I am sure you have heard that saying many times before, but are you aware that it is a scriptural principal. Yep, Luke 6:378 says, “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged : Condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.
Give, and it shall be given unto: good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”
Many people refer to this verse when speaking about giving love gifts. The principal is the same, if we give to God, it will come back to us but not only what we give, but in surplus….good measure, pressed down and shaken together and running over.
If this principal is true with our giving, we should take heed because it also refers to how we treat other people. The Bible clearly states that if we judge, we will be judged, if we condemn, we will be condemned.
Many proclaiming Christians have a big problem with this very issue. Many can not help themselves from condemning and judging others in the church. They do not realize that this is just a puffed up sense of pride which empowers them. They feel righteously justified in what they say….The problem is, that just because we can feel justified in what we say that doesn’t mean what we say is truly justifiable in God’s eyes. Many do not realize that they are in sin by judging. They forget that God clearly states in his Word that we are NOT TO JUDGE.
As humans there is so much of the flesh and our own desires that still rule our lives. Oh yes, we may have been in the church for years and finally gotten our act together , so we think….but years later we look back and say, Wow, I remember saying such and such, how wrong I was, but at the time I thought I was right.
This teaches us that we should not go about spurting out judgments against others just because we feel somehow we know better. Yes you may be a stronger Christian than brother X but he probably has some strong points too, but you don’ t know about them because you can’t see what is going on with brother or sister X…Only God can see into the heart of man, Only God can judge with right judgment.
God’s word tells us DO NOT JUDGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why aren’t we smart enough to listen to God.!!!
How can you actually Judge someone else and tell them they are in sin, when you yourself are in sin, by judging them!!!! Sadly, many people don’t see it. They see the mote in their brothers eye but think they are seeing clearly not realizing there is a BEAM in their own eye. Yes Judging others brings judgment back unto you. And it is God who judges. This is not a good position to be in my brother and sister.
The Number 1 Excuse why people want to judge: But how will they learn to live righteously if I don’ t show them their fault!
God clearly states that he will judge the living and the dead. He also states that His SPIRIT will lead us unto a life of perfection.
GOD DOESN’T NEED YOUR HELP!
Paul states in Romans 14: (Bold and underline emphasis is mine and not part of the original text)
3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
4 Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.
7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.
9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.
14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
20 For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.
21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
Romans 15:
1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.
This clearly teaches us that we are to accept each other and to love one another, just as Christ receives us.
Causing strife amongst the members is not what God wants from us.
IT IS SIN!
We are no better than the person to whom we are trying to condemn!
But how are we supposed to tell others they are wrong! Good question. I’m glad you asked 😉 The answer to the big question is simple. You don’t tell them. Pretty simple and straightforward I know, but it is the right way.
Do you ignore the situation? NO, Never! God Forbid! What you do is you pray for the person instead of judging him or her. Pray that their eyes may be enlightened and that they may know the fullness of God in their lives. Pray that God help them see the error of their ways, that the Holy Spirit enlighten their minds to see that they are in the wrong way. Don’t play GOD! He doesn’t need your help. He can work things out fine without you.
In conclusion, remember not to Judge your fellow Christians, no matter how immature they may seem. God is working on them and believe it or not, He will work things out.
JUDGE NOT, and ye shall not be judged: Condemn not and ye shall not be condemned: forgive and ye shall be forgiven.
For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Love conquers All. So next time you feel the urge to Judge, remember that it is not from God. Judge Not…Pray instead.
