“Don’t Judge” – Are You Kidding?

by Mark Gutman, August 1, 2016: What are we supposed to do with the command, “Judge not, that ye be not judged” (Matthew 7:1, KJV)? It is commonly quoted, but not commonly “unpacked.” When you stop to think about it, it seems like an unrealistic order. We presume it means that we shouldn’t judge people negatively. Since it’s so idealistic as to be unworkable in the real world, it is ignored except when we want to quote it to someone who is criticizing a person we’re interested in defending.
Distinguishing Hitler from Mother Teresa*
We need to make judgments. Why do we think that Hitler or Stalin was “bad”? We can point to the pain and suffering those men caused, the waste of resources to fight their armies or henchmen, and the examples they’ve given modern skinheads or people who specialize in hate. Should we not judge them? Christians are not likely to quote Matthew 7:1 to someone who says that Hitler was bad.
To use a real life example, imagine that I’m trying to find a babysitter for my child. Am I expected to treat all potential babysitters as equally suitable? Make no judgments about their behavior or attitude? Must my decision be one of taste but not of character? Making judgments to buy a car or a house or even produce, I can hardly shut off my judging motor when looking at people’s actions.
Groups Must Judge
Never mind my personal judgments, though. Companies make judgments about who is likely to be trustworthy, schools decide who is worthy of acceptance, and even churches decide whether or not someone should be allowed to be “taken into membership.” Surely we aren’t going to tell companies, schools, and churches to let a computer algorithm make their decisions. Somebody, or some group, has to judge – a lot! While we know our judgment processes suffer from bias and other flaws, we have no choice but to use the same mental instincts that help us decide on where and when to do business.
Avoid Judgment to Avoid Punishment?
Even the motive often urged for not judging seems to be a selfish one, tantamount to not hitting the playground bully so he won’t flatten me. If I’m not nice to others, God won’t be nice to me. Maybe fear of being punished by God helps some avoid criticizing. But why would Jesus tell me not to judge if God is going to judge me? Is this a case of “Do as I say, not as I do”? I know, I know: God knows more than we do, so his judgment is perfect and ours is limited. But it still strikes me as unfair to be told not to do something that seems so natural when the one telling me not to do it is doing what he’s telling me not to do.
Is Matthew 7:1 unworkable? Worth paying some attention to? What merit can we find in this “judge not” command?
You Don’t Want Others to Treat You That Way
Recognize that if you judge others, with your incomplete and imperfect understanding of what’s behind their actions, you’re inconsistent when you complain because others treat you the same way. If you can’t shut off that mental mechanism, don’t expect others to. You wouldn’t want to be guilty of “Do as I say, not as I do,” would you? A noted radio talk-show host lightened up on his criticism of drug addiction after the public learned that he himself was struggling with it. Why should our problems have to become public before we lighten up?
You Use That Same Attacking Energy on Yourself
Recognize that the guns you use against others get turned on yourself. If your reaction to human imperfection is anger or scorn, you will react to your own imperfection the same way. We seem to have unlimited ability to rationalize our own behavior, to excuse our imperfection because we know our underlying motives, but we still are occasionally quite conscious that we’re doing wrong. So, as smokers do when they know that smoking damages their health, we use such blow offs as “Nobody’s perfect” or “At least I’m not doing — (fill in the blank).”
It takes energy to attack other people, even if you do it with good reason. And it takes even more energy to attack and defend ourselves for our imperfection because we’re around ourselves constantly. Judge not, that ye be not judged can also mean that when you spray judgment you hit yourself with it. You love your neighbor as you love yourself, and you judge yourself as you judge your neighbor.
At Least Play Defense for the Accused
Recognize that “the other guy” is entitled to a defense. Raise the best defense you can muster for that person whose actions are clearly “wrong” or “bad.”
Defense attorneys are unpopular for a reason. Popular opinion thinks they hurt society by defending people who are probably guilty. Until you’ve been accused unfairly, or until you know that your side of the story needs to be heard when you appear to be guilty of something, you may regard defense attorneys with contempt. Sometimes a defense attorney is able to get a guilty person off because the police broke the law during their investigation or because a law is flawed. So the guilty person “gets away” with something as part of the process of helping to keep (or make) investigators fair and honest or helping society to improve its laws.1
You may not approve of the actions of someone else, but try to imagine what defense the offender’s attorney might raise at the trial: genetics, home influence, fatigue, misunderstanding of the situation(s), pressure from another person, or brain impairment. For example, former NFL players have been featured recently for terrible behavior that we are learning was probably due to brain injuries suffered during their career. While we work to limit others’ hurtful behavior, we have to realize that many are fighting pressures we don’t understand and that they themselves often don’t understand, which makes their problems even harder to fight. Even people who have no connection with a church can still lament with Paul, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do” (Romans 7:13, NIV).
