I haven't posted anything from my husband in a while. Here is the most recent helpful word he's written addressing the misconception of what it means to "judge". I pray this helps us all learn and grow!
Let us look at the issue of judging and educate ourselves as to what judging someone really is. There have been times in the midst of correcting someone according to the word of God, they have used “Don’t judge me” as a defense mechanism. There is a difference between correcting someone when you see them doing wrong, discerning what is and what isn’t of God, and judging someone. Let us define judging and go to the word of God and see what judging really is…
Judging - by biblical definition is basically to take it upon yourself to distribute God’s divine judgment on a human being by determining their destination. (Heaven or Hell)
So by definition we see that judgment is casting a FINAL judgment on someone by telling them they are going to Hell (condemning), knowing that no human being has a heaven or hell to put anyone in. Now let’s not get that confused with correcting someone and telling someone if they don’t stop sinning then they are in danger of hell fire. There is a difference between being an educator/teacher of the word and being a judge. When we stand before God, he is going to judge us by seeing if we lived your lives according to his Holy word & Spirit. Those that not only know the word of God, but live according to the word, have a mandate to spread the gospel and warn people of the consequences of their actions. Here are a couple scriptures:
Matthews 7:1-5
“Judge not, that ye be not judged. For what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and behold a beam is in thine eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.”
When we look at this scripture we see Jesus addressing some religious and hypocritical people and warn them against judging. These were people that weren’t living holy themselves, but yet they apparently were casting judgment on one another. (For example: a drunkard telling a liar they are going to hell… or a fornicator telling a homosexual that they are going to hell… When according to the word all are punishable by hell fire if one died in that state)… But Jesus was telling the people to get the mess out of their own lives, repent and be reborn, so that you may see clearly and be able to help cast the sin out of their brother’s life. Jesus never told them not to not to warn and teach against those things, but rather make sure you are upholding the complete statures of God first. In 2nd Corinthians 10:6 the word of God tells us to have a “readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.” 2nd Timothy 4:2 says to “Preach the word; be instant in season; out of season; REPROVE, REBUKE, EXHORT with all longsuffering and doctrine.”
Reprove – the express disapproval of or to censure
Rebuke – To criticize sharply
Exhort – To incite by argument or advice: urge strongly
So the word or God urges those that live upright to warn others out of love of their wrong doings, be sure they know the consequences, and to give them advice on how to correct themselves. Let’s see a biblical application of how Jesus warned the people without casting judgment:
Matthew 5:22
“But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be IN DANGER of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be IN DANGER of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be IN DANGER of hell fire.”
In this scripture Jesus was simply telling people the action and the consequences of the action. He said whosoever is
doing these particular things are in danger of hell fire. Notice that he used, “in danger of”… He was basically saying that if a person was to die with these things in their heart, then the consequence of their actions is hell fire. Jesus did not judge them and say that you all are going to hell, but rather warned them about the consequences of their actions if not corrected.
God has also given his people the ability to discern what is of God and what is not of God by his Holy Spirit that rest within his people. When you are guided by the Spirit, you are able to discern Spirits and identify rather things are right or wrong. God tells us in his word to test the Spirit and see if it is of God. He also tells us concerning recognizing who (false prophets, etc.) is of God in:
Matthews 7:16-20
“Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”
In this we know that we know who/what is of God by the fruit that it brings forth. Those that are of God are not going to bring forth fruit of sin. If I see someone smoking a cigarette, I would not be judging them to say that they have not been delivered and that their action is not of God. If I hear cussing and foolish talking coming out of your mouth, I’m not judging you by saying that something in your heart is not made right with God. The bible says out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh, therefore something is not made right in your heart. The bible also says that God judges the heart, so let us understand that what’s in your heart is demonstrated by your speech and actions. (What’s in the inside will manifest outwardly)… If you are partaking in fornication, I’m not judging to say that if you don’t repent and turn to God then the punishment of your actions are hell and destruction. Your fruit tells the story of what spirit you are operating by! If you were to walk up to a tree, and see apples on it, would you be judging that tree by saying it is an apple tree???
Let us learn and know what the word of God is saying so that we won’t be deceived by the enemy. Some are tricked to think, “I’m not going to say anything to them about their sins, because I don’t want to judge them.” That way the devil can keep the people comfortably in their sins, because nobody is telling people about their wrong doings or the consequences. If someone is telling you the consequences, don’t be offended and jump on the defense! There are sincere people that want to see you live, and not just exist. There are people that don’t want to see you destroyed! Yes there are hypocrites that try and belittle others, but Jesus has also addressed them in the word. Learn to accept criticism, especially if it’s constructive and for the saving of your soul!
