Judging Others; Should We?

Matthew Chapter 7-3.  Jesus said “Stop judging that you may not be judged. ² For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you. ³ Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye?

Judging is not a spectator sport!!  Notice that the Lord says that we must first look to ourselves and then perhaps to the actions of others.  Of course we can’t judge one’s heart.  That’s God’s territory. 

Many of our young adults see their parents very willing to preach or teach on the subject of judging others. They are ready to condemn  on this very verse in Matthew.  Can’t you and I see the “splinter” in our own eye?  Therefore we shouldn’t judge others at all, right?  Who or what gives us that right?  Doesn’t God love everyone?  What’s wrong with people who choose a different lifestyle?  How can people who sit in comfortable pews on Sunday, condemn those who don’t go to church or perhaps chose to co-habitat with the same sex partner?  That’s not our job, is it? 

Perhaps, just perhaps………we have taken that very verse out context and the real meaning  of what Jesus was teaching.

If I read my Bible correctly, Jesus was very condemning.  He condemned the church hierarchy; he condemned false teaching; he even condemned the woman caught in adultery but with love telling her to go and sin no more.  Paul’s letters were replete with messages to the Gentile churches.   He was especially condemning of sexual mores that were invading the assemblies that were bringing in pagan beliefs from the Roman world.  That’s where we are today. 

We have also allowed the philosophy of the “Roman” world to take hold of our thinking.  We are fearful of condemning anything, especially those who now live in a homosexual lifestyle.  The Christians of today are all too willing to judge those inside the church while at the same time allowing the thinking of their peers and social media to convince them that Christians are in the wrong.  They  are so willing to use God’s love as an excuse for all types of immoral behavior.  Isn’t it love that will also guide us all into being truthful with others?   

You and I didn’t write the rules.  God set standards and limitations on us humans. He judged his chosen people, the Jews, harshly when they would forsake His Covenant as they absorbed the pagan cultures around them.

Although it is certainly hazardous to evaluate the problems or sins of others, we are to judge in every aspect of life that scriptures reveal to us.  Our Master shows us that we are to judge the deeds of others, but to be very careful with our judgments. We should consider our weaknesses and sins very carefully, to the point of overcoming them, before we make harsh judgments on others. How can we condemn someone else when we may have even bigger problems? He instructs us to remove the hypocrisy and then we can help our brother with his difficulties.

 Certainly, we are to analyze—judge—what is right or wrong, based on the mind of God as expressed in His Word. How we apply that judgment to others is critical, for Christ will take the same attitude with us that we take with others.

Have we in the churches become rather indifferent to looking at ourselves in judgment?  When have you heard a sermon on Christian ethics and behavior? Paul writes…….. “For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside the church? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside,. God judges.”  (I Corinthians 5:12-13). 

God of course is the final judge in all things.  However, He will judge in righteousness because of His great love for all of us. Aren’t we thankful you and I don’t have the final word on judgment?  However, like it or not, life forces us to make judgments or decisions about people every day. These may deal with mundane physical things or with friendships or lifestyles that affect a lifetime.  

Yes, we can and should judge others but always while disciplining them in the words our Master and with love always guiding us.