“Who are you to judge? You’re a Christian, don’t you know
one of the main commands you have is not to judge?” If you have been a Christian
for any length of time, it is likely that you have heard something along these
lines. Statements like this are especially common when Christians talk about things they think are right and wrong; especially when it’s
about controversial things. And there’s a very real sense in which the people
who make these statements are correct. Jesus did tell us not to judge. But far
too often, I don’t think the people saying this understand what Jesus
really meant by this. Quite frankly, far too often, many Christians don’t
really understand what Jesus meant when he said this.
So what’s going on here? Are Christians to judge? Are they
not to judge? How do we reconcile Jesus’ commands not to judge, with all the
other commands we see in the Bible about what is right and wrong? Are we never
to judge another person's actions or choices? Should we just sit back as people do
things we know are wrong, and support them anyway? Is that what the Bible
teaches us to do?
The answers to these questions can be found in the Bible,
though if we’re going to get the sweet spot of what Jesus means, or what the
Bible as a whole teaches, about judgment and judgmentalism, then we’re going to
have to dig pretty deep. The Bible certainly goes deeper than one command,
ripped out of its context, on this issue. The fact of the matter is this;
judgment is not given a blanket condemnation by scripture, it is encouraged and necessary at times. Let me show you what I mean. Every single one of
us judge, every single day. The question is whether or not we are judging in
the right kinds of ways.
First of all, common sense tells us that we must make some judgments
in life. When I look in the refrigerator and pull out those leftovers, I must
make a judgment as to whether or not they are still fit to eat. It does no
good to say, “Jesus has told me not to judge, so I’ll just ignore the green
stuff growing on that casserole.” Furthermore, common sense tells me that I
must make some judgments, not just about inanimate objects, but about other
people. If you are a young lady, and the schizophrenic drug addict on the
street asks you to marry him as you walk by, it’s probably best that you judge
him as not fit husband material. Finally, we all must make some moral
judgments. All of us agree that murder is
wrong and should not be committed, or that child molestation is a horrible act.
To not judge those things as wrong would be not only to misunderstand Jesus’
commands and misuse common sense, but to go against the basic moral compass
that each of us have.
Secondly, scripture itself, and Jesus himself, tell us that
it is right and good to make certain kinds of judgments, of both actions and
people. Let’s take a little bit closer look at the passage in which Jesus
utters those famous words, “Do not judge.”
“Judge not,
that you be not judged. For with
the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it
will be measured to you. Why do you
see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is
in your own eye? Or how can you say
to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log
in your own eye? You hypocrite,
first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take
the speck out of your brother's eye. (Matthew 7:1-5)
Now notice this first of all. Jesus
very clearly says, “Judge not.” And he says it for a reason. Do not judge,
unless you want to be judged yourself. The way you judge other people will be
the way that you will be judged. That’s the basic message of the first part of
this passage. Now, let’s go a bit further. “Why do you not notice the speck in
your brother’s eye, but not notice the log in your own eye?” (Verse 3) This
verse is the key to understanding this passage. It gives us a distinction
between making right judgments, and being judgmental. And judgmentalism is
wrong. Jesus basically says this: “You are so quick to notice the sins in
others, and so blind to your own sins. Worry about yourself first, and then
come back and worry about what your brother is doing.” And this is important
for Christians to understand. If you are constantly pointing out the sins of
others, and you’re doing so in a way that ignores the depth of your own
depravity, then you are simply disobeying Jesus.
This is where so many people who
confess the name Jesus find themselves. They bark about the sins of others, and
the sins of society, and they ignore their own. They show no repentance over
their multitude of transgressions, but are quick to condemn the sins of others. There is
no other way to describe this except that it is wrong, and is completely
contrary to a direct command of Jesus.
But be careful before you throw away
your judgment completely. Because notice what Jesus says next. In essence, he
says, “Go take the log out of your own eye, and then you can help your brother
get the speck out of his.” What does Jesus mean by this? He’s simply saying
that we need to address our own sins first; see ourselves for who we really
are, and then we can go back to our brother, and help them with their sins.
Now, if we truly begin to address our own sins, and truly begin to see
ourselves for who we are, we’re going to have a completely different attitude when
we go back to our brother. We will be more humble. We will have no attitude of
moral superiority. We will recognize ourselves as just as desperately in need
of the grace of Jesus as the person with whom we are talking. And we might just
be able to get somewhere with that person because of that attitude change.
So the real thing we need to on guard
for is not judgment, but judgmentalism. What Jesus is describing here is not
every day judgments we make about what is right and wrong, but our attitude
toward people who are sinning. It’s important for us to get the distinction.
Let me give you some ideas to think about.
-
It is not judgmentalism to
believe something is wrong, based on what the Bible says.
-
It is judgmentalism to believe
you are morally superior to someone who has a different sin than you.
-
It is not judgmentalism to tell a person what they are
doing as sin, after you have examined your own life and repented of anything
you are doing that is also sin.
-
It is judgmentalism to ignore your own sin, and then go
after every sin you see in other people.
-
It is not judgmentalism to believe that you should not
be involved in certain things, even if it is the Bible does not clearly condemn
them.
-
It is judgmentalism to believe that everyone should
live up to the standards you have set for yourself, even when the Bible is not
clear that your way is the right way.
Let me end with this thought. If you are a Christian, this
kind of judgment that confronts specific sins is mainly meant for other
Christians. Listen to what Paul says as he talks about sexual sin in the
church. “For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside
the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside.” (1 Corinthians 5:12-13) What is Paul
saying? I think he simply means this: those on the outside of the church need
to hear two things: they are great sinners, and Christ is a great Savior. It
does no good to try to morally reform them without a Jesus-wrought change of
heart brought about by repentance and faith. Once a person comes into the
family of God, then humble, love-filled truth can be spoken about specific
sins, and the need to turn from them.
So I hope you’ll keep these things in mind as you think
about right and wrong kinds of judgment. It’s mainly about your attitude and
your heart when you deal with these things. And take Jesus' warning seriously;
you will be given the same kind of judgment you dish out to other people. How
do you want to be judged? That is how you must judge others.
