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Passage: Mt 7:1-6
The absolute worst spiritual condition
in the world is being without salvation. The absolute worst spiritual condition
for a believer is to be out of fellowship with God. The forces of evil promote
both! Unrighteous judgment is about condemnation and control. Righteous
judgment is about restoration and freedom! Why would a believer oppose that? They
wouldn’t, but they have been by buying into the lie of the devil – judge not! Why
would good people buy into the world’s interpretation of Scripture? The world
is incapable of discerning spiritual truth (1 Cor 2:14) and is always quoting
the Bible out of context. We know this to be true.
The reason there is buy-in by
believers is that they have another agenda that does not promote godliness.
It is politically convenient but theologically awry. I have heard good men of
God say, “We shouldn’t judge.” It unnerves me. We should never make a statement
like that without qualifications because it reinforces the wrong kind of
thinking about judging others to continue believing a lie. The truth is being
suppressed by humanism based upon a lie (judge not), and the self-righteous
crowd is taking the truth about judging righteously (Jn 7:24) and going
legalistic with it. If we avoid judging we are promoting no accountability and ungodliness; if
we abuse judging we are promoting legalism and self-righteousness. Neither position has the right
concept of Christ-likeness. The truth is between the extremes.
Right judging promotes righteousness and freedom, not sin! Do we think that the enemy wants us to point out a sin that deceives, disrupts, damages, and destroys? Satan is encouraging believers not to point out the sin in others to degrade our effectiveness for the Lord. The best way to support the devil's strategy is not to judge anyone but to accept them as they are, not to call sin – sin, but to gloss over it and overlook it. “We don't judge people; we just love everybody!” is the marketing campaign of the evil one. Judging is bad; acceptance is good.
American Christianity has chomped down into that baited hook of syrupy humanism that sounds good on the surface but flowing beneath that surface is the doctrine of darkness. Since that doesn't work for all, Satan will deceive believers into hyper-holiness through criticizing, condemning, browbeating, and controlling others with rules and regulations that only lead to discouragement, distraction, isolation, and defeat among the gullible. One advocates a false sense of liberty while the other one gives a false sense of righteousness. Both extremes send chills down my spine for both are in grievous spiritual error caught up in spiritually dark doctrines that only lead to ungodliness.
And what keeps this spiritual error alive is willful ignorance, the greatest threat to Christianity today, in spite of the plethora of Bible data available. The problem is that we cannot have the mind (understanding) of Christ (1 Cor 2:16; Lk 24:45) and choose to remain ignorant of the Scriptures. Most professing Christians would rather someone telling them what to believe than to be like a Berean (cf. Acts 17:11; 2 Tim 2:15, KJV) because they don’t have the time: too busy to read, study, reflect, memorize, and apply the Scriptures.
Failure to discern rightly or no judging at all promotes humanism, not godliness! Sin is the terminology of religious dogma and pointing it out is unloving and taboo in a culture of “tolerance.” The most intolerant people I have ever come across in my travels are ironically those who promote “tolerance!” And we all know there is zero tolerance with the legalists, no wiggle room. It amazes me living in the country of the free that people are willingly giving up their religious freedom for servitude under a Pharisaical-like belief!
I am digressing but another tidbit on judging is those ubiquitous cliques in the Church. Cliques in the church are an example of unrighteous judging by basing fellowship on social status. Is there a Scripture verse or principle to validate that practice? Every church I have ever been a part of had this problem, of members dragging the world into the church, not to mention my own train of baggage. Worldliness is the opposite of spiritual purity. The truth of the matter is we cannot be holy as He is holy apart from making judgment calls, and an assembly cannot be sanctified and set apart unto God apart from judging rightly and practicing accountability. Acceptance at the expense of truth brings judgment upon itself. Accountability to the authority of Scripture avoids chastening.
