Monday, 02 June 2008
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To judge or not to judge, a Biblical response
Yesterday morning at our men's ministerial monthly prayer breakfast at Burger King we were discussing future plans for our church (Grace Fellowship, http://www.grace4Poteau.com ) and how we could make our church better. Our Pastor Steve Adams had plans of turning our new possible church home, near downtown Poteau, into a real 24/7 church that helps people rehab from addictions, get set up for life after prison, and brings hope to the worst part of town.
A young man talked about all the people that he had been talking to and how he had invited them to church. This guy was heavy into pain meds and drug use for 10 solid years before kicking the habit after coming to Christ. He has been sharing Christ's love with them about how they too can overcome their addictions. The people sound excited as they hear about real liberation from their stronghold, but once they hear about going to a church they quickly decline his offer. Their answer is all one in the same. They are afraid they will be "judged" because they smell of liquor or cigarette smoke. I laugh at this knowing we have people light up right outside the church doors before they enter and as soon as they leave. However, this did get me thinking why do so many people outside of the church fear treading near the church doors because of the fear of possible judgment? Have they dealt with a church that condmened them because of their sinful actions and they have been hurt ever since. Perhaps, its just a false idea of what would happen if they showed up. Or, lol, it's the best excuse they could think of at the time for not coming to such and such church.
In light of this I wondered to myself what is God's stance on judging, and should we as his people, Christians, do it or not do it. Here's what I found.
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When we think of judging their is one verse that always comes to mind. Heck, people who don't even read the Bible know this verse.
Mat 7:1
Stop judging so that you will not be judged.When such issues as smoking, drinking, pre-marital sex, homosexuality, gambling, and other controversial issues arise this is the verse that many use or refer to as they defend their actions or the actions of others. However, people realize the Bible was not written in English, but in Greek, Aramaic, and Hebrew. Matthew was written in Greek, as was most of the New Testament as we call it, and when you look at the original Greek words the meaning of the text takes on a whole new life.
κρίνω μή ἵνα μή κρίνω, Krino me hina me Krino
Which literally translates into, CONDEMN NOT AND YOU WON'T BE CONDEMNED.
So is their a real difference between judging and condemning? Yes there is. A judgment is a decision based upon the presented facts. Condemnation is a decision based upon nothing but pure emotion and feeling. Judges make a judgment after hearing both sides of the argument and all the evidence. We condemn others or things based on how or what we feel. No where in the Bible are we given permission to condemn others. No where does God tell us to go out with posters and banners and yell, "God hates fags". We as people are freed from condemnation as it states in Romans 8 because of Christs death for our sins.
Now what did the apostles and other New Testament writers say about judging. Is it good, bad, either or? Paul speaking to the mixed up church at Corinth speaks about a report he hears of a man sleeping with his mother in law. The Corinthians think they are doing something good because they are not judging the new couple and loving on them. Paul tells them...
1 Corinthians 5:1 Now, it is actually being said that there is sexual immorality among you so terrible that not even the heathen would be guilty of it. I am told that a man is sleeping with his stepmother! 2 How, then, can you be proud? On the contrary, you should be filled with sadness, and the man who has done such a thing should be expelled from your fellowship. 3 And even though I am far away from you in body, still I am there with you in spirit; and as though I were there with you, I have in the name of our Lord Jesus already passed judgment on the man who has done this terrible thing.
Paul speaking to the church tells them that he has passed a judgment on this person for what they have done, his judgment in verse 5 is to ask the man to leave the church so he can get his priorities together. Paul saw a problem in the church and wanted to adress it as quick as possible before it got even worse. Corinth is our modern day equivelant to Las Vegas. Paul saw a slippery slope and wanted to avoid it even at the cost of asking the man to leave for a time. It may sound harsh but Paul was looking out for the welfare of the church, even if it offended a man and his mother in law.
Do we have any other instances where Paul judges or calls out someone? Numerous times in fact. While writing to the church of Galatia he talks about an encounter he had with the apostle Peter in which he called him, judged him, in front of a crowd about his hypocrisy...
Galatians 2:11 When Peter came to Antioch, I told him face to face that he was wrong. 12 He used to eat with Gentile followers of the Lord, until James sent some Jewish followers. Peter was afraid of the Jews and soon stopped eating with Gentiles. 13 He and the other Jews hid their true feelings so well that even Barnabas was fooled. 14 But when I saw that they were not really obeying the truth that is in the good news, I corrected Peter in front of everyone and said: Peter, you are a Jew, but you live like a Gentile. So how can you force Gentiles to live like Jews?
