“On the Matter of Judging”

HOPE CHAPEL - Sunday, June 12, 2022

Youtube link... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00My0oE1qOM
 
Teaching Series - “Doing Life with Jesus" 
Weekly Topic - “On the Matter of Judging” 
Texts – Matthew 7:1-6
 
  
Can you imagine what would happen if we took Jesus’ teaching about ‘judging’ to heart?  I am rereading a book that came out in 2002 entitled, “When Bad Christians Happen to Good People” by David Burchett and have been struck again by the proliferation of the misuse of judgement-making within the Christian Church.  While the Bible encourages us to be discerning and to use sound judgement, as well as to hold one another in the Christian community accountable and to spur one another on to love and good deeds, the sort of judgement we see most often in life (and dare I say, especially in the Church) is the sort of judgement that Jesus taught against.  The kind of judgement that Jesus warns against is the kind that causes us to condemn others, to elevate our own supposed piety and even to condone our ‘lesser sins.’ 

The Christian community loves to come out swinging when it comes to sins that we have strong opinions against…currently on the hitlist of many are homosexuality and abortion.  A few decades back it was divorce and pre-marital sex.  Yet, human trafficking, sexual abuse by Christian leaders, and the greed-caused impoverishment of many, while they may stir up regret and shame, retain our attention for only brief periods before amnesia sets in again.  The truth of the matter is we would rather villainize some and write them off as God-forsaken than enter their messy worlds in an attempt to truly be the hands and feet of Jesus.
 
And then there’s the ‘lesser’ sins like gossip, hatred, jealousy, tightfistedness, inhospitality and gluttony—all of which directly contravene Jesus’ commandment that we are to love others as we love ourselves.  But for some reason, these tend to get a ‘pass’ within Christian circles.
 
Jesus didn’t have any such scale when it came to grading sin.  Jesus told his disciples, “from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander” (Matthew 15:19).  Jesus makes no distinction between evil thoughts and lying versus murder and sexual immorality.  It all falls short of obedience to God.  It all finds its source in the sinfulness of human hearts.  It all requires God’s forgiveness.  We are all susceptible…no one is innocent!
 
So today, with this truth in mind, I’d like to breakdown some of the things that Jesus tells us about judging.
 
DON’T ASSUME THE ROLE OF JUDGE
Matthew 7:1-2, NLT
“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. 2 For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.”
 
When we judge others, we are promised that the same measuring stick we use to judge will be used on us.  The only one fit to make judgements concerning who is to be rewarded and who is condemned is Jesus, because the role of Eternal Judge requires someone who is without sin…and none of us can claim that status (1 John 1:8).  Now I highly doubt that anyone here would claim to be perfect, but Jesus is quick to point out that none of us should claim to be ‘better’ either.
 
There is a common theme that we have seen in Jesus’ sermon on the mount when it comes to our treatment of and attitude towards others…what we dish out, either good or bad, will come back to us.  It isn’t karma…it’s a God-given promise.
·         Do not judge or you will be judged…I don’t think Jesus could have made it any clearer.  What measuring sticks do we often judge people by?  How they dress?  How they talk?  Do their kids behave in public?  What kind of work do they do?  How much money do they have?  Do we enjoy their contributions at potlucks?  We claim that we are measuring people against the truth of God’s Word, but how often does it really just boil down to our opinions and our preferences?
·         Those who show mercy will be shown mercy (Matthew 5:7)…but if we don’t?  You will not receive God’s mercy.
·         Those who forgive will be forgiven (Matthew 6:14-15)…but if we withhold forgiveness from another as though somehow they are answerable to us?  God will not forgive us. 
 
God cannot make it clearer than he already has…he does not and will not play favourites (1 Peter 1:17a).  Those who have chosen to accept God’s free gift of forgiveness and life eternal in heaven with him through the work of Jesus are not somehow ‘better’ in his eyes or more loved.  How entitled are we when we think that somehow our acceptance of a gift, which we could not earn, that is freely offered to anyone and everyone, somehow warrants us special status in the eyes of God?!  Yes, we are ensured a place in heaven, but God truly does want everyone there.  The other difference is that we’ve chosen to say, “Yes.”
 
 DEAL WITH YOUR OWN STUFF
Matthew 7:3-5a, NLT
3 “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? 4 How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite!”
 
Jesus really didn’t have patience for religious hypocrites and attempting to help another while ignoring our own sinful attitudes and habits is nothing short of hypocrisy.  We cannot truly help another as long as we live in this sort of denial. 
 
