How To Judge Using Biblical Standards
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT JUDGING?
If there is one thing the church has in common with the world, we are all confused about judging. We can't even agree on what judging is!
SO MUCH UNNECESSARY CONFUSION!
I've been told that:
Judging is wrong because it allows “the judge” to feel superior over the judged.
The people with the most sin in their life are the ones who feel the need to judge others. It hides their sin while they expose someone else.
Jesus didn't condemn the sinners he interacted with, why would we think it's okay?
Judging others shows immaturity and a lack of grace.
The Bible is archaic. God should encourage love, not hate.
And you know what? I don't disagree. I know, I know. I hear the gasps clear over here. But stick with me for a minute and let me address each of the above before we go further.
LET’S EXAMINE EACH OF THE ABOVE STATEMENTS
1. Judging is wrong because it allows “the judge” to feel superior over the judged.
This is a matter of pride in the heart of "the judge" and it's a heart issue that God doesn't approve of. If we judge as the world judges with harsh criticism, condemnation, and arrogance we are sinning. That is not and never will be the way God wants his people to think and behave.
2. The people with the most sin in their life are the ones who feel the need to judge others. It hides their sin while they expose someone else.
It's true that we are great at trying to take the attention off of ourselves when we sin. We see this happening throughout the Bible; Adam and Eve are perfect examples. Eve chose to sin but didn't force the forbidden on Adam. He made the decision to eat of it then hide from God.
When caught, Adam reminded God that He (God) gave Adam this woman and she gave it to him (Adam). To me, it sounds like he was saying the whole situation was God's fault for giving him this woman and it's also Eve's fault for giving him the forbidden. When God turns to Eve to question her, she immediately points her finger at the serpent.
Nobody likes to accept responsibility for messing up and we like having our sin exposed even less. However, more sin or less sin is irrelevant to God. Sin is sin and we all need to deal with our own before looking at anyone else.
3. Jesus didn't condemn the sinners he interacted with, why would we think it's okay?
I challenge you to find a single instance in the entire Bible where God told someone their sin was okay (or understandable, or acceptable). Instead, Jesus (who is our example in all things, John 13:15 and 1 Peter 2:21) has always been willing to forgive a repentant heart. He always told the sinner something to the effect of, "Go and sin no more."
That is accepting the person, rejecting their sin. Not the same thing at all.
4. Judging others shows immaturity and a lack of grace.
That is a lie of our enemy simply meant to get your emotions riled and attention off of the issue of sin. Have you noticed that when people don't get what they want they are quick to throw fiery darts and call names? Christians hate to be called immature or unspiritual. What actually shows a lack of spiritual maturity is when you react in the flesh, don't know what the Bible really says, or attempt to judge without following God's principles to do so.
We are to extend grace to everyone but we can't confuse grace for acceptance.
5. The Bible is archaic. God should encourage love, not hate.
Again, you are right. Archaic means to be very old and God and his Word are older than time. To be more accurate, He created time. God doesn't change. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Both He and His Word are just as relevant and needed today as it was way back when and just as critical as it will be tomorrow.
Absolutely, God should and does promote love. You know why? Because He IS love. That is 100% accurate. Just because you love someone doesn’t mean you blindly accept everything they say and do as perfect, good, and acceptable. A correction is a form of love if done biblically. Nowhere in the Bible does God promote us treating each other hatefully instead of in love.
But do you know what God hates? Sin. Sin is knowing what you should do and not doing it (James 4:17). As I pointed out in our last post, “Should Christians Judge?”, God loves his people so much that he gave us righteous judging to help protect us from the enemy and the sin he temps us with.
It is a gift, not chains we use to bind each other with. It is Satan who has manipulated and twisted righteous, biblical judging, not God.
WE REINVENT WHEN WE DON’T LIKE OUR OPTIONS
The problem is we have tried to reinvent the definitions of many words to satisfy current culture and not offend. Why do we assume being corrected for something signifies hate instead of love? When we correct our children God's way, don't we still love them and desire the best for them? Most of us aren't trying to exert control and beat our children down but to guide and direct them in a godly way.
In the same way, judging God's way (biblically) is a demonstration of God’s love inside of us, not the world's anger and hate.
“and you have forgotten the divine word of encouragement which is addressed to you as sons, ‘My son, do not make light of the discipline of the Lord, And do not lose heart and give up when you are corrected by Him; For the Lord disciplines and corrects those whom He loves, And He punishes every son whom He receives and welcomes (to His heart).” (Hebrews 12:5-6 AMP)
DISCERNMENT
Christians have to turn to the Bible for our guidance, not the world. We aren't to be worried about being different because that is exactly what we are called to be (Romans 12:2).