The last Apostle to die, John, while writing to the church leader Gaius states...
3 John 1:9 I wrote a letter to the congregation. But Diotrephes, who loves to be in charge, won't accept us. 10 For this reason, when I come I will bring up what he's doing. He's not satisfied with saying malicious things about us. He also refuses to accept the believers we send as guests. He even tries to stop others who want to accept them and attempts to throw those people out of the congregation.
John states that when he is there he will bring full attention to everyone about what this guy is doing? Sounds like judging or calling out to me.
The next thing we look at is what did our Savior Jesus Christ have to say about judging? We have already discussed his words are not to condemn rather then judge. What else did he say about judging?
After healing a man and giving him his sight the pharisees accused Jesus of breaking the Sabbath. Jesus states...
John 7:24 Stop judging by external standards, and judge by true standards."
Look at the heart of the matter and see what's really going on. Not what you think is going on.
Also, Jesus talking about if you see someone close to you doing something wrong then you...
Matthew 18:15 "If your brother sins against you, go to him and show him his fault. But do it privately, just between yourselves. If he listens to you, you have won your brother back. 16 But if he will not listen to you, take one or two other persons with you, so that 'every accusation may be upheld by the testimony of two or more witnesses,' as the scripture says. 17 And if he will not listen to them, then tell the whole thing to the church. Finally, if he will not listen to the church, treat him as though he were a pagan or a tax collector.
As we can clearly see we are told to judge. In our politically correct, lets be tolerant of everything and everyone in an effort not to offend, United States we can see we have a clear objective to weigh out the evidence and speak out and against what's going on. If you haven't noticed a pattern, here with all of these writers, a pattern follows that Paul establishes that we are to keep today...
1 Corinthians 5:12 After all, do I have any business judging those who are outside the Christian faith? Isn't it your business to judge those who are inside? 13 God will judge those who are outside. Remove that wicked man from among you.
Our judgments are to be made against people inside the church. How foolish is it of us to expect people who don't know God to live like they do. Paul tells us to worry about those who claim to be Christians because God will take care of those who aren't.
Now before you start handing out judgments to those around you realize 3 key things.
(1). Before you start trying to tell people what's wrong with their life look at your own and see what needs to be done for yourself. Their is nothing worse then an alcoholic getting mad at people who go to the bars and get drunk. Their is nothing worse then self righteous snobs who see the problems in every one elses life but fail to see their own failures. Jesus speaking...
Matthew 7:3 Why, then, do you look at the speck in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the log in your own eye? 4 How dare you say to your brother, 'Please, let me take that speck out of your eye,' when you have a log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite! First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will be able to see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.
(2). Realize the intent of judging isn't to make people feel horrible about their sin, to shame them, or humiliate them. However, its in a hope to help lead them back into righteousness. Though they maybe too blind to see it; your help may point it out to them. Although it may hurt telling them, a true friend helps their friends see the truth. No matter how ugly it is. Paul talking about the man sleeping with his mother in law...
1 Corinthians 5:5 You must then hand that man over to Satan. His body will be destroyed, but his spirit will be saved when the Lord Jesus returns.
Remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 18 that we talked about earlier. You talk to the man or woman about their sin in a hope to restore fellowship and bring about reconciliation.
(3). Even though we are told to leave the unbelieving world alone as in a judging sense we are still told to warn others those inside the church and outside about it. Speaking to the young pastor Timothy...
2 Timothy 4:14 Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will pay him back for what he did. 15 Watch out for him. He violently opposed what we said.
When we as Christians, or I frankly, speak out against porn, homosexuality, or any other sin we don't do it in a judging way where we condemn the people to Hell because of their actions. But rather we bring to light what is done in darkness in a hope to restore people to a God who loves them no matter what they have done or will do in their life. If you have felt condemned by mine or any other believers words I apologize for us all. Our intent is not to hurt but to help lead you to the cross. Once you arrive its your decision to follow Jesus or walk away. It will not be said of me that I forced Jesus down your throat. Jesus wants us to come to him by our own free will, not out of religious duty or by subversion.
