Can I judge?
When I was a young Christian I was told by friends from other denominations, that I was judging if I said that without baptism a person is not saved. The reason given by them was Matthew 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.This verse and its application in my experience troubled me and triggered my pondering.
If we cannot judge then should we evangelise? To evangelise is to judge that others are not saved without Jesus. To state that Jesus is the only Way to God is itself a judgement. Furthermore how can we live our daily lives without making judgement? Every decision is a judgement, isn’t it?
The crux of the problem I realized was the misunderstanding by many folks, between judgement and judgemental. The former is a Process of weighing, deciding or formulating an opinion whereas being judgemental is an Attitude. A judgemental person judges but a person who judges is not necessarily judgemental. Another reason is emotion. Inevitably when someone cries foul that others are judgemental, is when emotionally this person’s experience is unpleasant. If it is pleasant (and it does not concern him directly) there is a good chance this is not an issue. To a non-Christian, Christians are judgemental and arrogant to believe we have the only Way. On the other hand, to us, we do not see ourselves as judgemental, just concerned and loving. Right? So we are told (and we also tell others too), we should not judge; not realizing a decision not to judge is itself a judgement! What a conundrum!
So how can we reconcile with Matthew 7: 1 which seemed so explicitly non-judgemental? The clues lie in several verses following it and other references.
1.Law of the harvest : You reap what you sow. This is true whether you are judgemental or not
Matthew 7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
2.The Golden Rule : Matt. 7:12
Matthew 7:5 Thou hypocrite, FIRST cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and THEN SHALT thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.
To tell your brother he has sinned (or provide feedback for improvement) is a right thing to do to restore him but first examine yourself and know that you yourself will be subject to the same judgement. Notice that Jesus did not prohibit splinter picking, just do it with your eyes wide open to its implication. By taking note of this, we then proceed with fear and trembling yet true to our responsibility and calling.
3.Basis of judgement
John 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
The issue is not whether we can judge. The issue is: on what basis do we judge? At face value without validation or righteously?
4.Knowing our place and implications
Is it our business to make the judgement? Are we getting involved in something we should not?
Deuteronomy 1:16 And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him.
Acts 7:27 But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?
1 Corinthians 5:12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
1 Corinthians 6:2-5 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?
Can we be above judgement? This is an interesting verse to consider.
Yes! 1 Corinthians 2:15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
The issue is not – can we judge? Of course we can!
Some questions we should consider are
1.Should we judge even though we can?
2.On what basis do we judge?
3.What role do we play when we judge?
4.What is the implication to God’s work and his church? Does it help the church to grow? Are we allowing sins to fester by avoiding judgement?
Consideration
1. Just because what is said is not to your liking does not necessarily mean the mesenger is judgemental.
2. Just because a person is truly judgemental does not necessarily mean he is talking nonsense. You may not like his attitude but do not pre-judge his views. The content of what he says may be true! God may use anyone as his mouthpiece. His Word spoken through any vessel will not return void.
Add comment September 18th, 2009
