"Who Are You to Judge Me?"
By Mark Larson
www.cvillechurch.com
Often when Christians present the truth to others, they are accused of being arrogant, narrow-minded, and judgmental. Frequently, there are resentments that people have when Christians tell them how to live their lives for the Lord. They interpret our words as a personal attack, instead of the message of truth from God.
“Judgmentalism”
In defense against all moral judgments, people will frequently make reference to Jesus’ statement of Matthew 7:1 which says: “Judge not, that ye be not judged” (KJV). This Bible verse is used today as “proof” that we should never make moral judgments about anyone. To do so is considered unloving and judgmental of others. In their view, Christians ought to never judge others or preach against other people’s religions. Just be tolerant and do not correct other people, even when they are in error (i.e., sin, false belief).
The problem lies not with Christians actually being judgmental when they present the truth to others, but rather a misconception that people have of what it means to be judgmental. Jesus was not at all saying that we can never make judgments of anyone (Mat. 7:1). In this same chapter, Jesus warns us to beware of certain kinds of people who are like “dogs” and “swine” (Mat. 7:6) and also warns us of false prophets that are like “ravenous wolves” (Mat. 7:15). To identify people as such would certainly require that we make judgments. What Jesus is actually condemning in Matthew 7:1-5 is the judging of others with a sense of moral superiority over others. The failure to examine ourselves first, for the sin that we readily see in others, results in hypocritical judging or “judgmentalism.” To effectively help a person repent of their sins, we must first look at our own lives for any sin and repent accordingly.
“Judge with a Righteous Judgment” (John 7:24).
If, at first, people feel personally attacked when you present the truth of God’s word, remember to emphasize where the truth came from. Christians are not in the business of standing in the place of God and judging people’s eternal destiny (1 Cor. 4:1-5). Rather, such judgments come solely from what the word of the Lord has to say: "He who rejects Me, and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day” (John 12:48). The fact of the matter is, Christians merely deliver God’s word and do not do the actual judging. The word of God, that was given to the apostles and prophets by the Holy Spirit (Eph. 3:5), does all the judging that is necessary of people’s conduct, lives, and spiritual condition (John 16:8-11). When people feel judged, we are not acting as their judge. Instead, it is God’s word that is at work which is “able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Heb. 4:12).
A Christian Demonstrates Love for Others by Judging.
Christians must make judgments every day in order to distinguish between good and evil and make good choices in life (1 Thes. 5:21-22; Heb. 5:12-14). In addition, Christians must also make judgments in order to help others who need to be warned, reproved, rebuked, or corrected of their sins. We have been given this responsibility by the commands of God in His word (Gal. 6:1; James 5:19-20; 2 Tim. 4:1-5; Titus 2:15).
Judging others of sin must be done according to God’s instructions. We must not act proud or be arrogant, but we must be humble in our conduct and in our speech (1 Pet. 5:5). We must deliver the message of truth in love (Eph. 4:15) and in the spirit of meekness or gentleness (Gal. 6:1). However, there may be certain cases that call for a severe rebuke of our brethren so they will be sound in the faith (Titus 1:13). Sometimes a severe rebuke of non-Christians or false teachers is in order also (e.g., Mat. 23).
No matter how the religious world may define love, true love for others will be demonstrated by our judgment (based on the Word) of their spiritual condition and thus our involvement to restore the erring back to God: “My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth, and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death, and will cover a multitude of sins” (James 5:19-20). “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Mat. 22:39).
Are Christians Narrow-Minded?
The charge that Christians are narrow-minded is commonly given with the charge of being judgmental. This is because the Christian holds to only one standard of truth (God’s word) as the basis of all their moral judgments. “Narrow-minded” is defined as: “unwilling to listen to or tolerate the views of others; prejudiced” (Oxford University Press). Does this accusation have any merit? Are Christians narrow-minded?
In examining this definition of narrow-minded, we can eliminate two possible applications to the Christian. First of all, Christians are by no means “prejudiced.” Prejudice, partiality, or bias is condemned in Scripture (Acts 10:34; Rom. 2:11; 1 Tim. 5:21; James 2:1). Any Christian who has prejudice in their heart must repent and ask God for forgiveness. Secondly, Christians are not people who are “unwilling to listen to. . . the views of others.” Christians must be “quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger” (Jas. 1:19; cf. Prov. 18:13). A willingness to hear other points of view demonstrates fairness on our part.