If you are a Christian I hope this helped you better understand our roles in calling things out and warning others about what's going on in this world. If you are not a believer in Christ as the son of God and as the sacrifice once and for all for our sins then I hope this helped you to understand the word and our (us as Christians) position better when it comes to things like porn, alcohol, drugs, sex, homosexuality, gambling, and other worldy things.
Captured by grace, Phill
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Comments (37)
@squeakysoul - thanks, no one wants to experience that kind of Jesus.
whoa. Well thought out. It is hard to be outspoken in a PC society. When I speak, my intention is not to offend, but I cannot help other people's reactions to what is being said. It's such a struggle to live in - but not of- the world.
I think that a lot of people may have had a negative experience with churches. I have. Many institutions use guilt as a weapon. The fact that "guilt" can be used as a verb ("guilted in to or out of something") in combination with human condemnation makes for a very bad - and inaccurate - portrait of Jesus. It may take my whole life to get the log out of my own eye before I could think of pointing to another. But maybe that's the point...?
Actually the Law, typically known as the Law of Moses does in fact condemn. Read Romans chapter 7. Law and grace are at complete opposite ends of the spectrum, one cancels the other out. Christ on the cross took our condemnation by the law upon Himself. Payment for the worlds sins has been paid in full. When Jesus says in John 19:30 "It is finished." The word used is an accounting term it means that a debt is paid in full, but it also means, in this case, that the payment is perpetually paid; the work of payment for sin is complete, perfect, can't be undone, and the account is always kept clear. There is no debt owed.
So in light of what Christ has done for the world it is staggering that Christians condemn, but they do. It's kind of like a doctor cursing Strep Throat, "Blasted Strep Throat!" Doctors don't need to worry about a throat infection. All they have to do is give an antibiotic, and case closed. It's the same for Christians, but instead of an antibiotic we have to give Christ, but with giving Christ comes sacrifice on our part. This is where we Christians fail. It's easier for us to condemn than it is for us to give the cure. It's easiest for us to make the grace of the gospel null and void than it is to love people sacrificially. Is it little wonder that the Church today looks more like the world around it than the embassy of Christ's kingdom?
Lonnie
we are not called to judge eachother, that's God's job. However, that does not discount moral discernment. Just as important, we should never use moral discrenmet, truthtelling, or any acion to humiliate others. For that violates the type of Love God calls us to have. If we support and belive in a love in which we allow and condone the misrepresentation of God's love.
@Such_Were_You - thats what i stated when i talked about that Christ freed us from condemnation as it states in Romans 8, therefore there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. None the less, thanks for the feedback I think everyone needs to see your words as a call to action =)
Wonderful post. Would you mind if I recommend this one?
I am so SICK of this politically correct, Church-destroying mentality that says that we can never, ever pass any judgment on any action at any time, for any reason. The very Words of Jesus Christ have been so distorted that we send millions of people to Hell by ignoring the direct commands God gives us regarding how we are to love one another. Judgment (when done in its proper context, with full humility) is a loving act between one brother and another. It means recognizing that your brother is falling away from God and allowing sin to come into his life, and telling him, "I would rather you feel my feeble wrath now, for a short while, than the wrath of God for all eternity." If I love my brothers and sisters, how could I NOT be concerned with their eternal welfare?
First, from where did you get your quote for Mat. 7:1? My Greek NT does not say that, but something different--the verbs you have here are in the first person active singular, whereas (in the manuscript I have in front of me) they are second person active plural and second person passive plural. The quote you provide actually says something like: "I do not judge, so that I shall not be judged." For future reference, biblegateway.com is the easiest way to find reliable Greek texts--then you can just copy and paste. :)
Second, there is no way to "literally" translate anything. Words do not have inherent meaning, only associations determined by context. Just because a Greek dictionary or lexicon says that krinw *means* "condemn" matters about as much as a hill of beans. Language is nuanced, and the same word could legitimately be used in 100 different ways by 100 different people in 100 different contexts.
Third, you yourself say that it's important to look to the Greek because it's dangerous to apply our own English understanding to the Biblical text...but you seem to assume too quickly that "krinw" *means* "condemn." What in the text led you to that conclusion? And what has convinced you that "judge" refers to a decision made in light of fact, and that "condemn" refers to a decision based on emotion? What is your evidence? Your time would have been better spent trying to determine what Jesus intended by "krinw," rather than quibbling over what English word *means* what. One must have a grasp of the intention of the Greek as used by Jesus in this instance before attempting to find the best English rendering.