Show the Compassion You Want
Jesus scolded some Pharisees for condemning (misjudging) his innocent disciples. The Pharisees’ problem, according to Jesus, was not understanding that God wants compassion, not a ritual religion that has no problem with running over strugglers.2
Just to be consistent and save ourselves a lot of grief, we would do well to be slow to judge, even as “slow to anger” is recommended behavior. And while we’re judging and trying to rein in the unwanted behavior, let’s think of all the reasons we can why an offender might not be as responsible for the actions that impress us as so wrong. Whether I’m trying to limit harm caused by Ted Wilson or Adventist Today, by a former member or an archconservative or a liberal theologian, or by the jerk I work with, I can at least concede that he or she has been shaped into his or her behavior, even as I would wish for the same concessions by those offended by me.
*This column is using Mother Teresa as an example of someone who is widely thought of as “saintly.” The writer is well aware of criticisms of Mother Teresa.
1“Any defense lawyer who says he doesn’t lose sleep over the moral ambiguity and complexity of his role is either lying or is unworthy of the responsibility of representing the possibly guilty in order to prevent the conviction of the possibly innocent.” Alan M. Dershowitz, Taking the Stand: My Life in the Law (Crown/Archetype), 320.
2Matthew 12:7; See chapter 11 of Speaking Christian, by Marcus J. Borg, on “compassion” as a better translation than “mercy.” “Mercy” implies letting a guilty person off, while “compassion” does not imply judgment.
Mark Gutman has served the church as a pastor, an elementary school teacher, and an accountant.
Mark,
You’re right. We have to judge. We have to be able to tell the difference between right and wrong and be willing to call sin what it is. Yet it seems the times I hear people throwing the “judge not” instruction at others is in their own defense when their sins have been exposed and their allegiances to sin made known.
There is yet another area where we need to exercise more judgement: recognizing those who have a form of godliness but who have none of the power of God in their life. They may use all the right buzzwords and quote both scripture and Ellen White, but if there is no evidence the Holy Spirit is empowering them and there is no evidence that the church is growing as a result of their actions, the instruction of scripture is clear: we are to stay away from them. How many today have the strength of character to judge that situation correctly and the strength to follow God’s instruction? I fear not many.
Mr. Noel asks:” How many today have the strength of character to judge that situation correctly and the strength to follow God’s instruction? I fear not many.”
May I ask if Mr. Noel believes he is “one of the many” or does he have the “strength of character to judge . . . and the strength to follow God’s instruction.” And, if the later, what is his secret of having “the strength to follow God’s instruction?” Just curious.
Erv,
A direct question deserves a direct answer. Since the church does not teach members to seek the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that Jesus taught us to seek, to listen to His voice, to trust His guidance and to use the power He offers, few in the church even know how to apply spiritual principles to the challenges they face, much less how to minister God’s redemptive power to the people they meet. The solution to that condition is simple: seeking the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, learning to recognize His guidance and letting Him build faith to trust when He is leading you in unfamiliar places to do His bidding. The results in my life have been nothing short of revolutionary and I see others having similar experiences so I am hopeful that people in the church will learn to judge matters and issues as God sees them because they will be listening to God instead of men.
Noel, the error of your reasoning is that are convinced your experience has universal application. It doesn’t. You say: “The solution to that condition is simple: seeking the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, learning to recognize His guidance and letting Him build faith to trust when He is leading you in unfamiliar places to do His bidding.” That is an opinion, neither good nor bad, just yours. Opinions are a dime a dozen, especially spiritual and religious ones.
You say as a follow-up: ” The results in my life have been nothing short of revolutionary. . .” Fantastic, for you. I could say the “Holy Spirt” led me to leave the Adventist Church. I wouldn’t say that. But if I did it would be just as legitimate as your statement since my life has been “nothing but revolutionary when I departed.”
There is something about the Impossible Dream that attracts participants in religious discourse. It revolves around the proposition “if people would just do what I recommend,” all would be well, even perfect.
It is a version of the endlessly repeated, ageless, never realized, apocalyptic yearnings by Israelites, Jews, Christian, and Seventh-day Adventists (and promoted by Jesus) of a soon deliverance to paradise by an appearance by a God like figure, and a destruction of the wicked. Nirvana, never has come, never to be.
I’m not critical of your experience, only that you represent your experience as an example of what ought to be.
