not to. He gave us the information, and also gave us the decision. Towards the end of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), Jesus teaches about judging others. This is where He teaches about removing the log out of your own eye so you can see clearly to remove the speck from your neighbor’s.
In verse 2 of Matthew 7, Jesus states, “For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the same measure you use, it will be measured to you.” This is the warning that Jesus gives if or when we choose to judge others. The measure you use will be measured against you. To me, this is both sobering and challenging.
And to take it a step further, Paul gives more clarity about judging in 1 Corinthians 5:12: “What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside.”So while many people say “only God can judge me” to avoid responsibility, I think that right there at the end of the chapter Paul clearly tells us to judge those inside the church but not outside.
The trick here is understanding the meaning of the word “judge.” It’s not to condemn with finality, but to hold others to the standard that they claim. It doesn’t condone, but it holds people responsible. It really goes along with the scripture in Proverbs 27:17 about iron sharpening iron. That’s holding a standard. That’s “judging” those who claim Christ. Which we are called to do. We are called to hold each other up, yes, but we are also called to hold each other accountable.
So is it biblical to judge? I’d say that it sure is. Just be very careful who you judge and how you judge. Make sure you hold a biblical standard. But make sure you also show and give grace when and where it is needed. And if what goes around comes around, then make sure it’s grace. You never know when you might need some to come around to you.
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