Judge Not

One verse everybody knows whether they believe the Bible or not (especially if they do not believe) is the one that says ‘you shall not judge’. It is in the Bible, or isn’t it? I want it to help us appreciate that a simple application of that statement will make it abundantly clear that those who quote it do not know what they are saying. The verse is completely wrenched out of its Biblical context for expediency.

But let us have fun as we examine it by assuming that the verse says that we should not judge. It of course means that judging is sin and that sin takes the offender to hell. Right?

Teachers are already in hell because they mark and grade students’ papers which is judging.

Commending someone is judging and therefore sin. Well done, excellent, nice food, nice dress, etc, are all acts of judgment and therefore open one to hell fire.

A driving test examiner will go to hell because he judges the driving preparedness of a driver.

An interviewer is very guilty because he judges people who have all qualified for a position, even condemning some to joblessness.

Magistrates and judges are the worst because their jobs involve judging all the time.

And parents had better prepare to burn for a long time because they correct, even discipline their children because that is a very clear act of judging.

Of course thinking that someone is better than another is judging and opens you to hell.

And choosing one item and leaving another when shopping is sin because you must judge to choose what you want and reject what you do not.

And John the Baptist and Jesus were very evil because they called people bad things; brood of vipers, sons of the devil, white washed tombs, etc.

Apart from laughing at the folly, I am sure some are wondering what is wrong with me.

Yet I want us to appreciate the fact that the proponents of that partial quote from the Bible are not only very shallow but also partial in their application of that statement. Many times they will quote it when they are challenged about sin and sinful tendencies.

Have you ever heard someone quote it when they are congratulated? Have you heard it being quoted when one is commended? Have you heard it when someone has gotten good exam results? Yet one must judge to commend too.

Why is it only quoted when sin is confronted? Why is it quoted when a girl is challenged about the exposure of body parts meant for her husband or at least her bedroom? Why is it quoted when someone is challenged about fornication and adultery? Why is it quoted when homosexuality is challenged?

Misery loves company and escapism is one of its most effective tools. Thus someone seeks to share their guilt with someone else thereby spreading it abroad, of course by creating other parameters. It is therefore self defense of guilt by simply creating another offense to divert others’ attention from the guilt eating into me.

Yet the Bible is consistent that we must judge at all times. Judging is consistent with the faith we profess.

Did you also know that forgiveness is impossible if we do not judge? How can we forgive someone if they have done nothing wrong in our assessment (judgment)? And how do we decide what is wrong if we do not judge? We can therefore not talk about healing if we do not talk about offense. And we cannot talk about offense unless we judge breached boundaries.

Even grace is impractical if the element of judging is overlooked. It is impossible to explain Christ’s death if we do not judge sin.

The Ten Commandments and other laws in the Bible are acts of judgment. It is impossible to talk about the laws of God if we eliminated judging. You see a standard lays the framework against which to judge compliance. And the most basic is the Ten Commandments. And it is no wonder they have been the focus of the most vehement opposition in nations that are becoming post Christian.

Those are some of the things we overlook when we say do not judge. You see we can’t talk about quality without judging. We can’t also talk of excellence outside the context of judging. We would sink lower than animals because even in their instincts they know how to judge. An herbivore will choose between good and tolerable food. A carnivore does the same with the game it hunts, choosing (judging) between the succulent and hunger fighting food.

But as we talk about judging, we need to realize that Grace was revealed to judge as God judges, righteously.

Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 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. (Matthew 7: 1 – 5)

We are expected to have dealt with the things we judge in others. Another saying consistent with it is not telling people to drink water when we drink wine. We are supposed to exemplify what we preach and detest what we preach against. Then our lifestyle will be a clear guide to the kind of judgment we pass.

Let me give an off the context example. Most pastors love to preach giving from their pulpits. But they are pitiable examples to their flock (or anyone else) concerning the same. They will be given everything from cars to houses to shopping vouchers yet will not even give what they are not using to someone who needs it. It is unheard of for them to pay rent or buy a bicycle for an evangelist in their congregation yet they are paid huge salaries. The only giving from them is from the church coffers. Thus their generosity is by proxy. It is very rare to see a pastor who will take money from their pocket to minister to the need of a member of his congregation. In fact many discourage giving amongst the membership and encourage giving only to the church coffers. Then they are the ultimate receivers of the giving as they will give only what has already be given to them at no cost to their person. It reminds me of the lawyers of Luke 11: 46.

Such a person has no business judging anyone’s giving as he does not give. In fact he is an abomination to God when he preaches giving because it is the ultimate in hypocrisy and self seeking.