Another problem is judging by opinion rather than by the Word. “Well, I think, I think, I think.” Who cares what we think! All judgment should be biblically based, and people need to know it! If we are going to make a value statement we better be backed up by the Word and not postulate some opinion or theory. But not only being biblically based but pointing those in need of judging to the Word. If we have discerned correctly and have a verse contextually applicable, then it’s Jesus making the call, not us! Do you understand what I am getting at here? If they get riled up don’t take it personally (cf. 1 Sam 8:7). They are getting hit between the eyes by the Word.
Of course, there is guilt by association, but the presentation of the truth is with the authority, not by an opinion. This is exactly what the legalists do, judging without the backing of Scripture. Oh, they might quote Scripture (like the world's opinion to “judge not”), but there is no power or authority behind justifying a judgment call by making the Scripture mean something it does not. Anything can be justified when the Word is taken out of context. That is the modus operandi of cult groups and dishonest people.
Right judging promotes righteousness and freedom, not sin! Do we think that the enemy wants us to point out a sin that deceives, disrupts, damages, and destroys? Satan is encouraging believers not to point out the sin in others to degrade our effectiveness for the Lord. The best way to support the devil's strategy is not to judge anyone but to accept them as they are, not to call sin – sin, but to gloss over it and overlook it. “We don't judge people; we just love everybody!” is the marketing campaign of the evil one. Judging is bad; acceptance is good.
American Christianity has chomped down into that baited hook of syrupy humanism that sounds good on the surface but flowing beneath that surface is the doctrine of darkness. Since that doesn't work for all, Satan will deceive believers into hyper-holiness through criticizing, condemning, browbeating, and controlling others with rules and regulations that only lead to discouragement, distraction, isolation, and defeat among the gullible. One advocates a false sense of liberty while the other one gives a false sense of righteousness. Both extremes send chills down my spine for both are in grievous spiritual error caught up in spiritually dark doctrines that only lead to ungodliness.
And what keeps this spiritual error alive is willful ignorance, the greatest threat to Christianity today, in spite of the plethora of Bible data available. The problem is that we cannot have the mind (understanding) of Christ (1 Cor 2:16; Lk 24:45) and choose to remain ignorant of the Scriptures. Most professing Christians would rather someone telling them what to believe than to be like a Berean (cf. Acts 17:11; 2 Tim 2:15, KJV) because they don’t have the time: too busy to read, study, reflect, memorize, and apply the Scriptures.
Failure to discern rightly or no judging at all promotes humanism, not godliness! Sin is the terminology of religious dogma and pointing it out is unloving and taboo in a culture of “tolerance.” The most intolerant people I have ever come across in my travels are ironically those who promote “tolerance!” And we all know there is zero tolerance with the legalists, no wiggle room. It amazes me living in the country of the free that people are willingly giving up their religious freedom for servitude under a Pharisaical-like belief!
I am digressing but another tidbit on judging is those ubiquitous cliques in the Church. Cliques in the church are an example of unrighteous judging by basing fellowship on social status. Is there a Scripture verse or principle to validate that practice? Every church I have ever been a part of had this problem, of members dragging the world into the church, not to mention my own train of baggage. Worldliness is the opposite of spiritual purity. The truth of the matter is we cannot be holy as He is holy apart from making judgment calls, and an assembly cannot be sanctified and set apart unto God apart from judging rightly and practicing accountability. Acceptance at the expense of truth brings judgment upon itself. Accountability to the authority of Scripture avoids chastening.
Another problem is judging by opinion rather than by the Word. “Well, I think, I think, I think.” Who cares what we think! All judgment should be biblically based, and people need to know it! If we are going to make a value statement we better be backed up by the Word and not postulate some opinion or theory. But not only being biblically based but pointing those in need of judging to the Word. If we have discerned correctly and have a verse contextually applicable, then it’s Jesus making the call, not us! Do you understand what I am getting at here? If they get riled up don’t take it personally (cf. 1 Sam 8:7). They are getting hit between the eyes by the Word.
