To Judge or Not to Judge.... that is the question??

I have spent several weeks/months reading posts from friends on FaceBook and Pinterest about judging others.  This is a nice hot topic and I really wanted to know what the Bible said about the subject, so I've done some digging.

First of all, yes ~ the Bible says not to judge others.  But, God is very specific in what He says judging is.  In Matthew 7:1-2, Jesus said “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. ² For you will be treated as you treat others.^[a] The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged."  Well - this is all well and good, isn't it?  It sounds like a get-out-of-jail-free card to me.  This verse, should that be all there is to it, would allow anyone to do anything and say anything and go anywhere at any time with anyone.  Don't speak on it or you're judging.  This would be the most perfect "me" based world.  What these verses mean, just so there's no question, is that I'm not to judge another person's heart.  I am not to decide if that person is a child of God.  This isn't my job and I'm not qualified.  So, just so we're clear, when you use this verse to justify and action, word or deed that are currently involved in, you don't have God's blessing. 

If you dig a little deeper into Matthew, you see a different side to the judging debate.  in Matthew 12:33-34, Jesus ALSO said “A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad.  You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say."  Jesus clearly says that we will be known by our fruits.  Most people consider this to be our "works" or all the marvelous things we've done.  I don't personally agree.  I think it's our spiritual fruits.  You know what those are, right?  Love ~ Joy ~ Peace ~ Patience ~ Kindness ~ Goodness ~ Faithfulness ~ Gentleness ~ Self Control.  Go back and read those again.  Repeat.  Okay - one more time.  Do you honestly think that you can do ANY of those on your own?  We will know each other by those 9 items.  I can't look for those 9 things without some form of judgment.  I don't mean criticism and putting myself above others.  I mean examining your fruits.  If you are a hateful, spiteful, mean spirited, ugly, rude, foul mouthed, antagonistic person, yet you claim to be a Christian, HOW can you POSSIBLY expect no one to question your actions?????

God tells us to avoid certain people with certain problems.  "Don’t befriend angry people or associate with hot-tempered people" Proverbs 22:24.  {MAN.  I wish I had seen this about a year ago.  It would have made life easier}  I'm not making this up, people.  These aren't my words - they're the Lord's.  God tells us not to befriend those with angry and hot headed traits.  HOW, pray-tell me, do you determine if someone is angry and hot headed WITHOUT judging them?  

Hebrews 5:14 "Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong."  We are to constantly study, learn and grow in the word so that we can recognize right and wrong. If I'm to recognize right and wrong, then a little judging of other's actions will happen.  It doesn't mean I'm comparing myself to others in an attempt to build me up, but if someone in my life is living unbecoming to the word and I surround myself with them, they will influence me in a negative way.  You do the math - then satan will have TWO of God's saved doing satan's work in Jesus' name.  That's a train wreck just waiting to happen.  I have to know my stuff.  I have to know that, if the Bible says it's right, then it's right.  If the Bible says it's wrong, then it's wrong.

We as Christians are not to judge the hearts of others.  That's not my call.  I don't know if anyone else has a personal relationship with Jesus.  That's between them and Jesus.  If they say they do, I have to take them at that word.  

However, I have a responsibility to judge others actions, as well as my own.  I am not to judge to "pass judgement" and we are certainly not to gossip, but I am to judge to discern if said person(s) is living a life pleasing to God.  This affects not only their life, but mine if I have any kind of relationship with them.  I am not called to admonish, condemn or criticize.  However, I am called to lovingly and respectively speak to anyone that has strayed.   “If another believer^[a] sins against you,^[b] go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. ¹⁶ But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. ¹⁷ If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector."  Matthew 18:15-17.  This could be a slippery slope, if we look at this with pride and arrogance.  Humbleness and reverance should be in abundance before you try this action.  You should know (and be able to freely admit) your own weaknesses and sins. 

I suppose it just all boils down to this.  No one wants to be told that they're wrong and not living in a way that pleases the Lord.  I have seen/heard/discovered that it's perfectly acceptable to judge anyone you want, as long as it's not 'me'.  You are doing God's work and His will ..... unless it's at 'me'.  Then ~ by crackey ~ you're judging and the Bible says that's wrong!!! 

Have I ever had my actions and motives judged?  Absolutely!!! Did hurt?  OH YES!!!  I didn't like it at the time.  But .... it made me better.  It shaped me and formed me.  It's a painful process, especially since I was absolutely wrong at the time.  Hitting rock bottom hurts.  But, it's the price I paid for not listening to God the first 1,000 times He tried to talk to me. Lesson learned.

I pray for humble hearts.  I pray that people who call themselves Christains get that chip off their shoulder and their heart off their sleeve. 

It's not all about you.  It's certainly not all about me.  It's about the Lord.  It's about serving Him and worshiping Him and loving Him and sharing Him. 

And I HOPE and I PRAY that when I stray and when I fail, s[notice I said when, not if] someone will have the guts and backbone to look at me and say "Anita.  You BONEHEAD.  What are you doing??!!  This.  Is.  Wrong."

I doubt that I've changed much with this post, and that's ok.  Unfortunately, the ones that need to read it most are the ones that won't see it.  But, I learned - straight from God's word - and that makes me a winner.  I can never study too much, read too much, pray too much, or love too much. 

I hope this blesses you, and I also hope that it tugs at your heart.  You can be as mad at me as you want, as long as you know that you're being mad at God, too.  They're His words, written long before me.

We all sin.  I know that.  Geez, I live it.  Admiting it is the first step.  Did you get that?  That's only the FIRST step.  I don't have time to count all your sins.  I'm busy counting mine.  But, I believe that one day we will all stand before God and give an account for our lives.  I also believe that I will be held accountable if I saw a sister or brother in Christ stray down a wrong path and I did nothing.

You may not agree with one thing I've said.  If so, I sincerely hope for your sake that you're right.

Anita

Psalm 119:105  "Your word is a lamp to guide my feet
    and a light for my path."