The St. Louis Republic., 1903-11-16
MAN IS NOT FITTED
TO JUDGE HIS FELLOWS.
Evils of Personal Condemnat tion
Pointed Out in Doctor john
ston's Sermon.

The Reverend Doctor John T. NJ. John
ston preached yesterday morning at the
Delmar Avenue Baptist Church on Mat
thew vii. !. Judge not" He said, In
part:
II assuNe you. my friends, that study
of the two short words of Jesus. Judge
not has been benefit to my own heart
and IL it helps you as 1t has already helped
me this Lords Day message will not have
been delivered in vain.
What did our Savior mean when he left
this message: Judge not? Did he mean
that We would have no positive opinions.
no strength of will. no decision of char
acter? Certainly not. Did he mean that
We should shut our eyes and be blind to
tho character Of others? Most assuredly
not. for Christ would have us read the
character and motives of Others and to be
able to decide whether a man Is a good
man or bad man.
Christ is our pattern in all things and
We are told that he knew men,. We are
command includes knowledge of human
nature.
'.Our Savior does not forbid righteous
judgment. The 5udicious element Is in our
should not try to. Preachers. teachers.
encourage right and condemn wrong.
What Christ meant when he said
Judge not was to warn us against un-
charitable judgment. Jesus here cautions
his followers against Judging unkindly.
with a spirit Of animosity. of tlliberality
and uncharitableness. He raises a tender
voice of warming against looking for the
defects and faults of others. Jesus would
have US know that 1t Is better. infinitely
growth in grace, better for our spiritual
development. to have our eyes to see the
beauties and tongue to tell Of the love-
illness OF others. rather than an eye to see
their blemtshes and a tongue to herald
their foibles.
Judging others is wrong because it is
putting ones self in Gods place. In con-
demning Scripture says that we are thrust
ing ourselves into Gods seat.
Some one perhaps seems to You to be
sour or Indifferent. cold or perhaps severe,
put all the while he may be carrying bur.
him. II you knew all about these burdens
and all, about these inherited traits that
God knows. you would withhold your CEN
turn to words of encouragement and SYM
pathy which would help him bear his bur-
dens:
commendation takes the place Of criticism.
deep and sacred significance. We seem to
from US forever. But the fact is. ones
life is more sacred when he Is living than
when he Is dead. We should reverence the
man when he is living. with all his cares
and sorrows and troubles. Charitable
judgment is worth something to him then
Is there one Of you that would not prefer
to have the flowers and the kind words
now, while you are living and in need of
them. and be left in the hands Of God
when you are dead? Words Of sympathy
are too late then.
"A second reason why we should not
judge others is because we see others as
what is In us: and we. being imperfect, |
must necessarily judge others imperfectly.
With beams In our own eyes. of course,
we see the mote in our brothers eye Our
hearts are not pure enough for this kind |
Of business
''But aside from these reasons our duty
to others is to help them rise out Of their |
faults into a nigh and lofty manhood and |
Stirring them to strive to- |
ward the perfect character and the way |
to do this is not by pointing out the blem- |
lshes, not by naggtng and scolding, for |
to let them see in US the opposite virtues
standing out IN bold relief
third reason for not Judging others
Y tnat 1t provokes retaliation. Judge not |
That we be not Judged and With what |
measure you mete it shall be measured
"And, last. Cur Lord prefaces his warn !:
ing against censorious judgment by the
Rrecept: BE ye merciful. even as your
amer In heaven Is merciful'
A.. AFTER all. frierds. this Is the great mo-
i've Tor forbearance, and this also is its |
rem reward-iikeness to God-the motive |
and the reward Godlikeness Like him in
charity, like him In mercy, like him in
like him in forbearance, as
well as IN purity and service"