Bugs, You haven’t left the Adventist church. If so, you wouldn’t be posting here. You may not pay tithe, drink the kool-aid,etc. but as long as you continue to fellowship with other SDA, you haven’t left. Although you might not want to say it, it is entirely possible that the HS might lead a person to leave the SDA church.
A friend of mine “left” a congregation in which he believed adultery was being countenanced. He chose to not fellowship/worship with that congregation, although he may have still believed the doctrines of the church.
There are toxic congregations, pastors, leaders who people should avoid. Why condemn [judge] a person who believes he/she is acting in their own spiritual interest? It makes sense to act in your own spiritual interest. Those who don’t are the kool-aid slurpers.
etc.,
We should first look for the mote in our eye before seeing the log in someone else’s eye.
Of course we use judgment daily about “things”: purchases, time needed, and a thousand other choices daily.
But it would be ideal to play defense attorney when others are judged and accused: have we walked a mile in their shoes? Hasty judgments, whether on our own decisions, but particularly of others is best left UNLESS we are asked for an opinion.
When our children are small we must make most of their decisions, but if we want to raise responsible adults, we should gradually allow them to make small decisions, then larger ones, and often let them learn by success or failure on their own. Be slow to judge and generous in understanding.
Elaine,
A relationship with God that is empowered and directed by the Holy Spirit will remove the “mote” from our own eye. It is when people tell others to remove it from their eye before “judging others” that it becomes obvious that the speaker is trying to divert attention away from the sin they don’t want to give-up. Several people who comment frequently on this site give us good examples of this in the ways that they continually think they are calling others to repentance, or arguing ad nauseum about minor topics while never showing any evidence that God is working through them, or has ever done so.
Mark,
I’ve always thought the Judging Jesus Christ refers to MT 7 is indivisible from the forgiving and forgiveness in the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. MT 6:14, 15
‘Take no thought for the morrow’ is best understood, ‘don’t worry or fret about tomorrow.’ The Judgment we must avoid is the condemnatory, unforgiving, judgment. If the Law of God calls something an abomination, we must call it by the same name. But we judge or condemn no one. The Law judges us. And the Law finds us all ‘guilty.’ All of us need forgiveness. None of us can withhold forgiveness. The Lord Jesus Christ has pronounced sentence on all who do.
I remember going to an SDA church, years ago (20+), that I had never attended before and volunteering to lead one of the Sabbath school classes because the regular teacher was suddenly taken ill. Part of what I presented, for the SS lesson, was something from an Amazing Facts publication and a younger participant loudly spoke out and said, “Don’t judge!” Matt 7:1 is one of the most overused and poorly applied verses spoken/ used by churchgoers who are ignorant of the bible and/or are fanatics. It would be beneficial and/or enlightening, for them and other knee jerk reactors to do at least a word study on “judge/judging”. There is a tendency or trend by the fearful and weak at heart to make churches…”safe places” ,whatever that means. One point..there is a difference between judging actions and people’s destiny. More is involved in this judging topic, however when someone verbally assaults me for judging…ROM 2:1 automatically applies. 99% of Christians are deceived, 90% of churchgoers have never read the whole bible. Most Adventists have never read even the New Testament. Do a survey to prove me in error. As long as this carnal, churchian ,secular trend continues ..and gets worse..then the “Don’t judge” words of those who want to play bible verse cop will continue and get worse.
” Matt 7:1 is one of the most overused and poorly applied verses spoken/ used by churchgoers who are ignorant of the bible and/or are fanatics….”
Absolutely, Jimbob. Never was a scripture more abused and taken out of context more than this one. The liberals use it incessantly and the real sad part is this. If they would simply read all 5 verses about this subject, the true meaning would be obvious.
The whole sermon on the Mt. is about the false teaching and attitude of the religious leaders of Jesus’ day. The point of this verse is to not judge the motive of other people before you carefully consider your own motive and reason for judging anyone else for what they do or say.
If you carefully consider your own motive and your own sinfulness, and have a genuine desire to help someone else, then you must necessarily consider the actions of other people and compare them to the word of God.
If there is any chance you can help that people see they are outside the biblical norm in Christian conduct, then give some advice at the right time and place. That may be a Sabbath school class about any given subject. But some individual should be dealt with privately.
Yes, we must “judge” because “by their fruits, ye shall know them”. And we must “judge” doctrine to see if it is in harmony with scripture.
Luther “judged” the Pope as antichrist and the devil’s apostle. As long as their is law, there is judgment. The law is eternal. So is judgment.
So, Bill, do summarize for us please …
What is the false teaching and attitude of the religious leaders of the day that Jesus was opposing in the Sermon on the mount?
And what is the true meaning of Matthew 7:1-5?
In short what we we talking about here?