Of course, there is guilt by association, but the presentation of the truth is with the authority, not by an opinion. This is exactly what the legalists do, judging without the backing of Scripture. Oh, they might quote Scripture (like the world's opinion to “judge not”), but there is no power or authority behind justifying a judgment call by making the Scripture mean something it does not. Anything can be justified when the Word is taken out of context. That is the modus operandi of cult groups and dishonest people.
But obedience is not predicated on
feeling comfy or safe. Contrary to popular belief God wants us to judge. This is not an optional thing. Judging
correctly or rightly is everything judging hypocritically is not: loving, genuine,
honest, real, truthful, authentic, just, sincere, and discerning,
distinguishing, determining, and deciding rightly. Whenever we drift into the
spheres of judging hypocritically, refusing to judge (for many reasons),
judging motives, attacking the person rather than the sin, or even
self-flagellation, we are caught up in sinful behavior; there is something in
the eyes which always clouds good judgment.
Are we in sin if we avoid judging
others? Let me cut out the gazillion excuses for believers avoiding having to
judge others; it sounds so Pharisaical to say that, doesn’t it? Jesus judged;
we should judge, for it is part of being like Christ. I know we are not all-knowing (cf. 1 Cor 2:9-16 for an interesting perspective on what is available
to every believer, and why we are able to discern between good and evil), but
let me answer the question if it is sinful not to judge others: yes! If it’s
commanded, as with all commands, and we disobey; it’s sin. Let me throw out a
few verses for consideration (cf. w/o comment: Col 2:8; Gal 6:1; 1 Cor 5:11-13; 6:4; 2 Thes 3:6; 1 Tim 6:20; 2 Tim 2:25, 3:16; Titus 2:1l; 3:9; 1 Jn 4:1-21).
Notice the Lord’s command to judge
others in John 7:24, NIV,
“Stop judging by mere appearances, but
instead judge correctly.”
Funny thing, those who promote a
prohibition against judging never cite this verse of Scripture. Yeah, they
probably overlooked it…. We need to rely on and judge rightly from the Word of God
and not from our opinion. It keeps us from going subjective and points others
in the right direction on what the ultimate authority is – the Word. In
reality, our lives are rife with making judgment calls if we are being like
Christ in the daily routines of life. We all must have wisdom in discerning
between what is good and evil and what glorifies the Lord. “…whatever you do, do
all to the glory of God” (1 Cor 10:31) is a tall order requiring a boatload of
discernment. It involves making the right decisions for our own spiritual health,
our loved ones, extended family, the body of Christ, and those outside of
Christ.
Let me give an illustration from the
Bible of us passively judging billions of people in one fell swoop! If you are
a Biblicist, that is, you believe the Bible is the supreme and final authority
in all matters of faith and practice, you would have to side with what Jesus
said to Thomas in John 14:6,
“I am the way, the truth, and the
life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
Your simple belief in that statement,
and God help you if you ever say this in public, just put you into a Bible-thumping category by the world, making you a very narrow-minded bigot in the
eyes of the world. You see, the world has a problem with those definite
articles (the). They prefer the indefinite article (a) instead; it is more
politically correct for ecumenical ventures. The compromisers may encourage us to continue to believe in John 14:6 but not to be so passionate about it! Give way for some wiggle room. Why? Because in reality, believing or quoting that verse tells billions of others,
“You are heading down the wrong path, believing a lie that leads to death.” Yep, dogma divides, and yes, I am a big John 14:6 fan without apology.
If we believe
that the Bible is the supreme and final authority in all matters of faith and
practice, we are commanded to judge righteously. We need to stop this nonsense of avoiding judging others. Even if we quote John 14:6 with great humility and lovingkindness, the world
still looks at us as arrogant, insensitive, intolerant, and self-righteous.
Welcome to Persecution 101, you, you judger of man! What we believe about the Bible judges others
automatically. We are guilty by association, but it’s a good kind of guilty, oh, clear eyes! <><
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