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People have a funny way of misusing
or misunderstanding Bible verses. We can find these misused verses on coffee cups or t-shirts because they sound good. Two examples of “quotable verses” are “here I am send me” and “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans to give you a future and a hope”. Taking God’s word out of context is what leads to a misunderstanding of His word. One misused verse is “judge not”. I would contend that out of the entire Bible this one is most misused by Christians and non-Christians alike. All it takes to evoke this phrase, which is found in Matthew 7, is a disagreement or a phrase that says “what you are doing is wrong”. “Judge not” is a phrase that has rendered many Christians silent for fear of looking hypocritical or worse, fear that God will judge them more harshly based on that rebuke. The idea that God will judge me with the same measure I judge others also comes from this chapter. In fact it is the very next verse! So, tying these two together, “judge not” and “the measure you judge you too will be judged”, Jesus seems to be saying do not pass judgement on anyone. Let them live how they want and you mind your own business.

Judgement or Warning

Should Christians refrain from judging others based on what Christ appears to be teaching? This depends on what we mean by judgement. We have long tried to lump “judgement” in with warning. A good way to look at this is think of a doctors visit. The doctor tells his patient to eat right and exercise or he will be more susceptible to heart disease and stroke. Is the doctor passing judgement on the patient? Certainly not! the evidence has been well documented that the doctor is teaching truth and providing information to help guide the patient to better decisions and a healthier lifestyle.

Judgement would be the doctor belittling the patient for being overweight. Maybe the doctor feels the patient should know that eating healthy and exercising are important so since the patient doesn’t know this he is looked down upon by the doctor. In the case, the doctor is arrogant and feels that he should be acknowledged as being superior.

To Christ, the issue is not that warnings are issued but in what attitude they are issued.

Jesus commanded His followers to “testify against evil”

Consider that right after saying “do not judge”, Jesus also says “Do not give what is Holy to dogs or toss your pearls before pigs, or they will trample them with their feet, turn, and tear you to pieces”. How is a person supposed to determine who are the dogs and pigs without using some kind of discernment? Also, in John 7:7 Jesus states the world hates me “because I testify about it that its works are evil” and later in John 15:18 ”
If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first”. The reason Jesus and His followers would be hated by the world is because they are telling the world their works are evil and are to boldly tell the world about the truth. Which those outside of Christ hate the affirmation of truth and will use “you cant judge me” as a way to push against being told their actions are inappropriate and will lead to destruction.

Telling someone is sick is what a good doctor will do. In the same way a person who walks with Christ should not be afraid to discuss moral sickness with their friends. If the doctor refuses to tell someone they have cancer because they are afraid of not being liked or what the patient might say we would certainly not call him good or kind. We might want his license revoked and even charges brought against him for negligence. So how can we say we are loving and kind when we refuse to tell the world about their moral corruption? At least the doctors negligence will only lead to bodily death while the Christians negligence will lead to an eternal separation from life itself! If we are willing to punish a doctor for his unwillingness to hurt someones feelings how much more should our punishment be for NOT telling people they are morally sick? Granted we will be hated for this since no one likes to be told they are wrong but it is a command from Christ and a reflection on if we truly love our neighbor. Its only the neighbor who loves himself that will avoid talking about moral failure and obligation.

Do Everything in Love – judgmental attitudes to avoid (with help from JD Greear)

I will admit that there are Christians out there that take this stand with a bit too much pleasure. They lack the love that needs to accompany such statements. Because of this they come across as arrogant and judgmental. It was these people Jesus rails against in Matthew 7. Yes their message might be true but without the underpinnings of love and humility their message will be, at best, rejected.

So what does this kind of judgement look like that Jesus is so adamantly against? What are some ways we can identify this kind of judgement in ourselves? The following are 7 areas that demonstrate the wrong attitudes to have.

Just ask yourself this question, when was the last time you were truly embarrassed by your own sin? When was the last time someone else’s irritated you? Has someone else’s inconsideration set you on edge? Have you ever been ashamed of an inconsiderate word you let cross your lips? These are just a few examples but if you are not ashamed of your own faults yet the faults of others irritate you, this is a very good indication you are a judgmental person. Instead fall on your knees and weep over your own sin! Before you can ever approach anyone about their own sin you must recognize how awful sin is, how much you have cost God, and understand how much you struggle with your own sin. Once you understand this you will understand the struggle others have as well and be in a more loving attitude toward addressing someone else’s sin. If you do not weep over your own sin or believe your sins are few you need to spend time on your knees praying to God that He would show you your own sin. Only this way can you see how much you have been forgiven of and be willing to extend that same forgiveness to others (more on this coming up)

Another obstacle to avoid is the pit of unforgiveness. When we choose to not-forgive someone we show our own ignorance of the enormity of how much we had already been forgiven. How could we say we know how much we have been forgiven yet refuse to offer that same forgiveness to those around us? In Matthew 18 Jesus paints a picture of this type of forgiveness. If we are unwilling to forgive we are in danger of a significant judgement against us. Instead we are to absorb the debt we feel we are owed and in return offer nothing but love.