Do keep in mind that my question is not about judging but about clarification only.
“So, Bill, do summarize for us please …”
Jesus is warning about judging someone’s motive, not their action. We all judge the actions of people from many perspectives, and this is not contrary to what Jesus was saying. The bible says, “by their fruits (actions) ye shall know them.”
Then Jesus goes on to state that if we carefully consider our own motives and reasons for “judging” others, we may then help someone see and deal with sins and faults in an objective and Christian way.
Jesus re-affirms that only God can judge motive and if and when we do this, God will judge us accordingly.
So, it is now obvious that many use “judge not, that ye be not judged” totally outside its biblical context and use it to claim we can’t know what is right or wrong and/or what is sin, and what is not. Such as the present disagreement over homosexuality and whether it is sin or not.
More clarification, please, Bill S.
And please note that I am not judging your motives here, only your rationale.
The famous passage you reference is this, “for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”
This is the Lord speaking with Samuel about a candidate for King of Israel. And it is a massive leap in reinterpretation to change the word ‘heart’ to ‘motive.’ The heart in the passage from Samuel is contextually more likely about courage, than anything else, I believe.
Nor does Jesus state anything about motives in Matthew, let alone motives for judging. There is no room in Matthew to paraphrase the judgment prohibition, as, ‘Properly motivated, judging is actually a good thing, a helpful thing, a necessary thing, a loving thing.’
The biblical context for Matthew 7:1-5 makes absolutely no provision to reread the ‘judge not’ passage as, ‘Judge by all means, but note your motives first.’
I am not saying you are not sensing clearly, I am only saying that neither Matthew nor Samuel obviously offer any support for distinguishing between motives (forbidden in your view) and actions (perfectly OK, indeed required in your view) when it comes to Jesus’ advice to not judge or expect to suffer the consequences.
John notes that God so loved the world that he did not condemn the word, but saved it. Jesus commands us to love as he loves. You have barely got me started … 🙂
Jimbob suggests that “There is a tendency or trend by the fearful and weak at heart to make churches…”safe places.” Why does he view that trend being advocated by the “fearful and weak.” And, what, pray tell, is the problem with making churches “safe places”? Perhaps Jimbob could explain himself.
I would think it not surprising that the regular posters here have heard of this “safe place” label. It would be helpful to get some consensus of definition or concept before I respond, in detail. The definition can be so subjective and/or ambiguous. As far as I am concerned, it is basically a fanciful counter-measure to the self-righteous, old guard members who are critical of the actions or behavior of new converts or visitors. Since the concept can be all over the map depending on who plays cop…the tendency is to make it a duct tape, over the mouth, policy.
Erv,
The difference may be in the contrasts between a place of spiritual refuge where they can draw strength to resist evil and the politically correct concept of a “safe space” where all manner of vile behavior, offensive language and hate-driven prejudice is protected. Unfortunately, I’ve met a number of people in recent years who were turning their churches into free breeding spaces for all manner of religious bigotry, spiritual paranoia and misconceptions about eschatology and the basics of salvation.
Well stated, William.
Adventists are notoriously judgemental, weighing in on insignificant infringements like coffee/cola drinking, and God forbid, consuming
“animal flesh”.
As an itinerant Adventist, I judge each congregation I visit by
the presence or absence of jewelry.
My dear deceased wife never wore even a wedding ring, but jewelry is not an issue for me. Should there be an occasional necklace or ear ring visible in the churches I visit, it informs me that members of that congregation have not berated those jewelry wearing persons in a judgemental way.
I once visited a church that was doing a large renovation of the sanctuary, and clearly needed funds for the completion. I was ready to donate a large amount, until I asked the pertinent question: Are there any women elders in this congregation? Upon receiving a negative reply, I closed my check book.
Why would I donate to an institution that discriminated against the majority
of its members??
I judge a congregation by how much bible exposure I detect in the services..Sabbath school and worship.
Do class members use, analyze and discuss biblical principles. How much exposition and application of bible is in the sermon?
“They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.” 1 JN 4:5 New Living Translation
A spiritually sick & secular church is of the world and a place where one can find carnal, churchian, institutional Adventists.
Two major agendas need to be implemented in churches..
1. Decrease fanaticism
2. Increase accountability
Broad brush, warped application of MATT 7:1 sabotages #2.
I am fascinated by Erv Taylor’s implicit endorsement of churches being “safe places.” I tend to agree with that endorsement, but suspect I would not go as far as Erv, whose enthusiasm for big tent Adventism often strikes me as border less Adventism, a notion about which I have considerable qualms.
