So When Should We Judge?

Yesterday, I wrote about why we should not judge, but as I studied Mrs. Moore's book this week, I kept thinking of Scriptures that speak about rebuking and correcting.  Doesn't that require us to make judgments?

The answer is yes.  Mrs. Moore does go on to say that she is "not referring to the absence of discipline in the church or home."  The main focus of her study is on the "quick mental and verbal judgments we make toward one another"...not on restoration.

But there does indeed come a time when leaders must judge according to God's Word and bring correction.  The Bible instructs that the motive for this should be to restore the person, NOT to tear them down.  The Word also sets forth the manner in which the correction should come...humbly and gently.  

If people are walking away from our "correction" feeling beat up and scared to be around us, we are not handling it God's way!  We can think we are because it feels "right" or "fine" or "justified" to us, but the fruit speaks for itself.  Jesus said to judge the fruit.  If people are withdrawing from you or want little relationship with you, you had better change your approach, despite how "right" you feel about yourself!


Never in the church or at home do we have a right to scream at those we believe to be in sin.  We should not be harsh or disrespectful.  Our motive should not be to point the finger and receive any joy out of it, but rather we should be grieving for that person's sin. We should speak to them as we would want to be spoken to.  We should not go into it with the motive of trying to change them, but rather with the desire to see them see their sin before a Holy God and WANT to be closer to Him.  

IT IS NOT OUR JOB TO FIX PEOPLE!!!  IT IS NOT OUR JOB TO CONVINCE THEM OR CONVICT THEM.  THAT IS THE HOLY SPIRIT'S JOB! It is our job to show forth the love of Christ, DESPITE their sin...just like He did!


With my children, I have learned that if I am still mad at them, I don't need to be bringing correction yet!  There is a BIG difference in being angry at the sin verses being angry at the perceived sinner!  This does not mean I can't talk with them and get more understanding, but I don't need to be bringing correction yet!


Also, if we have that, "I can't believe you did that.  I would NEVER do that!" attitude, we are not ready to bring correction.  We are ALL capable of any sin at any time given the right circumstances and mindset.  NOTHING we have ever done is any more or less sinful than any other person's sin!


Some of the most hurtful experiences of my life thus far have come because of others judgments against me.  I tremble thinking of how I may have done the same and never even knew it! 


I don't think it's consciously done most of the time, but nevertheless it is done and the effects are far-reaching.  It grieves me deeply to think I may have caused someone lasting pain like I have felt.

One of the major problems with our human judgment is that we don't have all the facts!  We see a few things and run with it.  We can create entire scenarios that never even happened in our minds.  This may occur because of our past experiences or our fears.  And many of us Christians think we are truly "discerning" what is going on, when in fact, if we would just humble ourselves and listen, we could plainly hear what is going on!  This is a very sad trend and it is wrecking many relationships and churches.  

I have been jabbed with judgments on everything from what I let my kids eat and watch and play to the way I have said something or written something to how I have hung pictures on the walls of my house!  AND I have equally passed those judgments, at least in my head, even if I did not speak them out!

I can't change the past, but I can do something about today.  Lord, help me to be like You!

Passing Our Judgments

For over a year now, I have been facilitating a  womens' Bible study in my home on Monday nights.  We have studied many topics over our time together, but currently we are in the depths of one of Beth Moore's Bible studies called Living Beyond Yourself.  It is about the fruit of the Spirit in a Christian's life.

We have learned so much about why we become frustrated...by trying to work hard in our own strength, when what we need to be focused on is knowing the Lord more intimately.  Then, we will take on His characteristics and therefore act like Jesus in the Earth!

This week we studied patience.  Mrs. Moore points out in her book that the opposite of patience is judgment.   She says, "We cannot both judge others and be patient toward them." I had never really thought of it like that, but it is a teaching I intend to look over again and again.  Oh how my eyes have been opened and my heart is changing!  PRAISE THE LORD!

It is so easy to beat ourselves up over past sins when we have our eyes opened to them, but what a waste of time.  Admit it, grieve it, learn from it, THEN move on!

Here are some reasons NOT to judge others (as taken from Mrs. Moore's book):


When we judge others, we invite God's judgment upon ourselves!


We do many of the same things we judge others for!


We usually don't know the whole truth!


We are mere humans!   God's judgment is always righteous and ours is tainted by our flesh!


When we judge others, we are judging God, thinking He is not handling the situation correctly!

We open up the door for the same type of judgments to be made by others against us!


We may have our perspective hindered by the sin in our own lives!


There is only one Lawgiver and Judge (James 4:12)!

Only God's motive is pure in judgment!


God must agree with us for our judgment to be correct!


These are all good reasons not to pass judgment, but perhaps the most heart-turning reason...the one that will propel us to stop it...is to treat others as we want to be treated.  I wish our love for God and our honor for what He says to do was enough to motivate us to stop being critical!  The truth is, though, it usually is not.

No, most of the time, the only catalyst that will propel us to change is knowing how much it hurts to have it done to US.  Yes, we are THAT selfish!


I truly think that is why God allows us to feel hurt to the depth He does.  Yes, He is all-powerful.  Yes, He could stop ANYTHING at ANY time He chose, but in His great love for us all, He allows us free will and consequences.  Without them, I dare say we would ALWAYS be a disgusting flock of prideful creatures!!!

Beth Moore says, "Whether or not the thought is conscious, most judgments boil down to this justification:  'At least I don't do that!'"


Wow!  How true!  "God's judgment is not based on His ego like ours is!"

When will the Body of Christ get the revelation that NO sin is greater than any other, and we ALL fall short of His standard!
 

When will we stop bickering amongst ourselves over doctrinal beliefs and focus on the big picture?


When will we believe God about our identity in Jesus so that we stop being jealous and squashing other people's gifts?


When will we celebrate one another instead of sizing each other up?