Many people who have experienced pain in their own lives, enter helping professions in an attempt to relieve their own past hurts.  But a hurting professional cannot help a hurting client.  They must first experience healing for themselves. 
 
The same is true of sin.  Some leaders have attempted to deal with sin in their lives, by teaching others about what it means to obey God.  But time and again, we see these leaders and their ministries come crashing down as their sin catches up with them.
 
Jesus taught that, in order to help another, we must first deal with our own ‘stuff.’  Pretending it doesn’t exist won’t make it go away.  We all have specks and logs which we must deal with…and with the Holy Spirit’s help we can. 
 
 
HELP OTHERS
Matthew 7:5b, NLT
“First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.”
 
Refraining from ‘judging’ does not mean that we are to simply stand back and watch as our Christian brothers and sisters struggle.  Jesus tells us to help deal with the sins in the lives of fellow Christians once we can do so with the proper attitude…humbly and gently (Galatians 6:1)…fully acknowledging our own propensity toward sin.
 
Not judging another also doesn’t mean that there is no accountability.  Have you ever heard someone say, “You can’t judge me!”  Which really translates, “You can’t tell me I am doing anything wrong.”  But that is not what Jesus is saying.  No, he doesn’t want us to condemn one another, but we are instructed in Scripture to encourage one another, teach one another, reprove one another and help one another stay on the true path of obedience to God. 
 
That requires that we use sound judgement when discerning right from wrong.  While some things fall under the category of ‘personal opinion,’ other things are far more black and white.  You don’t have to look hard to find things that Jesus condemned. 
 
What did Jesus reserve his harshest criticisms for?  Selfishness, pride, hypocrisy, greed, power-grabs, unforgiveness, hatred and judging others. 
 
But, why is it that the things that Jesus condemned are often the same things we let slide?  His primary concern is with the condition of our hearts and the attitudes that erupt from it that act as fertilizer for sinful behaviours.  We often only take notice when sin has shown up in action…Jesus knew that sin must be addressed at the root.  We have the habit of turning a blind eye until the problems can’t be ignored…both in our own lives and the lives of others.
 
 
What if someone rejects our help to discern right from wrong and to make better choices?  Jesus answers that question too. 
 
SWINE AND DOGS
Matthew 7:6, NLT
“Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy.  Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.” 
 
In the first century, dogs were rarely kept as pets; they roamed in packs and were sometimes dangerous to the human population.  Pigs on the other hand were raised by gentiles for meat and were voracious eaters.  Neither dogs nor pigs were particularly picky about what they ate and both could attack if hungry.  To be called a ‘dog’ or a ‘pig’ was not a compliment, and Jesus is most definitely drawing a comparison to some people, though not as an insult.  He was pointing out the fact that no matter your good intentions, some people will always take advantage, not be satisfied, and even turn to attack those attempting to help them if dissatisfied with the type of help offered.
 
That fact still doesn’t provide us with an excuse to judge, but it is a reminder, that even with the purest intentions and a genuine desire to care, not all will want what we have to offer.  Rather than finding comfort from the light of Jesus in our lives, some will shield their eyes from its brightness.  Rather than enjoying the new flavour we add when we are God’s salt, we may find some spitting out what we offer in disgust. 
 
We are not to beat ourselves up for this or simply dig in and try harder.  Everyone has a freewill which we are to respect…as difficult as it may be to see someone choose to walk a path that will ultimately lead to their destruction.  However, we are not to stop loving them either.  The person who may reject your message today, may be the one who comes asking for your help in the future.
 
 
Takeaways…
·         We are not to assume the role of judge.  There is One Judge whom we will all stand before...and it’s his sacrifice that ensures any of us a place in heaven.
·         Before you attempt to help another, make certain that you are yourself entirely transparent and are dealing with the sin in your own life.
·         Jesus’ command not to judge does not mean that we aren’t to be accountable to one another.  Blatant sin is not to be tolerated as permissible…we should all be holding fellow believers to a higher standard.
·         Help others humbly and gently…and be willing to receive their help in turn.
·         As hard as it is to watch people reject the truth we have, we cannot force decisions and behaviours on them.  We can share the truth, but only the Holy Spirit can prepare people’s hearts to receive it.
 
 
Recommended Reading – “When Bad Christians Happen to Good People: Where we have failed each other and how to reverse the damage” by David Burchett ©2002
 
Sunday, June 19, 2022 – 2022 Theme - “Doing Life with Jesus – Ask & Receive” – In-person and Online 
Pastor Jane Peck, Hope Chapel
(Collingwood EMCC Church)
 
"Learning and Living the Way of Jesus!"