Comments on: Judging the Truth, Ourselves and Others

By: Mart De Haan

Mart De Haan — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 11:23:01 +0000

Great discussion. Thanks again to all of you. What I think we are seeing together is that Paul, James, and our Lord, himself, regards “judging one another in a hurtful manner” as a very serious matter.

Again, and for example, the Scriptures indicate that judging can be hurtful and sinful i.e. if we judge others self-righteously, unlovingly, carelessly– without knowing or considering the facts (gossip), unnecessarily– when we are actually meddling in matters that are none of our business etc.

On the other hand “judging” is godly and “Christ-like” when we weigh matters carefully in our own lives and others so as to be honest, loving, and helpful (with humility)– without presuming to be God (the final arbiter who alone understand all of the motives and factors involved in our lives).

In Gal 6 and 1Cor 6 it is clear that there are times when members of the family of Christ need to wisely use good judgment, with appropriate process, to help resolve conflict in the family and protect that name of Christ.

Where it is important, and helpful, and necessary to use good judgment in such matters, the Scriptures are full of helpful counsel. I often think of the Proverb that reminds us that in matters of conflict, one side always sounds “right” until we have an opportunity to hear the other side of the issue. (Prov 18:17 in the NIV says, “The first to present his case seems right, till another comes forward and questions him.”)

By: daisymarygoldr

daisymarygoldr — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 01:16:48 +0000

“The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment” (1Cor 2:15)

One day each one of us will stand before the greatest of all judges and guess who will do the judging and the condemning? ‘The Word’ (John 12:48)!

So, instead of looking at each other and talking nineteen to the dozen about stuff that really is of no eternal value, let us get busy with ‘The Word’. It is a fire and a hammer and it will certainly be no fun to apply it to our lives (Jeremiah 23:29). There will be lot of pain when ‘the word’ burns and breaks…don’t whine, don’t complain…just bear it!

‘The word’ did become flesh and lived among men…He was rejected, broken, bruised and abused to death…He rose up again to give us life…new life in abundance, old things have passed away … everything in time past of our unregenerate lives ended at the cross. The former hurts, bitterness, hate, fear, torture, wounds and pain will not be brought to remembrance if we only believe and accept His forgiving love.

We are at war and the battle belongs to the Lord. Of course, there will be casualties… therefore we are told to put on the whole armor of God. We do get wounded but we do not remain focused on our wounds while giving the enemy the smug satisfaction of having brought us down. We get up again form the ground like brave soldiers, use whatever help that is available, let ‘His word’ heal us and continue to fight not by our might but in His strength! It is His job to avenge but for us there is no more turning back.

After experiencing the obvious risk of following men we do not allow ourselves to be caught up in that same error again. We search the scriptures daily, rightly dividing the truth to present ourselves approved unto God. 1 Cor 7 tells us that we should not remain absorbed in our weeping or our joy… The time is short and there are so many souls to be won…

The Word will come back again some day (Rev 19). He will use the same sword… but this time there will be no love, no gentleness, no mercy…”For by fire and by His sword the LORD will judge all flesh” (Isaiah 66:15-16). “Don’t you realize that someday we believers will judge the world? Don’t you realize that we will judge angels?”(1Cor 6:2-3).

So, quit being so judgmental about judging… be on guard, be strong, be courageous, preach the good word, do everything with love, fight the good fight of faith, finish the race, remain faithful and get ready to receive the prize that awaits you- the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give on the day of His return… for all who eagerly look forward to His appearing!

By: poohpity

poohpity — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 00:48:58 +0000

Noel, I just wanted to let you know that it was Jesus who said that in Matthew 7:3 not Oswald Chambers.

By: Bessie

Bessie — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 00:41:02 +0000

Hello, Mr. DeHaan. I have been reading the Daily Bread for many years. However, I have recently been made aware of this blog and as such this is the first time I am leaving a comment. This relates to yesterday’s blog. All of the Bible verses cited tends to caution against judging others. However, when I read this I remembered the passage in lst Corinthians 6: 1-3 that reads: 1. Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?
2. 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?
3. Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? (KJV) How are we to understand these verses in light of the ones that you quoted?

By: Abigail

Abigail — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 20:27:22 +0000

Gal 6:1 Brothers, even if a man is caught in some fault, you who are spiritual must restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to yourself so that you also aren’t tempted.

There is a time for wise judging…but it should always be done with humility and love and with the careful recognition that, “there, but for the grace of God, go I”.

We can so easily fall into the very things we desire to lift another out of. We must be cautious and careful. Gentle where needed and firm where needed. We must be lovingly humble.

By: poohpity

poohpity — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 18:44:59 +0000

I forgot to put this with my other blog. We have an great example of not sitting in judgment but to bring comfort with the story of Job and his friends. None had any idea what God was up to but all sat in judgment and did not offer any healing balm to one who needed it.

By: poohpity

poohpity — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 18:25:03 +0000

I believe we are to use Jesus as a model for judgment. If I am not mistaken He did not use His time on earth to set in judgment of us but to direct us to His identity of Deity. To direct us to God and His will for us not our own. I understand that He told us we are unable to judge because we do not have all the facts and in our humanness can not even come close to understanding what another human being is going through because we are not them. Jesus came to save us from ourselves because of sin and to compare ourselves to no one other than Him and His righteousness. When we spend time in judgment it keeps us from showing mercy and justice. When we spend time in judgment we do not care for the poor or the needy. When we judge we are really looking at another person rather than keeping our eyes on Jesus who had every right to judge but chose not to.

When I keep an eye on all that I have done and will do in the future I can not even attempt to look at anyone’s sin. I want to serve God with all my heart, soul and mind but when I am so busy sitting in judgment I have no time to do His work and there are so many people out there that need the Love of Christ without condemnation and I am one.

By: RichardR

RichardR — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 16:34:29 +0000

Calling the piece of fruit in the bowl an apple is not judging; calling it bad is.
It’s easy most times to see the What in another’s life, a lot harder to know the Why.

By: Noel Berman

Noel Berman — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 16:18:48 +0000

I think it was Oswald Chambers who said something like, when we try to remove the speck in our brother’s eye we do it from the perspective that we do have a log in our own eyes. I think he meant that we must be conscious of our own sin which caused Jesus to die on the cross for us and then from being mindful of our own sin, failure and brokenness, we talk to another (admonish, exhort, etc). Also, Jesus did say that we shall know them by their fruits. So, we do have some role in “judging” but definitely not in condemning as we do not know the motives of people. This kind of “judging” that comes from our own brokenness is easier accepted by the other person whereas if it comes from an attitude of self-righteousness, it may even destroy people and turn them away from the Gospel (Good News)

By: desert rose

desert rose — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 14:08:09 +0000

Mart,
What great comments and your blog sure brings us to the question of judging. I have always heard that you judge a tree by its fruit. But in my personal life, I have been so misjudged by individuals that has caused me to have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, I was in a cult and I can tell you that it is traumatic to be on the innocent side of someone judging you – especially when the preface it by “God has shown me..”

My position is that giving advice is one thing, while judging is something quite different.