Be Generous with Acceptance, Stingy with Judgment

Being judged wrongly feels horrible doesn't it? You know the truth (at least your view of it) and then someone comes along and says you’re all wrong. Common responses are anger, indignation, resentment, shock, tears & denial. But isn't it interesting that we forget how it feels to be judged when we choose to judge others? We play god with abandon; living a double standard - we judge others freely but think it strange when it happens to us.

Why is it wrong to judge? According to Jesus in Matthew 7:1-6...
1. God says it’s wrong. Realize you’ll be judged by others and God Himself. Sometimes we judge people most harshly in areas we are weakest, or where we’ve fallen or experienced most pain. It happens in families, churches, workplaces, schools; basically, people competing for supremacy.

2. It is rooted in sin. Some say Matt. 7 is a jumble of odds and ends disconnected to the previous section. I disagree. Understanding 6:34 and the word "trouble" is a key to understanding 7:1-6. Each day has enough trouble, evil, depravity of its own. The temptation to do evil on our part and the evil actions of others. Like judging others wrongly.

3. It reveals a lack of perspective, the self-awareness that's needed to live appropriately. In Matthew 7:3-4 Jesus uses humorous exaggeration to point us back to 6:22-23 and the kind of "eye" or focus you have in life. We need to have a perspective that is willing to admit we aren’t good enough to judge & we can’t be impartial. We have enough problems of our own.

4. It is hypocrisy. Jesus uses fightin' words! 7:5 begins, "You hypocrite". The proper procedure before dealing with someone’s else’s faults is 1st to judge yourself. Other people’s faults are nothing compared to our own. Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. A 'hypocrite' was an actor, someone who impersonated another; Jesus is referring to the worst kind of impersonation, people trying to be God in other's lives by judging them.

5. Only God knows the rest of the story. Only God is qualified to judge. There is always back story. There is always back-story, stuff that if we knew would give us the perspective to be generous with acceptance and stingy with judgment. It would make us discerning, not condemning. We would cooperate with them rather than competing for first place. We'd be more interested in Christ's supremacy.

Is it ever right to judge? Yes. In Matt. 7:5b-6 the idea of seeing clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye is clear. Wrong judging is always wrong; but sometimes judging is needed, especially with those who don’t know any better (unbelievers) and those who should know better (believers). We should not expect the lost to act like Christians, but we have every right to expect Christians to! Jesus is saying, "Don't be so critical in a bad way; but be a little critical in a good way when necessary." Apply sparingly.

What can we do about both wrong judging and the challenge appropriately judging rightly? The 1st thing has to do with the heart: Remember what you have done and remember where you came from. But don't wallow in your sins, remember what Jesus has done (Rom. 5:6-8). Remember how Jesus has forgiven you. Trust God; allow Him to fill your heart with good things; blessing and acceptance instead of judgment and condemnation. The 2nd thing has to do with the mouth: Restrain your words Ps. 141:3. Exercise self-control. Speak the truth in love. Follow Matthew 7:12, do to others as you would have them do to you. It will help all your relationships if you can learn to live in the power of the Holy Spirit to the glory of God. But for that to happen most of us need to abandon our deeply rooted practice of condemning and blaming.

There is hope in Jesus Christ. Jesus says you can become a person who does not condemn or blame. Guard your heart (from it flow the issues of life) and your mouth (the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart). As you do the power of God's kingdom will flow through you, becoming more freely available to bless and guide others in God's ways.

Rom. 8:1. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. People may condemn you but God never will; He condemned sin in the flesh through Jesus Christ; if you are a believer your sins are covered. Someday we will know the rest of the story. Until then, rest in God’s sovereignty.

1 Cor. 4:5 Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God.