God does desire that his children use the discerning wisdom he has blessed us with, plus his Word to test all things. Did you know that there aren't many books in the New Testament that don't somehow refer to false prophets (false Christians) and the need to judge fruit to determine who these people are?
God is serious about our using this tool to help navigate life with each other.
THE WILL OF GOD REGARDING JUDGING
How we judge and why we judge seems to be what trips most of us up. When you get down to it, it's a matter of the heart. You can judge to correct and guide or you can judge to condemn and damn. But you know what you can't do? Fool God as to your motives.
Righteous judging isn't a bad thing. Unrighteous judging is.
What is the will of God in regard to judging? Although we talked about it in the post, “Should Christians Judge”, we are to judge:
⦁ Always ourselves first (Matthew 7:5)
⦁ The fruits (both words and conduct) of other Christians (Matthew 7:15-20), never the Christian themselves. And only with those you have some sort of relationship with. You've heard it said, "hate the sin, love the sinner"? That's what I mean here. You aren't to judge and condemn the person but their on-going actions.
Judging the fruit of another is such an important biblical principle that Jesus even spoke in Revelation about it.
"I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don't tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars."
(Revelation 2:2 NLT)
Jesus is talking to Christians examining the fruit of other Christians here. Notice He was praising them for it.
HOW TO JUDGE USING BIBLICAL STANDARDS
Whether you call it testing, judging, or discerning, righteous (biblical) judging is carefully weighing (comparing) the evidence of someone's fruit (their words and actions) to what God says in Scripture (meaning their words or actions do not contradict the Word of God).
Unrighteous (ungodly) judging ignores Scripture in favor of feelings and current cultural opinion. It attacks the person, not just their actions.
With these facts established, how do you judge wisely (biblically)? James 1:19 is an excellent starting point:
"My dear brothers and sisters, be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry".
BE QUICK TO LISTEN
Many children will tell you that what they want more than anything is for someone to sit with them, look them in the eye, and simply listen. I'm positive many adults feel the same way. If you doubt that, think about how you feel when someone never seems to hear you, won't slow down long enough to even look at you, and always seems short-tempered or angry with you.
When someone takes the time to really listen to us, we feel loved and valued. Instead of jumping to conclusions, shouldn't we be treating each other like we want to be treated?
But we aren't just to be quick to listen to each other. God wants us to hush and listen to him too! Numerous times in his Bible God says, "those who have ears to hear, let him hear."
Did you realize that we have physical and spiritual ears? If you allow it, the Holy Spirit gives you the power to hear both. What would be the benefit of having spiritual hearing if our battle is just against flesh and blood (people)? Because of Ephesians 6:12, we know who our battle is against.
We also need our spiritual ears to hear our Helper, Teacher, and Comforter (the Holy Spirit).
Questions to consider: Are you really listening to this person you are judging? Did you pray about what was done or said, trusting God for discernment with a pure heart and motives before bringing the issue up to the other person? Maybe God wants you to simply listen to this person and take what they say as an area that they need prayer for.
BE SLOW TO SPEAK
Again, learn to hush for a minute (Proverbs 17:27-28, Proverbs 12:23). You can't listen if you are too busy speaking or thinking of the next thing you want to say. Nor can you listen if you spout off everything that enters your mind. In today's culture, it's become some sort of badge of honor to proclaim that we don't have a filter on our words. But is that thinking God's way or man's way?
When you notice something that doesn't appear biblical, keep quiet, and simply observe. Then pray. When you rely on your own wisdom and understanding, you will make a mess of things. Remember, there is a physical and spiritual world and both are always active. While you are living your life in the physical world, there will be things going on in the spiritual world that you have no clue of.
You don't want to jump to conclusions and get ahead of the Holy Spirit. Words are powerful. Once spoken, they can never be taken back.
The last thing you want to do is misinterpret something and cause offense. This is also why you shouldn't even attempt to judge someone's actions you don't have some sort of relationship with. If you only see this person once a week for an hour, how will you know if this is an ongoing issue or a one-off issue? Because there really is a difference.
"There is a time to be quiet and a time to speak up."
