JUDGE NOT
JUDGE NOT
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you
will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.“Why
do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention
to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me
take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own
eye? 5 You
hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see
clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. “Do not give dogs
what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample
them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. (Matthew 7:1-5)
I have heard it said that it is biblical for believers to
pass judgment on people. Not everything
in the bible is biblical just because it's mentioned in the bible. The antics
of King David alone were very unbiblical, but they are mentioned in the bible
and then God says he is a man after God's own heart. Whoa.
There is a difference between judgement as in determining
just and unjust, worthy and unworthy versus judgement as in discernment,
determining differences. For example I can judge (discern) the difference
between counterfeit currency and legal tender or the color red vs purple. Or we
can make a judgement call about a job or relationship. So we should be able to
judge(discern) the difference between that which is of God and that which is
not without judging the value and/worth of a person.
It's tricky I know. I could very easily discern that an
out and out murdering, lying, fiend is not of God and I would also want to
determine that they are not worth living(being honest). My initial
discernment(judgement) would be spot on, but the latter part only God is
qualified to judge. Mixing the two "judgements" up can be detrimental
to both me and the person being "judged".
For example: The Apostle Paul was totally against God,
unbeknownst to him. Killing and imprisoning God's people.
Discernment/judgement: Paul is not saved. Judgement/value assessment: Worthy of
the Blood of Jesus. So says God. This was put to the test when God commanded
the disciples to take this murdering fiend into the company of the very people
he had persecuted and take care of him and train him in the very ministry that
he was so passionately against. Wow.
Imagine how many people we could run the risk of
judging/assessing worthless that God is very much in favor of. Can you imagine
going against what God is for? It's frightening. That's the long way of
explaining the danger of "inordinate judgement". Man I hope I didn't
make this more complicated.
Other options? Comments, questions, considerations, ideas? Hit reply or email the author at LeviteToday@yahoo.com.
Allen D. Edge is an actor, comedian, professional speaker, performance coach, ordained minister, and author of The Levite Today, The Levite Today uncovers the power of the arts in biblical communications in the past and the present. Allen blogs regularly at his blog site, http://tepinc.blogspot.com/
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