Righteous Judgment
“Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” (John 7:34)
In this passage we are told judge by righteous judgment, not by appearance. But, what is righteous judgment? And who is to judge?
JUDGE NOT?
Some of us can probably recall times when we spoke in opposition to some newsworthy public issue and were admonished by someone not to criticize because, “the Bible says not to judge.” In our culture today, in fact, the idea that “anything goes” is widespread and is popularly known as “moral relativism.” This is the belief that what you personally consider wrong may not be wrong for someone else, and that everyone has to make up their own mind for themself as to what is right and wrong. In contrast, the old-fashioned idea of “moral absolutes” goes hand-in-hand with God’s law, which few consider binding on us today. If God’s precepts are indeed abolished, then there is no right or wrong, “for where no law is, there is no transgression.” (Rom. 4:15) And it is equally true that, “sin is not imputed when there is no law.” (Rom. 5:13) No law equals no sin, so if that is the case we can do as we please.
NO HYPOCRISY!
While the Bible does indeed say to “Judge not, that ye be not judged” (Matt. 7:1), it is also undoubtedly true that you can teach almost anything from the Bible if you take words out of context. Here is the context of Christ’s words: “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. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.” (Matt. 7:1-5)
Christ is here giving us a biblical principle that we will be held accountable to the same high standard as we hold others to. We cannot insist that others lead moral lives if we don’t live moral lives ourselves. Nor can we demand accountability in others without being held accountable ourselves. Lately, the American media has been buzzing incessantly about a United States Senator who pleaded guilty to lewd [i.e., homosexual] conduct at the Minneapolis airport restroom. He has endured an endless barrage of attacks, but not for homosexual conduct! Most of the criticism has instead been for hypocrisy, since he has a long legislative record antagonistic to homosexual behavior. As Christ said, “first cast out the beam out of thine own eye...”
FORBEARANCE AND FORGIVENESS
If we neither forgive those who sin against us, nor live moral lives ourselves, we will be judged for this by others. It frequently happens, however, that sin can appear to be magnified in the eyes of the beholder. It is a fact of sensitive human nature that we remember wrongs more than rights, trespasses more than good deeds. Just get a spot on a white shirt, and you will find that the only thing people seem to notice (and comment on) is the small spot, not the 99% of the shirt that is clean and white! We are imperfect creatures in need of a Savior, and for the many minor hurts of life need to remember Christ’s words, “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.” (Mark 11:25-26; cf. Matt. 6:14-15)
This is a hard rule to accept! If we do not forgive the trespasses of a Christian brother, God will not forgive ours! How many times do we have to forgive? This was on the Apostles’ minds. “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.” (Mat 18:21-22) Many years ago in my pastoral work I counseled a member of our church who had been hurt by a whole series of rather rude indignations, and used this verse. He replied that it did not apply because he had already forgiven the quota of 490 times! But Christ was not asking us to keep a running count. In the meaning of Biblical numbers, seven symbolizes Spiritual perfection, and seventy embodies universality. In other words, it encompasses an amount without measure. It is instructive that our Savior gave us this principle: “And forgive us our debts, as [or to the degree that] we forgive our debtors.” (Mat 6:12)
REPROVE, REPENT AND RESTORE
We are called to be lights in the world and to separate ourselves from darkness. The Apostle Paul admonished, “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” (Eph. 5:11) The object of reproving is to try and restore a brother or sister into fellowship again. Paul told Titus, “One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith.” (Titus 1:13)
Sin cannot be condoned, however, so repentance is called for, and a turning away from sin on the part of the offender: “Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.” (Luke 17:3-4)
Sometimes divisions have been necessary. We thank God for the Protestant Reformation, and for those who protested the unscriptural practices of the established church. It is because people faithful to God and His Word were willing to stand up for truth that we have the freedom of religion we enjoy today. Paul said, “For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.” (1 Cor. 11:18)
Yet God’s intention is that we should grow in love and Spiritual maturity together with those who are like-minded. The Apostle Paul added, “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” (Col. 3:12-13) I pray that we as individuals put aside our own pride and realize that the Church is His Church, and our cause is His Own Cause. Let us be about our Father’s business!
|
