“You have no right to judge me!” Ever heard that before?
The Bible says, “Judge not, lest ye be judged!” (Matthew 7:1). These words are all too often taken out of context and used like shields to guard off conviction.
If I were to tell you about a book titled, “I Robbed a Bank!” and you then quoted me as saying, “I robbed a bank,” would that be true or false? Both. You changed the meaning by taking it out of context to use it against me, but I did indeed say it. This is the way God’s word is distorted far too often. And people insisting that we not judge one another, is one of the most common examples of that.
Luke agrees with Matthew, “Do not judge or you will be judged; do not condemn or you will be condemned” (Luke 6:37a). But then someone grabs hold of that verse and billy-clubs us with it, “Seeeee! The Bible says you shouldn’t judge me!”
But if we look at both of these texts in context, this is not what the Bible means at all.
In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus is coming close to ending his sermon on the mount. He wants his disciples to be careful not to make snap decisions about someone without looking into it first. For example, if you were to miss church, it would be wrong for me to judge you negatively without first discovering why you weren’t there. Perhaps you had pneumonia, or maybe you just were too tired from your first night working the late shift. This is the kind of judgment Jesus is warning about. He’s not telling Christians to avoid confronting others with God’s law. He’s just wanting them to be sure that they are approached in love and discernment. Luther called this, “First putting the best construction on their actions.”
In the case of Luke’s Gospel in Chapter 6, Jesus is warning his disciples not to return unkindness when they receive it themselves. Instead, try to show and give forgiveness. In just a few verses earlier, Jesus told his disciples to love their enemies.
In other words, don’t judge that a kick in the gut deserves a kick in the gut back. Rather, overcome evil with good. Judge with a merciful heart. Again, this does not mean to allow or promote sinful behavior as if God doesn’t care. It does not mean that if someone kicks you, you cannot tell them that God forbids their behavior. And it certainly doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t protect yourself.
He’s just saying be prepared to act like God the Father, who sits ready at all times to forgive others on account of Christ. To not do this is to misrepresent the loving nature of God. But of course, forgiveness always assumes true repentance is at hand, just as repentance always knows forgiveness is present.
If they’ve done something against God, then his judgment should be delivered not in retaliation, but with the motive to bring about repentance, for which his forgiveness is ready and waiting to be given.
Another section of Scripture taken out of context is in the fourth chapter of James where he says, “There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you — who are you to judge your neighbor?”
It’s easy to see how this one could be used like a sword to cut the tongue off of one who dares to call to attention someone’s sinful actions. But the Holy Spirit is using James to warn his audience and us to be careful not to judge unjustly.
James is talking about speaking evil of one another by judging them apart from God’s law. For to do this, puts oneself above God’s law and judges his very law as unreliable or less worthy than one’s own judgment.
What James is actually saying is that we should judge our neighbor, but not by our own standards, for God has supplied us with holy standards of his own. But to withhold God’s holy law and replace it with our own sense of right and wrong, is evil and hurtful to our neighbor.
Stay tuned for part 2 next Saturday!
Local News
Related Photos
-
SAM HOUSEHOLDER | THE GOSHEN NEWS Pastor Andrew Wollman in his office at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church.
PASTOR'S PEN: Don’t judge these Bible verses before knowing their context
- Local News
-
-
Jeep enters Depot building
A Jeep Grand Cherokee struck the main entrance of The Depot building, located at 1013 Division St., Goshen.
-
Reminisce days a big hit in Shipshewana
Diane Green and her aunt Lydia Moore drove from lower Illinois to Shipshewana Saturday morning to pick up quilting fabric.
-
Concert series to benefit ministry
It is summer and time for outdoor music. It is also the beginning of First Fridays — a concert series hosted by the local community ministry, Reason 4 Hope.
-
Planners like changes to CVS parking lot
Access to the CVS at 410 S. Main St. in Goshen could soon be easier for those with disabilities following a ruling by the Goshen Plan Commission Tuesday afternoon.
During their meeting Tuesday, Goshen Plan Commission members gave their blessing to a request by CVS Pharmacy and State Permits Inc. for a major change to the CVS Planned Unit Development that seeks to reconfigure the north portion of the parking lot to increase the overall Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility of the site. The final site plan for the PUD was also approved by the commission Tuesday, and the request will now be forwarded on to the Goshen City Council with a favorable recommendation. -
Council won’t fund school sidewalks
GOSHEN — Goshen City Council members voted along party lines Tuesday to defeat a proposal by Goshen Community Schools for a 50-50 cost split between the city and the school corporation to pay for a $125,000 sidewalk expansion project.
-
'Experience Michiana' segments to be taped in Goshen
The crew with WNIT program “Experience Michiana” is set to tape segments in Goshen this week. The segments will be broadcast June 27 and 28.
-
State officials warn people to be alert at fairs, festivals
The Indiana Department of Homeland Security and state police are reminding state residents to be alert for safety concerns when attending county fairs and other local festivals.
-
SLIDESHOW: Pets of the Week
Featured pets available for adoption at the Humane Society of Elkhart County.
-
Goshen officials donate former Hawks Building to LaCasa
An agreement between Goshen city government and LaCasa Inc. allowing for the donation of the former Hawks Building to the local non-profit was approved Monday.
-
LIBRARY NEWS: Reading programs underway
Summer reading programs for young people are underway at the Goshen library.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Ex-Hit Man's Past Is a Shock to Some Neighbors
Fans: Gandofini 'Put New Jersey on the Map'
Does Future of Human Race Depend on Kansas Mine?
Reining in 'Bad News' Sports Parents
James Gandolfini Dies at Age 51
Fmr. TWA Flight 800 Investigators Want New Probe
Raw: Heat, Spurs Back on Court Ahead of Game 7
Dolce and Gabbana Convicted of Tax Evasion
Paris, Prince Depositions Used in Jackson Trial
Coiffed Cattle Get Their Close-up
In Berlin, Obama Channels Cold War Activism
Police at Patriots Tight End's Home for 2nd Day
Fed Suggests Bond Purchases Could Slow
AP: DOJ Broke Own Rules Seizing Phone Records
Raw: Baby White Rhino Debuts at Australian Zoo
Time Lapse: Rebuilding Bridge Post-collapse
Ohio Woman Accuses 3 of Holding Her Captive
Hunt for Ex-Teamster Boss Hoffa's Remains Ends