How easy is it to “walk away” from someone you disagree with? Maybe it is over a political view or even a moral one. In fact, you might be correct. However, walking away from someone and disengaging conversation with them is the epitome of the kind of Judgement Jesus is against. He wants us to love one another, in order to do this we MUST be willing to converse with one another. If we trim away those in our lives who have wronged us it shows we do not love them, we have not forgave them, and we are guiltily of judging them. In essence we become the person we hope we would never become. So be willing to talk and have hard conversations without the willingness to walk away so quickly. Look how Jesus treated Judas “friend why have you come here” (Mt 26:50) even as Judas had brought those who would arrest Jesus, Jesus still was reaching our His hand in friendship. Jesus was not willing to cut off Judas no matter what Judas would do to Jesus. Do not cut people out just because you disagree with them; or you risk falling under the judgement Jesus warns about in Matthew 7.

Gossip is one way to show our outward judgement. At least until now is some fashion the things written about above could be internal and covert. How easy is it to just avoid someone without them ever knowing you’re avoiding them? Or think how superior we are to another. But gossip is the verbal expression of judgement. With this everyone around you will know your hostility toward another and what is worse, even if what you say is true, it does not provide the other person an opportunity to change. Nothing positive can come from gossip. In fact, if you are ever talking about another person ask yourself “would I be willing to say this if they were in the room”? Or “is this something they want to have repeated”. If the answer to either of these is “no” chances are you better shut your mouth. One other piece of advice the more you talk the more likely you are to sin and the more of a fool you are. (Prov 10:19; 17:28; Job 13:5; Ecc 5:3)

If we refuse to accept criticism this could be because we do not want to admit to our own faults. In fact this, in a round about way, corresponds to my second point. If we believe we are “good enough” we will want to avoid criticism that points out that we are not. If we truly believe we are good enough we will be less likely to forgive someone else because if we managed to be good enough why couldn’t they? So do some self reflection, when was the last time someone criticized you? If you truly knew what it was you were forgiven of and really understood the Bible we should respond with “that doesn’t surprise me in fact there is a lot more you could criticize me of, I am glad you brought this to my attention I will do what I can to change”.

Assuming someone will not change or will not listen might drive us to not say anything that is corrective or constructive. By not saying anything to the person we are judging them based on what we believe their reaction might be. But doing this assumes that the Bible isn’t true, the God isn’t capable of intervention, or you believe they are incapable of changing. This feeling might come after years of seeing them do the same thing over and over and end up in the same situation over and over. A thought of “here we go again” is exactly what I am talking about here. It doesn’t matter how many times you have intervened, if you truly love them, do it again! Otherwise you are just showing your own ignorance toward the Bible, God, prayer, confrontation, and ultimately love.

That above point plays into this one. After we have seen someone go down the same road over and over and make the same mistakes time and again it is easy to say “they are just hopeless”. But by saying this we are admitting that the God who can raise the dead, form galaxies out of breath, receive praise from Angels who terrify people, who can conquer death, and restore the humble, is somehow incapable of working in their life. Do not ever consider someone “hopeless” because with Christ there is no such thing as being without hope.

Be the Salt of the Earth

Christians are called to tell a world about Christ. We are called to be the salt of the earth. We need to tell people about what is right and what is wrong. We are to do this with humility and love. Because even though salt might help with flavor too much can ruin the whole dish. But not enough will leave a meal bland and lackluster. We need to not be afraid to speak out against immorality. But we need to do so in a way that does not put as as a superior talking down to an inferior. We need to understand that we too have messed up and we are not coming from a place of condemnation but of love. It is for the person’s well being we are willing to say they may need to change. We need to use our discernment to help each other out of immorality. But we need to do this with grace and love. Do not be heavy handed since this will ruin any possible relationship but do not be so light that there is no clear moral obligations. Withholding truth is not loving but speaking truth without love is mean. We need both in equal measure truth and love.

If this is something you struggle with, pray. Ask God for forgiveness and ask that He would put someone in your life that will guide you through this process. Remember that you need to first admit your total dependence on Him. This is not something you can do alone. You need God to work through you and other people in your life to guide you. This will never succeed without Him first and other people helping you. Do not stop telling people about Christ but do so in a manner that is loving and not condescending. Do not be afraid to point out evil and lies because how can people change if they do not know what they are doing is wrong. But again do this with a loving attitude. If we are honest with ourselves we all want to be better people. How can we be better people if we are not informed of what needs to change?