Yet, what about the part of the definition of narrow-minded which says: “unwilling to . . . tolerate the views of others”? Is this an accurate description of Christians? Again, we must define terms. Tolerate can mean either “allow (something that one dislikes or disagrees with) to exist or occur without interference” or “patiently endure (something unpleasant)” (Oxford Univ. Press). Christians can and should at times tolerate or “patiently endure (or bear) that which is unpleasant” such as the sins of others (cf. Gal. 6:1-2; Eph. 4:2; 2 Tim. 2:24). This does not mean we condone their sin, but instead we must show patience with others as they are given the chance to hear the truth and repent of their error.
However, Christians cannot tolerate or “allow (something that one dislikes or disagrees with) to exist or occur without interference” when it comes to matters of morality and religion. It would be wrong for Christians to “tolerate the views of others” in this sense. Instead, we have a responsibility to challenge people’s beliefs when they are in error and do our best to teach them the truth of God’s word (e.g., 1 Tim. 1:3-4; 2 Tim. 2:25; 3:16-17; 4:2; Titus 1:9; Jas. 5:19-20). Though the religious world teaches we ought to allow all religious doctrines to exist without any interference whatsoever, the Christian must get involved by helping others see the error of their way and teach them the truth.
Christians Are Narrow-Minded to the Extent That the Truth Is Narrow.
Christians are in a sense “narrow-minded” when it comes to their stand for the truth. After all, the way of truth that leads to eternal life is described as narrow or restrictive in nature: "For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it” (Mat. 7:14). Christians should have no shame to be “narrow,” for Jesus was also narrow in what He taught: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me” (John 14:6). Only through Christ, who stands for the truth, can a person have access to God in Heaven.
If Christians are going to be true to God and to their convictions of truth, they must be “narrow” without compromise. Many people will travel the “broad” way and thus “tolerate” all religious beliefs without distinction. Many are unwilling to debate or discuss religious differences in light of the Scriptures. The “broad” way only leads to eternal destruction (Mat. 7:13). Though the path of truth is unpopular and a more lonely road to travel (Mat. 7:14), the Christian commits him/ herself to it because there is only one truth or faith that will save him eternally (Eph. 4:5; Jude 3; Gal. 1:6-9; Rom. 1:16).
www.cvillechurch.com
Often when Christians present the truth to others, they are accused of being arrogant, narrow-minded, and judgmental. Frequently, there are resentments that people have when Christians tell them how to live their lives for the Lord. They interpret our words as a personal attack, instead of the message of truth from God.
“Judgmentalism”
In defense against all moral judgments, people will frequently make reference to Jesus’ statement of Matthew 7:1 which says: “Judge not, that ye be not judged” (KJV). This Bible verse is used today as “proof” that we should never make moral judgments about anyone. To do so is considered unloving and judgmental of others. In their view, Christians ought to never judge others or preach against other people’s religions. Just be tolerant and do not correct other people, even when they are in error (i.e., sin, false belief).
The problem lies not with Christians actually being judgmental when they present the truth to others, but rather a misconception that people have of what it means to be judgmental. Jesus was not at all saying that we can never make judgments of anyone (Mat. 7:1). In this same chapter, Jesus warns us to beware of certain kinds of people who are like “dogs” and “swine” (Mat. 7:6) and also warns us of false prophets that are like “ravenous wolves” (Mat. 7:15). To identify people as such would certainly require that we make judgments. What Jesus is actually condemning in Matthew 7:1-5 is the judging of others with a sense of moral superiority over others. The failure to examine ourselves first, for the sin that we readily see in others, results in hypocritical judging or “judgmentalism.” To effectively help a person repent of their sins, we must first look at our own lives for any sin and repent accordingly.
“Judge with a Righteous Judgment” (John 7:24).
If, at first, people feel personally attacked when you present the truth of God’s word, remember to emphasize where the truth came from. Christians are not in the business of standing in the place of God and judging people’s eternal destiny (1 Cor. 4:1-5). Rather, such judgments come solely from what the word of the Lord has to say: "He who rejects Me, and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day” (John 12:48). The fact of the matter is, Christians merely deliver God’s word and do not do the actual judging. The word of God, that was given to the apostles and prophets by the Holy Spirit (Eph. 3:5), does all the judging that is necessary of people’s conduct, lives, and spiritual condition (John 16:8-11). When people feel judged, we are not acting as their judge. Instead, it is God’s word that is at work which is “able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Heb. 4:12).
