Judgement: Reserved for God
“7 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. ”
Judgement: language reserved for God
Today there is no shortage of political situations, global circumstances, scientific discoveries, and economic theories to pass judgement or offer opinions on. From celebrity relationship decisions, to the latest government or business ethics violations, to what counts as an ethic violation, to geopolitical intrigue and conflict, to election campaigns, it on and on it goes. We are inundated not just with facts but with opinions and judgements and invited (or compelled) to offer our own. This isn’t isolated to a few minutes at work around the proverbial water-cooler (for millennials and younger that was where people used to talk at work); which was limited --- now it’s unlimited and everywhere --- we are passing judgements and reading the judgements of others—liking and disliking and enjoying each dopamine hit that comes with the alert buzz or chime.
The church is not immune to the culture of opining and passing judgement on, well, everything. From the latest moral failure; to the new controversial church growth methodology, to the unorthodox leadership appointment. Nothing is spared criticism -- in fact, I’d argue we have become quite skillful at ‘innocently’ offering cutting criticism and judgement. Usually sounds something like:
“Can you make this a matter of prayer? So and so did such and such – and blah blah blah and I think that they just need to blah blah – but they said to Sister Neh Neh that Brother Yeh Yeh… couldn’t bla blah. It’s just so awful --- yeah can you pray about that?”
“ 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one test his own work...”
Or we offer our assessment, and judgement on those who may stumble or question their faith; or dare question their faith. Forgetting that Jesus loved Thomas even as he doubted or Peter when he betrayed our Lord not once but three times in a row.
There is no other way to say this. The culture of criticism and judgement is simply WRONG.
We can all do better. I can do better. When we give into this kind of behavior we create an environment that because relationally difficult, thereby making it more challenging for the Holy Spirit to move among us.
Jesus clearly and emphatically called us to resist the natural tendency to judge, and rather focus on our spiritual development and loving others to demonstrate His love. This doesn’t mean we throw caution to the wind and affirm wayward doctrine or do not lovingly; and out of relationship, offer gentle and kind admonishment. But it does mean when a brother or sister in Christ stumbles in any sense, we are there to support and love and not to seat in the seat of judgement; because it is not our seat. It is God’s. We demonstrate our humility when we allow God to be God and we fulfill the law of Christ
“12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”
Some actions and words are reserved for God; the seat and language of judgement are two of them. Pride pushes us to use that kind of language and foolishly climb into our Father’s seat, in so doing we make a ridiculous attempt at being god-like and fail miserably at Christ-like.
So rather than judge, pray. Rather than talk about situations in a negative way, use wholesome words. Rather than ‘telling it like it is’, when offering truth, ensure Christ-like grace is a part of your conversation (John 1). In this world of endless judgement, critical comments, fracturing relationships and less and less civility; adopting a more hopeful, grace filled commentary might carry more of witness of Christ’s love than you and I realize.
“4 Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.”