To judge or not to judge, that is the question.

Tell me if you’ve heard someone say any of the following:

“Who the heck do you think you are to judge me?”

“Who made you ‘holier than thou’? You can’t judge me!”

“I know where you came from, I know your story, you aren’t any better than me.”

This is generally the response we get as Christians when we try to express the Christian point of view and it opposes or is contradictory to how someone lives. They don’t want you to “judge” them or possibly help them, as Matthew Kelly would say, “become the best version of themselves”.

How we respond to that is important but lets talk about the “judging” part and the scripture verse I know we all are thinking of, the one where Jesus is teaching the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 7:1:

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.”

“SEE! Don’t judge!”

Hold on… Let’s take it in context here. Jesus is speaking of not judging in a hypocritical manner like the Pharisees, in a condemning manner. And also to judge yourself first before you judge your brother. That’s why he says to first take the speck out of your own eye in 7:5. If Christ were telling us that we shouldn’t judge at allthen why does he teach us to do it in the same Gospel in Chapter 18:15-17?:

“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.”

Don’t we have to judge someone in order for us to know if they’ve sinned? Let’s be very clear, again, we are NOT to condemn anyone to hell, that is NOT our job. We are called to keep eachother on a path of righteousness and to help eachother strive to be holy and perfect as our Father in heaven is (Matthew 5:48). In todays society of “tolerance”, it is trying to push out the Christian morals that has helped to shape the foundations that our Founding Fathers established for our country. It is as if the “tolerance of all” is the “intolerance towards Christians”.

You may lose some friends or become separated from them due to this but be not afraid. If you truly love them, you will say your peace to help them to see it. If you don’t love them, then let them continue in their ways but be careful that you don’t stray as well. As for me I would much rather have them mad at me or cut me off then to have me watch them go on down a path of destruction.

Here is my disclaimer: I am a sinner and have fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Shocker! I know! But rest assured, I will repent, I will confess my sins, and I will constantly try to repair my relationship with God. I will not say, “Well, I already sinned so I might as well keep doing it. But don’t judge me, I was born this way.” Shouldn’t we all strive to keep our relationships on the mend? Shouldn’t we all try to keep eachother accountable? Especially if we are to identify as Christians?

Using scripture to defend a lifestyle contrary to Christian life is wrong. Using scripture to ONLY judge others and make yourself look better is wrong. But if you are using proper discernment/judgement and trying to work toward a unity of faith, by all means, THAT is what you are commissioned to do.

“Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment” (John 7:24)

Let us pray for all of our brothers and sisters that are persecuted for trying to hold true to the Word of God. Let’s help eachother to build up the Church that Jesus set up for us and not lose hope.

Boys, it’s time to be real men of faith!