A Christian Demonstrates Love for Others by Judging.
Christians must make judgments every day in order to distinguish between good and evil and make good choices in life (1 Thes. 5:21-22; Heb. 5:12-14). In addition, Christians must also make judgments in order to help others who need to be warned, reproved, rebuked, or corrected of their sins. We have been given this responsibility by the commands of God in His word (Gal. 6:1; James 5:19-20; 2 Tim. 4:1-5; Titus 2:15).
Judging others of sin must be done according to God’s instructions. We must not act proud or be arrogant, but we must be humble in our conduct and in our speech (1 Pet. 5:5). We must deliver the message of truth in love (Eph. 4:15) and in the spirit of meekness or gentleness (Gal. 6:1). However, there may be certain cases that call for a severe rebuke of our brethren so they will be sound in the faith (Titus 1:13). Sometimes a severe rebuke of non-Christians or false teachers is in order also (e.g., Mat. 23).
No matter how the religious world may define love, true love for others will be demonstrated by our judgment (based on the Word) of their spiritual condition and thus our involvement to restore the erring back to God: “My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth, and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death, and will cover a multitude of sins” (James 5:19-20). “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Mat. 22:39).
Are Christians Narrow-Minded?
The charge that Christians are narrow-minded is commonly given with the charge of being judgmental. This is because the Christian holds to only one standard of truth (God’s word) as the basis of all their moral judgments. “Narrow-minded” is defined as: “unwilling to listen to or tolerate the views of others; prejudiced” (Oxford University Press). Does this accusation have any merit? Are Christians narrow-minded?
In examining this definition of narrow-minded, we can eliminate two possible applications to the Christian. First of all, Christians are by no means “prejudiced.” Prejudice, partiality, or bias is condemned in Scripture (Acts 10:34; Rom. 2:11; 1 Tim. 5:21; James 2:1). Any Christian who has prejudice in their heart must repent and ask God for forgiveness. Secondly, Christians are not people who are “unwilling to listen to. . . the views of others.” Christians must be “quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger” (Jas. 1:19; cf. Prov. 18:13). A willingness to hear other points of view demonstrates fairness on our part.
Yet, what about the part of the definition of narrow-minded which says: “unwilling to . . . tolerate the views of others”? Is this an accurate description of Christians? Again, we must define terms. Tolerate can mean either “allow (something that one dislikes or disagrees with) to exist or occur without interference” or “patiently endure (something unpleasant)” (Oxford Univ. Press). Christians can and should at times tolerate or “patiently endure (or bear) that which is unpleasant” such as the sins of others (cf. Gal. 6:1-2; Eph. 4:2; 2 Tim. 2:24). This does not mean we condone their sin, but instead we must show patience with others as they are given the chance to hear the truth and repent of their error.
However, Christians cannot tolerate or “allow (something that one dislikes or disagrees with) to exist or occur without interference” when it comes to matters of morality and religion. It would be wrong for Christians to “tolerate the views of others” in this sense. Instead, we have a responsibility to challenge people’s beliefs when they are in error and do our best to teach them the truth of God’s word (e.g., 1 Tim. 1:3-4; 2 Tim. 2:25; 3:16-17; 4:2; Titus 1:9; Jas. 5:19-20). Though the religious world teaches we ought to allow all religious doctrines to exist without any interference whatsoever, the Christian must get involved by helping others see the error of their way and teach them the truth.
Christians Are Narrow-Minded to the Extent That the Truth Is Narrow.
Christians are in a sense “narrow-minded” when it comes to their stand for the truth. After all, the way of truth that leads to eternal life is described as narrow or restrictive in nature: "For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it” (Mat. 7:14). Christians should have no shame to be “narrow,” for Jesus was also narrow in what He taught: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me” (John 14:6). Only through Christ, who stands for the truth, can a person have access to God in Heaven.
If Christians are going to be true to God and to their convictions of truth, they must be “narrow” without compromise. Many people will travel the “broad” way and thus “tolerate” all religious beliefs without distinction. Many are unwilling to debate or discuss religious differences in light of the Scriptures. The “broad” way only leads to eternal destruction (Mat. 7:13). Though the path of truth is unpopular and a more lonely road to travel (Mat. 7:14), the Christian commits him/ herself to it because there is only one truth or faith that will save him eternally (Eph. 4:5; Jude 3; Gal. 1:6-9; Rom. 1:16).
posted by Mark E Larson | 3:46 PM
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