A reality check...when we judge others we become the judge
07-28-2008

Column 939, July 11, 2008

“Provoking Christian Insights” series



Part 39

A reality check … when we judge others we become the judge

Jesus sat on the hillside giving His “Sermon on the Mount,” when He said, “ Judge not, lest you be judged … For with that judgment you judge you will be judged; and with the measure that you use, it will be measured back to you … And, why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye but do not consider the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye, and look a plank is in your own eye?

Hypocrite! First, remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. (Matthew 7:1-6 NKJV).”



For us as Christians there is danger in judging harshly and carelessly. We wonder why churches have prospective members staying away from the fellowship because of past abuses and gossip where people have been judged. Gossip is so much fun because it makes us feel important when we spread it. Gossip also appeals to our own pride (Proverbs 26:22). The churches that I see growing are the ones that accept and forgive the sins of those they minister. This makes the person being ministered to feel better about him or herself. Past sins are forgiven and new hope in Christ puts buds on a growing church.





The same sin

Judgment of others excuses our own faults (Romans 2:3). You might not have done it, but you might have thought about doing it! Judging others is just not Christian. Passing judgment is not showing love. James in Chapter 2, verse 8, says you are to “Love your neighbor.” Sometimes this is hard to do.



Why should I publicly judge someone who is practicing the same sin that I practice privately? It’s just wrong to do that. Jesus points out (Matthew 7:3-5) that such judgment blinds me to my own faults.



Outward appearances

You judge from outward appearances before you hear all the details. You don’t know the other person’s heart … but God does know. John 7:24, 51, says we must judge with righteous judgment.



Have you ever spoken evil about other Christian? “Do not speak evil of one another, bretheren. He who speaks evil and judges his brother, speaks evil of the lay and judges the law. But, if you judge the law you are not a doer of the law but a judge,” James 4:11,12. “There is but one lawgiver who is able to save and to destroy who are you to judge another?”



We are warned when we question other people’s motives in 1 Corinthians 4:5, “…judge nothing before the time until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.”



We must remember

When we are about to pass judgment we need to remember that we’ll be judged by the same standard that I use to judge other people. Do you know someone who impulsively judges others? How do you feel about that persons’ character?



Romans 14:12,13 reminds us that each one of us is accountable to God. James 2:13 adds just how much that God has been merciful to me. Matthew 18: 21-35 tells the story of an unfair manager who was released from his debt, but made his own debtors pay him in full and throwing them into prison. Jesus warns “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.” You can’t just forgive on the surface … you must really forgive.



Adam Clarke (1762-1832) said, “If men were as much in earnest to get their souls saved as they are to prepare them for perdition, heaven would be highly peopled, and devils would be their own companions.”



Brownsville Revival Evangelist Stephen Hill reminds us, “Practice minding your own business, friend. This is war, and the enemy is willing to take you any way he can. How dreadful that it be by your own devices-or worse, by default, for our not heeding the Word of God.



INSPIRATION: “But let none of your suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters,” (1 Peter 4:15 NKJV).



Write: croneis@embarqmail.com