(Ecclesiastes 3:7)
There is nothing wrong with reminding yourself (or someone else), "I'm not sure what to think here but I'd like to give it some thought and pray about it before I say anything." This takes self-control and patience (which, by the way, are fruits of the Spirit we should be cultivating!). We've all hurt someone we cared about by being too quick to speak. I'm sure we've all had the unfortunate experience of being on the receiving end too.
Whatever your issue, you need to take it to God before you take it to anyone else. If you have not prayed about it, don't say it!! This is one of many reasons God has blessed you with self-control.
Questions to consider: If you are constantly jumping in with your two cents or putting words in the other person's mouth, how do you really know what they think or believe? Is this person having an off day or has their off day become a season and they need help? How do you hear God speaking if you are always busy talking? Have you been kind and gentle in your speech with this person?
BE SLOW TO GET ANGRY
"Your anger can never make things right in God's sight."
(James 1:21)
When we observe ongoing unChrist-like behavior and have taken the appropriate biblical steps, we expect this person to be grateful and repent. It would be fantastic if that were the case but it won't always be.
While you can't control how they react, you need to stay in control of yourself. God has blessed us with his Spiritual gifts, his Holy Bible, his Holy Spirit, and each other. He expects us to use each of those gifts to help and bless others as we do life together.
For Additional Reading: Use your spiritual gifts to bless your church community
Something God doesn't approve of is our allowing emotion to take authority over us.
"Don't sin by letting anger gain control over you. Think about it overnight and be silent" (Psalm 4:4)
"In your anger, do not sin"
(Ephesians 4:26)
When we lose control of our emotions, it does more harm than good. If this person disappoints you and you slip into anger and begin to call them names, you have not just lost control but stepped over the line into sin and will be held accountable for it (Matthew 5:22). You are to be a living witness. How can you lead this person back from the edge of sin if you are sinning yourself?
Questions to consider: When God reveals something ungodly in your life, do you repent and praise him for the second chance? If you would respond in anger to someone judging your fruits, why would you get upset for someone else responding the same way?
STAND IN THE GAP BUT DON’T STAND IN THEIR WAY
I suggest you pray about the person or situation every step of the way. This is critical. It's not a waste of time or a cop-out. Prayer (talking with God) is the only thing that will give you wisdom, guidance, and truth to be a blessing to this person. Isn't that what we should desire for them?
Prayer isn't a guarantee that you will get what you want but I guarantee God always listens to prayer. Always. When you pray, one of three things will happen:
Sometimes, God will tell you to keep quiet and continue to pray about this person or situation. He might press on your heart that you need to take it one step further and add fasting to your prayers. Everyone is dealing with things that we can't even imagine. But God knows what this person or situation needs to receive a breakthrough. Maybe God intends for you to stand in the gap about this. What a kind, Jesus-loving thing we can do for each other!
For Additional Reading: Powerful prayers
God might show you that you are wrong and misunderstood the person or situation you are judging. I pray you will be humble enough to accept this re-direction from God. But please don't leave it at that. Spend time allowing God to show you why you misjudged this person's fruits. When sin gives you a distorted view of the situation, be open to God's correction. Repent then move on. Don't get stuck here.
Other times, God may tell you to confront this person. But here is the key…you have to do it in God's timing, not your own. God is very specific if you are willing to listen. You must not try to manipulate things in your flesh. Our creator can move mountains on behalf of someone you pray for. Let the Holy Spirit deal with them and arrange their circumstances. Then if God tells you it's time to speak to them, DO IT!
FINAL THOUGHTS
If we decide to believe the world over God, we miss out on his many blessings. Judging the fruits of another Christian is no different than any of God's other principles. God’s ways are contrary to the world's ways (Isaiah 55:8-9, 1 Corinthians 1:28-29), full of love (1 Corinthians 13:4-7), and what is ultimately good for us (Romans 8:28)! Satan is here to kill, steal, and destroy. Let’s stop helping him destroy each other by listening to his lies and ignoring God’s ways.
MY PRAYER
Father God, I pray that you would help me be gentle and kind towards others. Create in me a clean heart that seeks after you above all. I need your guidance to be humble but bold as I stand on your principles.
Lord, when you place someone in front of me that needs help finding their godly footing again, I ask that you give me discernment and wisdom as you soften their heart. Provide us an opportunity to have an open, private conversation in truth and love.
Father, until then, I pray that you help me to speak kind, loving, and gentle words to and about them. Create in me a heart with the right motives so that they hear you through me.
In Jesus' mighty name I pray, Amen!!