What fascinates me is the apparent contradiction between Erv’s support for “safe churches” and his recent penchant for making the AToday website feel very unsafe for fundamentalists who express themselves in a manner that he finds offensive. I have often felt that, for both the political left and the Adventist left, tolerance is a tactic rather than a principle. “Safe spaces” in universities are Orwellian cauldrons of intolerance. Freedom of expression, once extolled by the left as the sine qua non of civic life, is now derided by the left as little more than an overrated safe harbor for bigotry and discrimination – a right that should only be freely exercised within the context of political correctness.
So when an Adventist, whom I know to be on the left in every way, starts talking about safe churches out of one side of his mouth, and the need for website censorship from the other, I hear dog whistles, and am curious to understand how the two positions can be rationally reconciled. When does nonjudgmental tolerance become judgmental intolerance? Should SDA churches be safer spaces than this website?
Who is the church supposed to be safe for?
Are some concerned about criticism directed at church visitors, rookie SDA/new converts who come in with their secular, perverted & depraved habits & culture?
Maybe some, who finally speak out in Sabbath school, are supposed to feel safe if they gripe about EG White in class?
Are all supposed to be safe from embarrassing or humiliating counter arguments in Sabbath school even if they come up with off the wall, blatant heresy or doctrinal error?
Should Pastors spend 30 minutes to 1 hour sanitizing their sermons so as not to offend anyone in the audience…atheists, evolutionists, LGBT, Moslems, Catholics, Non-denoms , former SDA, LGT SDA, 28 fundie SDA?
Remember: it’s only the “Right” that identifies the “Left.” The first term seems to be much more often used than the latter by those not always self-identified as “Right” but true to Adventism, as they know what is, or should be.
@Elaine – Huh?
Think about the usual subtle approach presented in sermon themes. No matter how consecrated, focused or active a church member can be, they can occasionally count on being bashed during a sermon by being labeled a lukewarm Laodicean. Does anyone feel they are being unfairly judged? Does anyone feel safe when you hear, year after year, that all our righteousness is as filthy rags, there is none good, no not one?
Then… to counter the constant SDA put down theology, there is this increasing trend where pastors are trying to engender assurance of salvation in the old guard, veteran SDA members by voicing & taking 1 JN 5:13 out of context. How can the members be weaned off of judging when almost al sermons are implied judging?
What a sick system.
Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. John 7:24 These are the words of Jesus. Righteous Judgment is in accordance with the laws of God.
For eg. to say a homosexual person will not make it in the Kingdom of Heaven unless they repent is biblical, both old and new testaments. This is not condemning/judging the person but rather pointing the person to repentance as per the Word of God via the faith of Jesus which is repentance is possible by the power of the Holy Spirit.
These are they which keeps the commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus.
To restate your offering, Donovan, because we each are responsible for our own salvation through understanding and meeting God’s requirements, we by helping someone to understand and meet one or more of God’s requirements someone is obviously not understanding or meeting is a form of judging that is indistinguishable from love. And this is the love Jesus lived and commands us to live.
Is this another way of sensing what you sense?
Galatians 6:
5 For every man shall bear his own burden.
6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
We hold no responsibility for our own salvation. We are to continue to obey and work out our own salvation in fear and trembling; for it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure (Philippians 2:12-13). We do not bear others burdens (as much as we sometimes would like to). Galatians 6:1 “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”
Ephesians 4:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Yes CHRIST commanded us to Love, but there is no Love without Truth.
The passage in Luke like the one in Matthew says “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned.” Lk. 6:37
The idea of judgment in Scripture often connotes condemnation, rather than a process of decision.
Joh 12:48 “”He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.” The word “judge” here suggests a completed investigation, not a deliberative process
I doubt that Scripture advises us to not do something and then later chides us for not doing it.
Lk. 12:57 “And why do you not even on your own initiative judge what is right?”
Jesus clarified the “judge not” passage when he said John 7:24 “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” Even Nicodemus said that a matter can’t be judged [decided] until the facts of a case are known (John 7:51).
Excellent. Part of the challenge, here, is the slippery language, itself: judgement, practicing good judgment, judgementalism, judicious, “judge not . . . . ,” evaluation, assessment, judiciousness, discernment. These terms can turn on a person, allow for logical middle-shifts, purposeful (and inadvertent) ambiguity, and general argumentative free-for-alls, never mind all the language-to-language shifts and cultural modifications that often render meaningful exchange impossible. There are ways around this, of course, but too many people are not willing to take them.
It’s always been a bit amusing to me to see people laud some speaker/writer to the skies, and then accuse me of “judging” when I point out a problem in what they say/write.
Seems for them, “judging” = “saying something that makes me unhappy”, rather than “judging”.