“Don’t Judge Me”
Introduction.
It is not
uncommon, in discussions with our friends, classmates, or neighbors, when an
issue of behavior is raised—if someone ever questions whether what someone else
is doing is right—to hear the cry “Don’t judge me!” This is true of many
things such as homosexuality, adultery, premarital sex, drug use, or abortion.
But it is also true when talking to people about matters of faith. “Don’t judge
me...”
• If I don’t
want to go to church.
• If I don’t
believe in Jesus.
• If I reject
the Bible.
Sometimes,
even Christians will respond with anger and say “don’t judge me!” if issues
arise such as drinking, dancing, immodest clothing, or divorce and remarriage.
I. “Judge Not, That You Be Not Judged.”
A.
The Bible
teaches a time when we must not judge (Matt. 7:1-2).
1.
This concerns
judgment of others without considering our own behavior (Matt. 7:3-5). We will
look at this further in a moment.
2.
This concerns
the harshness of our judgment of others (Matt. 7:2).
3.
Yet, it
assumes the importance of correction of behavior (Matt. 7:5). Correction is not
the judgment that is condemned.
B.
Speaking evil
of others is a judgment that is condemned (James 4:11-12).
1.
This is not
condemnation of correction (cf. James 5:19-20).
2.
It is
judgment of motives, which only God can know (James 4:12).
3.
It is
slander, gossip, and backbiting which harms others rather than helping them.
C.
Judgment must
not be contrary to what God has revealed.
1.
When the Law
of Christ had come, elements of the Mosaic Law could no longer be bound (Col.
2:16-17).
2.
Liberty God’s
word has granted cannot be condemned by others (Rom. 14:3-13).
a. Why isn’t this correction?
Because God’s word has granted liberty.
b. Is this just personal opinion?
No. God has spoken on these things—therefore we cannot judge “another’s
servant” (Rom. 14:4).
c. Does this mean anything is
acceptable? No. We will all “stand before the judgment seat of Christ” (Rom.
14:10). We will each “give account of himself to God” (Rom. 14:12).
3.
The standard
of judgment is God’s word. We will look at this more a little later.
D.
Hypocritical
judgment is “inexcusable” (Rom. 2:1-6).
1.
Just as Jesus
taught in Matthew 7:1-5, we have no right to correct others when we have not
corrected ourselves.
2.
In doing this
we can condemn ourselves (Rom. 2:1).
3.
God’s judgment
is “according to truth” (Rom. 2:2). Jesus taught that God’s “word is truth” (John
17:17).
4.
No one will
escape the “judgment of God” (Rom. 2:3).
II. What Does it Mean to “Judge”?
A.
It is to
compare something according to a standard. We noted that Paul taught that God’s
judgment is “according to truth” (Rom. 2:2). Jesus states this even more
specifically...
1.
Christ’s
words will judge on the last day (John 12:47-48).
2.
On judgment
day Jesus will judge all the world according to the standard of His word (Matt.
25:31-32). “The father has committed all judgment to the Son” (John 5:22).
3.
No human
being can make this judgment.
B.
Human beings
can play roles in the judgment of others.
1.
Civil
authority has the right to judge wrongdoing (Rom. 13:1-4). In the same sermon when
Jesus taught “judge not” he acknowledged behavior that can allow one to be
delivered over “to the judge” and even be imprisoned (Matt. 5:25).
2.
Churches must
make judgments concerning discipline (Matt. 18:15-17). When Paul commands the
Corinthians to withdraw from a man who was committing fornication with his
father’s wife, he claims “I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit,
have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed”
(1 Cor. 5:1-5).
3.
Our life can
serve to “judge” others. The disciples of the Pharisees who cast out demons
served to judge the Pharisees when they claimed Jesus did so by
Beelzebub (Matt. 12:27). Jesus teaches that the men of Nineveh who repented at
the preaching of Jonah will “condemn” the cities that heard Jesus and rejected
Him—because they repented (Matt. 12:41). This is the sense in which Scripture
teaches the apostles will judge the twelve tribes (Matt. 19:28) and
Christians shall judge angels (1 Cor. 6:3).
a. This is comparison of our life in
relation to the behavior of others.
b. It is not the same type of
judgment Christ makes of the world.
c. The standard is still the word of
God.
C.
Without a
standard life would be chaos. “Where there is no revelation, the people cast
off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law”(Prov. 29:18).
1.
If no
comparison or correction was allowed any and all behavior would be acceptable
(murder, theft, rape, torture—anything).
D.
We have a
right to expect and encourage behavior that conforms to standards set by proper
authority.
1.
Christ holds
absolute authority (Matt. 28:18).
2.
God will
judge all the earth. Abraham’s description long ago remains true—the Lord is
“the judge of all the earth” (Gen. 18:25).
3.
At best, man
can simply urge other men to prepare to stand before the judge—this is not a
judgment that is improper—it is a judgment that must be done. Without it no one
will follow the standard of God’s word.
III. When Are Christians Commanded to
Judge Others?
A.
We are
commanded to judge brethren.
1.
In order to
correct behavior (1 Cor. 5:9-13).
2.
In order to
resolve conflicts (1 Cor. 6:1-5).
B.
We are
commanded to “judge” what is spoken. Even in the age of miraculous spiritual
gifts the church was commanded to listen to what was spoken and “judge” its
soundness (1 Cor. 14:29). John commands us to “test the spirits” whether they
are from God (1 John 4:1-3).
C.
We are
commanded to “judge” ourselves (1 Cor. 11:31-32). Yet, this judgment does not
guarantee that we are right (cf. 1 Cor. 4:1-4).
D.
We are
commanded to make “righteous judgment” (John 7:24).
1.
This is
judgment according to the truth, not just the appearance.
2.
In matters of
behavior, this is truth according to God’s word.
3.
Christians
are to help others shape their behavior according to truth. “Let your light so
shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in
heaven” (Matt. 5:16).
Conclusion. We do not have the right to
imagine that we can act as Christ will on the day of judgment to save or
condemn others. We do not have the right to judge motives, or to excuse our own
behavior while hypocritically judging others. We are to help others come to
truth, and this requires that we look to the standard by which all will one day
be judged—the word of God.