Remember: it is true that God is the judge, but there are people of God sent to relay the word in which he is going to judge by… I pray we all learn, grow, and understand…
Judging - by biblical definition is basically to take it upon yourself to distribute God’s divine judgment on a human being by determining their destination. (Heaven or Hell)
So by definition we see that judgment is casting a FINAL judgment on someone by telling them they are going to Hell (condemning), knowing that no human being has a heaven or hell to put anyone in. Now let’s not get that confused with correcting someone and telling someone if they don’t stop sinning then they are in danger of hell fire. There is a difference between being an educator/teacher of the word and being a judge. When we stand before God, he is going to judge us by seeing if we lived your lives according to his Holy word & Spirit. Those that not only know the word of God, but live according to the word, have a mandate to spread the gospel and warn people of the consequences of their actions. Here are a couple scriptures:
Matthews 7:1-5
“Judge not, that ye be not judged. For what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and behold a beam is in thine eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.”
When we look at this scripture we see Jesus addressing some religious and hypocritical people and warn them against judging. These were people that weren’t living holy themselves, but yet they apparently were casting judgment on one another. (For example: a drunkard telling a liar they are going to hell… or a fornicator telling a homosexual that they are going to hell… When according to the word all are punishable by hell fire if one died in that state)… But Jesus was telling the people to get the mess out of their own lives, repent and be reborn, so that you may see clearly and be able to help cast the sin out of their brother’s life. Jesus never told them not to not to warn and teach against those things, but rather make sure you are upholding the complete statures of God first. In 2nd Corinthians 10:6 the word of God tells us to have a “readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.” 2nd Timothy 4:2 says to “Preach the word; be instant in season; out of season; REPROVE, REBUKE, EXHORT with all longsuffering and doctrine.”
Reprove – the express disapproval of or to censure
Rebuke – To criticize sharply
Exhort – To incite by argument or advice: urge strongly
So the word or God urges those that live upright to warn others out of love of their wrong doings, be sure they know the consequences, and to give them advice on how to correct themselves. Let’s see a biblical application of how Jesus warned the people without casting judgment:
Matthew 5:22
“But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be IN DANGER of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be IN DANGER of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be IN DANGER of hell fire.”
In this scripture Jesus was simply telling people the action and the consequences of the action. He said whosoever is
doing these particular things are in danger of hell fire. Notice that he used, “in danger of”… He was basically saying that if a person was to die with these things in their heart, then the consequence of their actions is hell fire. Jesus did not judge them and say that you all are going to hell, but rather warned them about the consequences of their actions if not corrected.
God has also given his people the ability to discern what is of God and what is not of God by his Holy Spirit that rest within his people. When you are guided by the Spirit, you are able to discern Spirits and identify rather things are right or wrong. God tells us in his word to test the Spirit and see if it is of God. He also tells us concerning recognizing who (false prophets, etc.) is of God in:
Matthews 7:16-20
“Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”
In this we know that we know who/what is of God by the fruit that it brings forth. Those that are of God are not going to bring forth fruit of sin. If I see someone smoking a cigarette, I would not be judging them to say that they have not been delivered and that their action is not of God. If I hear cussing and foolish talking coming out of your mouth, I’m not judging you by saying that something in your heart is not made right with God. The bible says out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh, therefore something is not made right in your heart. The bible also says that God judges the heart, so let us understand that what’s in your heart is demonstrated by your speech and actions. (What’s in the inside will manifest outwardly)… If you are partaking in fornication, I’m not judging to say that if you don’t repent and turn to God then the punishment of your actions are hell and destruction. Your fruit tells the story of what spirit you are operating by! If you were to walk up to a tree, and see apples on it, would you be judging that tree by saying it is an apple tree???
Let us learn and know what the word of God is saying so that we won’t be deceived by the enemy. Some are tricked to think, “I’m not going to say anything to them about their sins, because I don’t want to judge them.” That way the devil can keep the people comfortably in their sins, because nobody is telling people about their wrong doings or the consequences. If someone is telling you the consequences, don’t be offended and jump on the defense! There are sincere people that want to see you live, and not just exist. There are people that don’t want to see you destroyed! Yes there are hypocrites that try and belittle others, but Jesus has also addressed them in the word. Learn to accept criticism, especially if it’s constructive and for the saving of your soul!
Remember: it is true that God is the judge, but there are people of God sent to relay the word in which he is going to judge by… I pray we all learn, grow, and understand…
A good reminder! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you both!
ReplyDelete