Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Discernment vs. Judgment


Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.  Matthew 7:1-2

There will always be someone to judge you. There will always be those self-appointed judges and juries. There will always be someone to criticize why you did it the way you did it or why you did what you did. Your motives will be judged, your actions will be judged, and even your words will be scrutinized. Your failures will be judged and even your successes will be brought before the personal tribunal of others. We are humans and that is our nature.  But as we grow closer to God, He will give us the ability to discern things clearly and He calls us not to condemn, but to discern in love. 


Discernment vs. Judgment

Judgment means to mentally or judicially condemn; to conclude, to decide, to determine, to call to account; to sentence.  People who normally scoff at the Bible, reject its teachings, and ridicule its content, love to say at just the right time: "Judge not, that you be not judged" quoting the Bible to deflect attention from themselves.


The New Testament Greek word is krinete describing the habit of censorious, sharp, and unjust condemnation or criticism.  Our word critic is from this very word.  One who is "critical' is seen as constantly judgmental and seldom fair or constructive.  Sadly, this is the way the world has seen the church.  This kind of judgment is condemning and seeks to put people down without grace or forgiveness.  This comes from a fault-finding and negative spirit; someone who wants to tear others down rather than build them up. 


It is easy to become arrogant when we see wrongs in others.  We forget easily that we are sinners too and God looks on us the same.  We assume we know better and are better and we fall into judging without any intention of building a relationship with them or helping them.  Judgment is wrong when you use the wrong standard or you do it in the wrong spirit.  When you judge others based on your opinions, your feelings, your preferences or your personal standards, then you are wrong.  God desires for us to be kind, corrective and constructive, not condemning and critical.  His way would be to love them and take them in with gentle guidance, led by Him.


There is a big danger for Christians in judging others.  When we judge others it doesn’t reflect Christ’s presence in our lives.  The right to judge only comes with the authority to judge. One without the power to carry out sentence does not have the power to judge.

Discernment means to test, to examine; to interpret, approve, discover; or make a distinction (as between persons).  Discernment asks questions, evaluates, and investigates to understand.  We cannot live properly or freely without exercising discernment.  It is required in the choosing of friends in order that we don't walk with those who improperly influence our lives.  Discerning a person's moral, psychological or spiritual condition is not only not sin but also a requirement for personal protection and effective ministry.  But there is a difference between addressing a sin and condemning a sinner.

Judgment is wrong when you use the wrong standard or you do it in the wrong spirit.  When you judge others based on your opinions, your feelings, your preferences or your personal standards, then you are wrong.  Proper judgment should be kind, corrective and constructive, not condemning and critical.


You cannot really evaluate a person by what others say about him, but you can certainly learn a lot by what someone says about others.  It is a mark of Christian maturity to discern the difference between good and evil but it is a greater mark of maturity, having discerned that difference, to be able to stand in the love of God regarding it. God wants us to discern, but not condemn. 


Scripture to Claim:
"Our Law does not judge a man unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing, does it?"  John 7:51

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