We hear it all the time: Christians are told not to judge when we critically appraise anti-God belief or behavior. That fits well with the mantra of the present age: “there’s good in the worst of us and bad in the best of us.” It agrees with Hollywood’s refusal to have black and white behavior in its characters, but a mixture of both so no one condemns anyone. Even Christians misquote the above text.
Take another look at the Lord’s teaching. First, Jesus forbids a habit of censure in his people, not instances of evaluating behavior in self or others. We’re forbidden to possess and express cynical dispositions that object to all habits we don’t have or all ways we don’t think. Jesus had more reasons than anyone to accuse everyone of ungodly behavior, but the only people he condemned were orthodox believers who pretended a virtue they didn’t have, not admitted sinners who sought forgiveness. He definitely directed the forgiven to NEW LIVES, but based on forgiveness John 8:10-11. The parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector in Luke 18:9-14 also illustrates. Jesus accepted the sinfulness of both men, but only one admitted it. And by the way, he was the one who didn’t condemn the other. That perspective helps us understand the practice Jesus forbids in Matthew 7:3-5. He won’t have his people condemning in others ideas, beliefs and behaviors to which we continue to be a willing host. That he calls hypocritical self-righteousness. It’s the spirit of the lady who censured a friend for not seeking marriage counseling when her husband wanted a divorce for her indiscretion. YET, when faced with possible indiscretions by her own husband immediately filed for divorce. No Christian will be without sin. But when we correct another Christian’s, we need to be free from THAT ONE. Or, at the very least, be struggling to overcome THAT ONE. Both conditions qualify us as teachers. Second, judgment as condemnation is prohibited, not judgment as distinguishing right from wrong behavior. Again, with God’s word as our standard, Christians must be faithful to Jesus, not to others. What we objectively see as sin in strangers we cannot subjectively view as mistakes in family and friends. We can freely condemn homosexuality without damning homosexuals. God reserves for himself the right to acquit or damn. But he gives Christians a mandate to protest works of the flesh and to confirm fruit of the Spirit. Who will be God’s monitors of acceptable belief and behavior if NOT WE, whom Jesus appointed Light and Salt in the world Matthew 5:13-16? If NOT WE, whom the apostle said will one day judge angels and the world I Corinthians 6:2-3? Third, in 7:6 he ordered Christians to discern the spiritual capacity of listeners, for the express purpose of not wasting time with spiritual dogs and pigs. Jesus never unfairly judged people when he declared them spiritual dogs and pigs. They’re simply the kind of people Jesus described in Matthew 13:4—wayside soil people; godless people Paul described in Romans 8:5-8, those who have no interest in God. Christ warns us never to let our association with sinners make their hostility to God harmless just so they will continue to love us. In that case, it’s a “choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve….” Joshua 24:15. In summary, Jesus demands in Christians insightful spiritual discernment of behavior. He allows us to determine what’s acceptable and what Isn’t. He empowers his people to: KNOW right from wrong; to DISCERN the difference in ourselves and others; and to STAND with him against all others, even when it’s in judgment of our family and friends; even when it’s against ourselves! Amen.
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