The Jury (Verdict) on Judgment
“Judge not, that ye be not judged, For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” Matthew 7:1-2 (KJV)
Has anyone ever challenged you that you are too “judgy”? Sometime ago my wife and I were in a conversation with another couple who, like us, also has adult children. The gist of our conversation was germane to resistance of accountability, specifically to accountability regarding Christian conduct. Whenever we, as parents, called attention to questionable conduct that was incongruent with the call of compliance to Christ, the retort has been consistently “Don’t be so judgy!”
It is this writer’s position that we walk, work, wonder and wrestle with a world that will use “Judge not lest ye be judged” (Matthew 7:1) for the purpose of promoting a tolerance for practices that are prohibited by the Word of God. Remember: when you eliminate essential absolutes, you will be buried in the graveyard of gray. Correct interpretation leads us to conclude that this wasn’t Jesus’ objective. So, what did Jesus mean when He told us not to judge?
Before we give consideration to the question, let’s render a definition for the word “judgy”. Judgy is defined as tending to judge others harshly or critically or tending to judge or criticize too quickly and harshly. In addition, to judge can also mean to separate, to pick out, select, or choose. By implication it means to condemn, punish, avenge, conclude. It also bears the thought of enjoying discernment.
The scripture that turns our attention to Jesus’ words, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged” (Matthew 7:1) forwards conceptually the essentiality of discernment when delivering judgment. Love should always be our conviction and compass for not judging and for using good judgment. It’s important to note that we can’t judge what is in someone’s heart. There is only One that can accurately access the heart, mind and intentions and that is Jesus.
Too often because of our proclivity towards carnality, we may call people out who ignore us when, in reality, he or she may be captured in a confrontation that cannot be seen or understood by others. It’s plausible that they are being pulverized in their professional, public or privately life with debilitating and disastrous dynamics that causes them to disconnect. Before we deliver out judgment, we must be dominated and driven with a spirit of discernment.
“Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” John 7:24 (KJV)
Someone has said that believers are called to show unconditional love but are not called to unconditional approval. We really can love people who practice things that are prohibited by scripture and the Holy Spirit. So, in conclusion, Jesus did not prohibit the judgment of others. He righteously requires that our judgment be void of fleshly dispositions and that we only judge others by a standard by which we would also like to be judged. We must remember that our good and righteous God will measure unto us according to the same measure we use for others. A final thought: Christ-like compassion must be coupled with discernment and does not co-sign on conduct that is not conducive to Christ.
For the Glory of God,
PBKSR