I'm afraid that I may have come off too strong...I'm not berating you, although lists always seem that way. Rather, it's just my intention to explain why, in my reasoning, you may want to rethink the base of your argument here. I think it's great that pastors and lay people want to get to the heart of the Biblical text by studying the original languages, but even pastors oftentimes miss the mark because...well, for potentially many reasons, but mainly because they make too many assumptions--about Greek, about how language works, and what the text means, or should mean.
But the analysis of the Greek...no. It borders on eisogesis.
@junana18 - go ahead! Make my day! =)
@cloroxformysoul - But we are called upon to judge those inside the Church; 1 Corinthians 5. Now in the context of 1 Corinthians 5 it is a last step, after continued loving and gracious attempts to reconcile the bro/sis to God's standard. In this case it is the Christian brother who brings judgment upon himself. Most important of all is that we stand with God's standard. We are not to judge our fellow Christian because we don't like a hair style, facial piercings, tattoos, and the like. We are not called to judge outward appearance only proven behavior. And with judgment always...ALWAYS comes the understanding that the Church's arms are open, forgiving, and welcoming to all who repent, and acknowledge God's standard in obedience.
As for judging (condemning) those outside the Church, we are never under any circumstances to condemn. Only God judges those outside the body. Ours is to offer the gospel, without watering it down, and allow God's Spirit to do His work. Salvation and judgment are God's work not ours.
@Amarisa - But a careful word study, in the Greek, of the entire verse, in question, does in fact convey the message that the judgment the Lord refers to is condemnation....does it not?
Blessings,
Lonnie
@Amarisa -
Strong's Concordance lists the Matt 7:1 Greek as, "those who judge severely (unfairly), finding fault with this or that in others; Matt vii 1, Lk vi 37, Ro ii 1". Blue Letter Bible tools@Such_Were_You -
Word studies can be helpful, but misleading. It's interesting to look at how a word is used in other, various contexts (which is what a word study is), but it does not necessarily shed light on the context in question.
I'd say that, certainly, Jesus wouldn't want us to condemn people to Hell (hence, why I agree overall with Gzus's ending statement), as God is the only truly righteous one, but whether or not he means that HERE in Matthew's gospel, I'm not sure. It's easy to make that assumption. Considering that the emphasis is on hypocrisy, perhaps Jesus meant that it's not right to criticize someone for a sin that you yourself are committing in an even greater way (don't point out their speck when you have a plank). That interpretation would put more responsibility on the one with the plank to change HIS ways, and people are generally uncomfortable with that.
I don't want to get into a debate over interpretation. My point in responding earlier was just to say that his methodology in reaching his conclusion needed work.
@GermanWrench -
Lexicographers interpret, just like Bible translators interpret the text according to their own understanding of Greek (and Hebrew) and theology. He may have interpreted "krinw" in 7:1 correctly, but I wouldn't take his word for it.
This is very interesting -- to my own life I suppose. Is this the same line that says, "Judge not lest ye be judged? I've often wondered at that and at this:
Is it wrong to live by the teachings of Christ but not be a part of a church? I have lived by the golden rule all my life. I have tried, but cut myself slack from time to time, to simply follow the path but I don't belong to a church. I don't trust the teachings of a man/woman in a church setting because they are simply interpretting what they think the bible says. The hardest thing for me to reconcile is a disbelief in an all knowing super powerful being (Too scifi for me I suppose) but Christ lived and his teachings are honest and pure. So what then is the answer?
Am I a Christian because I believe in and follow the path though I don't accept that there is a God beyond Christ?
confused, yes I know I am, but without having direct trustable knowledge I just don't know.
karen
@squeakysoul - This is certainly part of it for me. My sister who I love and trust has herself condemned me, saying that if I don't "Give" my life over to the "Lord" I will go to hell. But this place we live in here on Earth is hellish -- is it not hell to live? Is salvation something that is and can only be obtained in death?
@Evowookiee - thanks man, love is what we try to convey
@KJ_Hamnik - thanks for your comment, i hope to respond to you later this evening after work =)
@silkenbutterfly - thank you, this article has seemed to really liberate a lot of Christians
@Southernlass - lol, well hypocrites are everywhere. Especially nowadays for some reason. More or less compromise of the essential fundamentals of the Christian faith; like HOLINESS! None the less, thanks for visiting and have a great day.