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
