The Business of Judging
Why is it that Christians are labeled some of the most judgmental people around? Is it because it’s true? Towards Jesus’ closing remarks on the sermon on the mount, Jesus says this (Matthew chapter 7):
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”
It would seem that this passage indicates clearly that God is very serious about our placing judgement upon others. And yet, we continue to struggle with judging other people — often those closest to us. We all do it, but as Christ followers we’re instructed to keep guard over our tongues, our thoughts and our motives.
Dallas Willard is an author that I admire and whose writing often challenges my perspectives. In all of the books I have read, he stresses the need to desire Kingdom living with our hearts, not just our actions. In his book Divine Conspiracy, he writes this:
“If we would really help those close to us and dear, and if we would learn to live together with our family and ‘neighbors’ in the power of the kingdom, we must abandon the deeply rooted human practice of condemning and blaming. This is what Jesus means when he says. ‘Judge not.’ He is telling us that we should, and that we can, become the kind of person who does not condemn or blame others. As we do so, the power of God’s kingdom will be more freely available to bless us and guide those around us into his ways.”
As I think through this, I have challenged myself to think about the opposing actions of judging and I keep coming back to grace and encouragement. If I spend more time giving grace and seeking to encourage others, I spend less time with a hardened heart that seeks to judge. This is a better way to live, no?
[...] have noticed an unflattering trend among Christians who also are fans of the show. Related to my last post, it seems that there are many Christians who only want to support those singers who profess to be [...]
I agree we shouldn’t judge to be mean or harsh just to spite someone, and when it comes to that we need to back off. But if you continue to read, Matthew 16 talks about False teachers coming in and how we will know them by their fruits. If their fruit is rotten, we will know not to follow them and will (in christian love) turn people away from them. Is that too not a judgement. A righteous judgement is ok. We judge every day. “You have a nice shirt.” Is a good judgement, no one will get mad at you for that. “You shirt makes you look fat.” That is a bad judgement and we will argue because we disagree, everything we do comes from a judgement in our minds. But when it comes to the context of scripture and following after what Christ would want us to do, I say we are able to judge on a Biblical Righteous Standard. Because if you show no fruit, you aren’t in the faith, and you don’t have Christ.