Judgment // An Honest Look at Scripture

I heard such an honest teaching on judgment this last weekend that I just had to share. My pastor, who is such a transparent person, really shed some light on a few verses that I did not really understand.  Specifically:

“Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.  6 “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you. Matt. 7:1-6

Firstly, I know I have heard it said countless times that we are not to judge.  Many people, believers of Jesus and non-believers, toss this phrase around haphazardly all the time. "Don't judge me," or 'only God can judge me,’ or ‘I’m not here to judge.’ But really what it comes down to is that none are without judgment and everyone wishes to not be judged without the accountability for themselves.  It would be great if we could judge freely knowing we aren't being judged in return, but this just isn't so.  There has to be some order right?

So what is judgement exactly?  Let us just start there and take a look at the good ole dictionary.

Miriam Webster Dictionary: "A formal utterance of an authoritative opinion."

Okay so we all would love to think we have some sort of authority, and to some degree we do.  We all in our own sphere of influences have some sort of authority in certain contexts, however this does not mean that our judgments are sound nor are they the standard to judge all by.

I think we can all agree that in order to have a well working society and world, that there needs to be some standard.  A certain place to look to in order to understand right from wrong and help others in making good decisions.  I know I went all global sized on this whole topic but I feel like that is where this topic will naturally lead.  Judgment, without a doubt is kind of a human thing.  We are all going to do it at some point, just depends how many times we do in a day right? ;)   

At some point in life, God will judge us.  The bible says in multiple verses and books, that this will happen.  It also states that the degree and way in which you judge others is the way God will judge you.  (Makes me think twice about judging-which I guess is sort of the point.)  God will judge us for how we have lived our lives here on this earth that he created.  The only one worthy of complete human judgment is Christ because he is divine and absolutely sinless.  Those without sin are able to fully judge, and in all human history there has only been one perfect person: JESUS.

So when we look at judgment from a biblical stand point, there are areas as believers we are able to judge.  We are not to judge people, but actions and emotions.  We have God, the complete authority, and the bible to look to for the ultimate rule and authority in order to make a judgment call on another person’s life.  All of this of course is done from love.  There should be no contentious way inside of us while ‘calling someone out.’  Judging actions is a lot different than judging a person.  Judging someone’s actions and emotions must coincide with context always.  When we are calling someone out we must first:

 Ask if the person even cares what you have to say (degree of relationship)

Ask if you are doing the same thing the judgment is about (No hypocrisy)

Ask if you are calling them out from a place of love and concern. (Intentions/motives)

I believe at some point, different points in life, daily even, we need wisdom, guidance and some place other than our skewed limited perspective for help.  We need outside wisdom in areas where conflict arise or problems occur.  I believe in trying to seek truth in all areas of life for the present and future.  Looking to absolute truth and authority makes the most sense to me.  God himself is without sin; absolutely perfect.

  Why wouldn’t we look to Him for our daily wisdom?