Do Not Judge - In A Nutshell -  Bro. Prithvi Raj
Channel: Tamil Christian Sound Doctrine Resources-King of King's Christ Jesus Vision Inscribed InTouch
Date: 26/03/2019

Do Not Judge - In A Nutshell -  Bro. Prithvi Raj
https://chiselnewsletter.wordpress.com/
In Mt 7:1, we read as, “Do not judge or you will be judged”. When Jesus said, do not judge, what did He mean? – Was He forbidding one from making moral evaluations? Did He suggest that we should keep our mouth shut when we notice immoral and wicked practices in our midst? Certainly not!

This verse is one of the most popular bible verses of our day. We use this verse in an attempt to silence our critics. If we read verses 15 and 16 of the same chapter, we notice that Jesus was commanding His followers to know people by their fruit and for knowing their fruit, some sort of judgment is necessary. Jesus does not oppose offering correction, but forbid providing correction with a wrong motive. In John 7:24, Jesus says, “Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly”. Here, Jesus seems to be highlighting that we have to make judgments in the right sense and should not indulge in criticizing others in censorious manner. By telling, “do not judge”, Jesus does not suspend our critical powers. We are equipped to discern right from wrong and righteousness from wickedness. In Isaiah 5:20, we read as, “Woe to those who call evil, good and good, evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter”

When the Bible says “Don’t judge or you too will be judged” it’s talking about condemnation. Jesus does not want us to take the function of judge, dispensing judgement upon others. Jesus is speaking against being judgmental, that is, judging the motives of others, that is truly known only by God. We would be able to judge the fruit of a man, but we can rarely judge their motives with accuracy.

We should stay away from judging superficially. Passing judgment superficially on someone based only on appearances is sinful and wrong. It is foolish to jump to conclusions with incomplete information and without knowing the facts.  

We should avoid judging hypocritically. Most of our judgment in regard to others is wrong, not because we judge according to a standard, but because we are hypocritical in the application of that standard, ignoring such standard in our own life. We judge others by one standard and ourselves by another standard, being more generous to ourselves than others. 

To be the salt and light of the earth, we have to make sound moral judgments. Evil teachers and evil men must be exposed and purged out of the body of the Christ. In  1 Tim 5:20, we read that the sinning ones need to be reproved publically, so that the others may take warning. We are to gently confront erring brothers or sisters in Christ. But we are not to display a critical fault-finding nature or being negative with judgmental attitudes. We should stay away from critical judging, eager to find faults. As believers, we have to make Spirit-led right judgments, but not in an unloving & unkind manner. 

The judgment is one of the noblest faculties of our moral life. We need to examine the spirit out of which our judgement on others, spring out. We must judge ourselves before judging others and we should not make our word a law to everybody. Everyone has untold stories of pain and sadness that make them live a little differently than we do. Let us try to understand others before coming to conclusions. May God enable us to judge rightly and not to get indulged in passing judgments in a censorious manner. 

By 
Building Bridges that Evangelize the Lost and Extend the Love of Christ 
LORD Jesus Christ's disciples making disciples
Know the Truth and Spread the Truth 
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Let us stand together for Christ, 
Missions Coordinator 
King of Kings Christ Jesus' Vision Inscribed Team
Saying Yes Jesus:
Many people believe they are Christians because they were born in a Christian culture, go to Church regularly, try to do their best, or live a good life. However, the Bible teaches that these things cannot make you a Christian. You become a Christian by taking the following two important steps:
1. Acknowledge that you (along with all people) have sinned and fallen short of God’s standards.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%203%3A23&version=NIV;ERV-TA
2. Personally believe that Jesus Christ, who was God in human flesh, died for your sins on the cross and rose again. 1 Corinthians 15: 3 – 4
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+15%3A+3+–+4&version=NIV;ERV-TA
You may express your belief through prayer, asking Jesus to come into your life, and receiving Him as God’s gift to you. John 1: 12; Romans 6: 23 and Revelation 3: 20

For it is by grace you have been saved through faith…it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2: 8 – 9
Walk with the LORD Jesus and proclaim Him wherever He leads!