That is what Jesus meant when He said we should not judge. We are supposed to judge positively and not negatively. We should be restorative when we judge. And we can’t restore when we do not have the tools and capacity for the same. And our example is the best tool we have to judge in a restorative manner. We therefore judge because we are in a position to help in the restoration.

For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:20)

I need to state that the group was known for an exemplary form of righteousness, a righteousness Christ had no problems with. His problem with them was the depth of that righteousness as it was all outward looking and many times for show.

Christ is indicating a higher standard, a righteousness that proceeds from the heart. It is a righteousness that is so wholesome that it draws people to Christ as a witness in itself. It does not need any accessories as it is in itself a clear indicator of the stamp of God on a man’s life.

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. (1Peter 3: 15 – 16)

It is from the point of a blameless life that we can be able to judge others. Not only will we give them hope as we expose their disconnectedness to the life of God, but we will also demonstrate to them that a life devoid of the things subject to judgment is possible and practicable. We are therefore not standing in as judges whose main role is condemnation but the direction to a higher standard that any human craves. Let me give you a verse.

When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. (Luke 5:8)

This is when Jesus had preached from Peter’s boat and then asked them to throw their nets into the lake and they caught too many fish yet they had slaved the whole night and caught nothing.

Did Jesus rebuke Peter? Did He judge him? You see demonstrating His power over nature was enough to convict Peter of his sin. And that is what Peter meant in the verses above.

For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? (2Corinthians 2: 15, 16)

It is from our lifestyle that we condemn the world. In other words our lifestyle demonstrates the kind of life possible for anyone willing to live as God desires.

Interestingly, that is judging the world. No wonder the context the passage is normally quoted has to do with compromise and sin.

We are thus supposed to judge the world from a context of full compliance to His revelation. We do not judge to make the world feel terrible but to make it desire the life of Christ at all times.

We are supposed to judge everything, from prophecy to doctrine to conduct. And I will give you verses to that effect.

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? (1Corinthians 6:2)

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. (1Thessalonians 5:21)

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. (1John 4:1)

Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. (Luke 17:3)

These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee. (Titus 2:15)

Beware (watch out) of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? (Matthew 7: 15, 16)

All these indicate the need to test, in other words, judge.

But like I have mentioned earlier we judge positively. Our judgment is redemptive and not condemning. We therefore judge sin to show God’s standard so that the world can be drawn to Him.

Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for? And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day? (Deuteronomy 4: 6 – 8)

Our judgment therefore proceeds from the way we live as opposed to the words we speak. Our words are accessories to the judgment we pass to a rebellious world as we live in faith.

And that is the source of persecution for most believers. Choosing to live as completely as God has revealed has a convicting influence on the world, a world that for the most part is not ready or even willing to change. That is why in the US Bible believing believers are being jailed and fined for refusing to accept gay marriage. The homosexuals go to Christian service providers to look for a way to punish them for their convicting influence. Otherwise explain why they do not go to those who have no problem with their abomination?

I remember once when my salary was stopped for six months. And why? I had refused to accompany my colleagues to a staff party and drink sodas as they became drunk. Many people lose their jobs or promotions because attempts to water down their witness are ineffectual and there is no other way to blunt that judgment and witness.

Sadly it is nowadays playing out even in churches that are not willing to be all God requires of them. They will emasculate, isolate, and excommunicate a believer for the sole reason that they have a more serious relationship with God. They will ensure that no support is available to the radical because they are a constant rebuke to their lukewarm and worldly practice of faith.

But it is not a recent development, only that it is more widespread. Remember Diotrephes in 3 John 9 and 10?

I know of churches where a clear calling are liabilities to being called to serve. They prefer someone living in sin to the radical believer because this kind of believer will not minister as per the whims of the high and mighty in the church structure but will insist on doing only what God requires. They therefore choose the bootlickers whose loyalty to them will be astronomical because they know they are completely unqualified to serve the church of Christ or even represent Christ anywhere.

Sadly you will find that these churches take ‘do not judge’ to extreme dimensions. But it is comical that they have no qualms at all lynching the ones who are opposed to their fleshy way of running church. I have also had quite some brushes with churches and Christian organizations when I have insisted on doing what God requires and it goes counter to what the structure leaders want.

That is the judging the Bible is talking about. We live in such a way that we show the world how a God-centred life is lived. Then we will draw people to Christ. But at the same time we will attract persecution from those sold out to an agenda outside God’s revelation.

Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. (2Timothy 3:12)

But we do not have any other option.

Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. (1Peter 2:12)

That is our primary witness. That is where our apologetics are dissected for validity. And it is the point at which our witness is at its most potent because it is the point where the Holy Spirit is unleashed through the vessel that has surrendered itself totally to His leading.

Should we then judge or not?